Roll up, roll up, not for the fair but for something just as much fun because of the variety of events on offer, all in one place, Helpston, over two Summer days.

The celebrations start on Friday 11th July 2025 at St. Botolph’s Church when the children of the John Clare Primary School gather to bring their Midsummer Cushions and to receive prizes in the annual Poetry Competition. The whole school attends, together with parents, friends, grandparents, carers, neighbours – everyone is very welcome. The start time is 1pm, but please gather in the churchyard from 12.45pm.

This is followed in the early evening by Choral Evensong, again in the Church, organised by the Rector, Gary Alderson. This is from 6-7pm and is free to attend, as is the Folk Evening immediately afterwards, held at the John Clare Cottage. Musicians, singers and spectators – come to enjoy the live music, and there will be a bar and a raffle with lots of great prizes. If you can’t make the whole evening why not pop in for an hour? These events are open to the public as well as to Society members.

On Saturday 12th July the Church will be open from 8.30am for refreshments. The John Clare Society AGM is from 10-11am and after that there will be a whole day of activities, including walks and talks. A particular highlight will be the Presidential Address by Professor John Goodridge, when he interviews Ian Collins, the biographer of our Founding President, Ronald Blythe, who died aged 100 in January 2023.

Lunches and teas (no booking required but don’t leave it too late) will be available in the Village Hall 12 – 1.30pm and 2.30 – 5pm. In the afternoon Richard Astle of the Langdyke Trust will give a talk in the Church about The John Clare Countryside Project, there will be two Open Gardens to visit on Woodgate, a chance to read your favourite poems, a guided walk, and stalls in Botolph’s Barn (ground floor) will have new and second-hand books for sale.

In the evening we are delighted to welcome Cut-a-Caper, a band from the Northampton area, who are going to entertain us in St. Botolph’s Church with songs and poetry, with words by and about John Clare. Starting at 6.30pm and finishing at about 7.50pm, tickets are £10 each, two for £18 if ordered and paid for in advance or £8.50 to Friends of the Festival members.

There will be an official, printed Programme and this will be available in June and July for collection in Helpston, or by post if you join the Friends of the Festival (maximum of 50 members), organised once again by Sue Holgate. For £5 per person you will be able to support the free-to-attend Festival, receive a Programme in advance and make a priority booking for discounted tickets.

The Programme is not just a timetable to help you to plan your visit, but will be full of interesting articles and poems, based around this year’s theme of “School Days”. And it is, of course, a lovely souvenir of the 2025 Festival, which you can then keep as a reminder of these special times spent in the birthplace of John Clare, making and rekindling friendships and memories.

Please keep an eye on our Facebook page (The John Clare Society) as well as this website for any late changes to the schedule. We very much look forward to seeing members, friends, family and local residents in Helpston in July.