#AmazingHistory

24th June – 30th June 2019

See history,
hear history,
feel history…

2019 programme

Tickets on sale
9am, 30th April

(Festival Friends receive early-bird booking)

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NEWS & UPDATES

PRESS RELEASE: 2019 FESTIVAL FIRST SPEAKERS ANNOUNCED

This summer, over 150 talks and debates will be delivered by eminent historians, writers and commentators. Speakers already confirmed include:

Find out more….

FOOD VENDORS & RETAIL TRADERS

We are currently taking applications for Food Vendors and Retail Traders for the 2019 Festival. Applications close end of March 2019.

Find out more….

VOLUNTEERS

Volunteer applications are now open. Applications close 21st April 2019.

Find out more…

The largest festival in the world dedicated entirely to History

So much to see and do. Offering a unique blend of talks, discussions & debates alongside a vast living history through-the-ages encampment, interactive living history events, static displays, firing demonstrations, interactive tents and activities such as SOE Commando training, Sword School, Trench Experience; as well as archaeology walks, vintage vehicles, a book store, shopping emporium, a bar, fine dining and street food.
~ a celebration of history like no other…

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Entertaining, informative, and thought-provoking. And that was just the audience.

Ian Hislop

We absolutely had the most amazing time! I love the audiences at the festival, so erudite and engaged! The festival is vitally important for the country and brilliantly combines the joy of literary, music, exhibition wrapped in a fascinating history festival. CVHF has a firm and warm place in all of our hearts! Congratulations to all involved for such an amazing Festival.

Simon Robinson

There were reenactments, demonstrations and the popular fly-past of WW2 planes. Most importantly there was a strong accent on education with a schools programme in the weekday mornings and in the displays. What child could fail to be impressed by all the uniforms, displays and atmosphere of the event?

Festival go-er

My son(6) and I took part in the Sword School, which was brilliant, We spent nearly 5 hours wandering through the different ages, meeting various different ‘characters’, who were all eager to share ‘their’ stories, historical knowledge and costumes, which my little boy loved and the re-enactments were fantastic. It truly was a wonderful day .

Festival go-er

I’ve been to literary festivals from Cornwall to Orkney and none of them match the buzz, fun and enthusiasm generated by the Chalke Valley History Festival. Our history is celebrated at Chalke Valley, it educates, shocks, amuses and inspires.

Dan Snow

It made many aspects of history come alive. I went with my teenage son who has been monosyllabic recently and we watched, listened, experienced the trenches, bought books, ate a lovely lunch and enjoyed the day together!

Festival go-er

My 17 year-old son spent the whole of the weekend immersed in the festival, talking to the stall holders and watching the various displays. He couldn’t stop talking about it on Saturday evening and left exhausted but extremely happy on Sunday. I think you may well have changed his life. The festival brought to the fore his love of history and for this I can only thank you.

Festival go-er

Thanks so much to you and the team at Chalke Valley for making Leweston School’s experience on Tuesday at the festival so good. Our pupils were buzzing with enthusiastic engagement afterwards. That day will not be forgotten. Best wishes, Matthew

Lewiston School

Yet another amazing event! The Glastonbury of History doesn’t do it justice; it’s so much better.

Festival go-er

The whole thing was wonderful this year. I feel a real sense of pride that this fantastic festival takes place on my doorstep, it is truly a joyous way to spend time. My Godson has been inspired to take history at GCSE and that is thanks to the enthusiasm and passion shown by speakers and audiences alike.

Festival go-er

This experience has inspired my learning of and interest in history as a subject so that I shall go into the next year of school with a great deal more enthusiasm than I had at the end of my GCSEs.

Festival go-er

2019 Festival line up

Talks

For the entire week we host a large and wide-ranging number of talks – from ancient to contemporary subjects. Some very familiar faces can be seen mingling with crowds as they join us to give talks, or take part in discussions.
Speaker lineup announced soon

Living History

We will be showcasing a wide variety of historical periods with our living historians, demonstrating a number of activities – from skills-at-arms, through to historic cookery recipes and techniques.
Find out more.

Live History Live

A brand new programme with a different kind of experiential history – featuring over 50 interactive weekend events to really bring history alive so you can see, hear and feel history. Find out more.

Popup History

Short, informal talks on a wide range of subjects, covering many of the artefacts we have on display as well as much else besides. Think of it as our very own fringe festival, free for Festival go-ers. Find out more.