Cirencester History Festival is officially returning in 2025, with another lineup of top historians and Halloween fun for half term across the town's best venues.
And also returning — in a bigger role this year having been a last minute headliner at the inaugural event in autumn 2024 — is Cirencester's own Charlie Cooper, who joins the team as festival ambassador.
Star of the hit Cotswolds-set BBC series This Country, which he also co-wrote with his sister Daisy May Cooper, Charlie appeared at last year's event to chat to festival president Dame Fiona Reynolds about his other BBC series, Myth Country — a 'humorous odyssey' into the world of British folk traditions and rural legends.
Now the organisers have revealed Charlie will be back at the festival this year 'with more of his trademark charm and an eye for the weird and wonderful!'.
Charlie said: 'I love history, always have, and to be joining the Cirencester History Festival team is a total joy.
'For me, history isn’t about kings and wars, it’s about ordinary people and the thrill of discovering the traces of their obscure rites and rituals. That’s what I’ll be bringing to the lineup.'
Dates have also been confirmed for this year, with the festival taking place from Saturday 25 October to Sunday 2 November 2025.
The festival is organised by Cirencester Community Development Trust (CCDT) in collaboration with 17 historic venues in the town; and in association with Gloucester History Festival.
Its events range from headline talks with internationally renowned speakers to local interest, music, film, crafting, cookery and family activities for half term and Halloween.
Festival producer Jess Yarrow said: 'This festival is a true all-town collaboration and a labour of love.
'We’ve crafted something that combines education, community spirit, commercial opportunity, charity outreach and a lot of fun — and we’re really proud to show off our town to its best advantage.'
Tickets for this year's festival will be available from Friday 5 September 2025.
