Fresher’s Welcome, Your Guide to the Festival

New to the Festival? Only been once or twice? Still finding your feet?

This is a relaxed, informal drop‑in session designed especially for people who are new to the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, or who would appreciate a quick refresher. There’s nothing fancy here, just a friendly space to sit on bean bags, benches or the grass and ask questions.

A member of the Festival team will talk you through how everything works: how the site is laid out, how your ticket works, moving between events, what’s happening on the main stage, and what else is going on around the Festival. We’ll also cover the practical stuff, where to grab lunch, find a quieter spot, get books signed, and make the most of your day.

The session lasts around 20 minutes and is simply a helpful introduction to help you feel confident and settled at the Festival.

These sessions are free, but please book a ticket – it really helps us manage numbers and make sure there’s enough space for everyone. You’ll need a valid ticket such as a rover, individual event ticket or site pass to access the site and attend the session.