Bestselling author Lee Child is set to appear at a popular arts festival.
The creator of the Jack Reacher series has been confirmed for this year’s Kirkby Lonsdale Festival of Ideas, which is set to kick off next month from February 7 to 20.
Organisers say his headline event sold out as soon as tickets became available.
Diane Nowell, co-founder of the festival, said: "We're beyond delighted to have tempted Lee back to Kirkby Lonsdale where his own creative journey began.
"We started the festival to offer a spark of inspiration—and illumination—at a particularly dark time of the year.
"We'd love to share this uplifting experience with as many people as possible, so do join us if you can."
The festival features more than 50 events spanning arts, science, and culture, including live performances, film screenings, and workshops.
Individual event tickets are still available for a range of activities, including Latin-inspired music from Poco Besos, family-friendly improv comedy from ComedySportz, a glamorous Gatsby-themed murder mystery event, and the comedy gameshow hi-jinks from Black Liver.
According to organisers, the full festival passes are now sold out.
The programme also includes six days of free half-term activities for families, such as science workshops, crafts, dance, and 'immersive' theatre.
Films exploring the festival’s 2026 theme, "Futures: Real and Imagined," are set to be shown at the Harlequin Theatre at QES and Lunesdale Hall.
Wellbeing sessions, including yoga and sound baths, will also be hosted at QEStudio School.
Child is a former resident of Kirkby Lonsdale and wrote the first Jack Reacher novel in his home overlooking the town’s church tower.
The thriller series has since become a global publishing phenomenon, leading to a multi-billion-dollar media franchise.
The festival is supported by several organisations, including the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, Lancaster University, Kirkby Lonsdale Chamber of Trade, Christopher Robins Trust, and Arnold Clark Community Fund.
Tickets for individual events can be purchased from https://illuminate.kirkbylonsdale.org.
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