WHERE IT BEGAN
The first Berry Writers’ Festival took place in October 2022, the initiative of founder and inaugural Artistic Director, Suzanne Burdon. She gathered a group of like-minded locals who shared her passion for books and writers, and together they turned the idea of a festival into reality.
Originally planned for 2021, the event was postponed due to the pandemic, but community support never faltered. Funds were raised through grants, local businesses, and private donors; volunteers rallied; and anticipation grew.
When the doors finally opened in 2022, the festival was judged by writers and audiences alike to be a resounding success. Across two days, more than 50 authors and speakers took part in 21 sessions and six workshops, drawing strong crowds and selling 2,494 tickets. It was the beginning of a new cultural tradition in Berry.
BERRY WRITERS' FESTIVAL 2024
The second Berry Writers’ Festival was held over three days in October 2024, once again buoyed by the energy and commitment of the Berry community. Under the artistic direction of Mary Cunnane, with Tori Haschka as Associate Artistic Director, the program was expanded significantly – taking place across six venues and featuring over 90 authors and thought leaders.
Alongside the main program, the festival hosted free community events and a dedicated Schools Day, where a noted children’s author engaged with students from five local schools – more than 1,600 children in total. This strong focus on accessibility and inclusion added a new dimension to the festival’s impact.
Audiences responded enthusiastically: 3,000 tickets were sold, and post-festival surveys recorded an extraordinary 95% satisfaction rating. It was, in every sense, a landmark weekend, firmly cementing the Berry Writers’ Festival as a much-anticipated fixture on the cultural calendar.
The 2026 Festival will take place 23-25 October.
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