Visit Seattle to sponsor 25th edition of Hay Festival Winter Weekend

Thursday, Nov 21, 2024 0

Visit Seattle is set to partner with Hay Festival to celebrate the city’s literary heritage at Hay Festival Winter Weekend from 28 November – 1 December. Over four days, visitors flock to the ‘town of books’, where more than 70 acclaimed artists take part in over 60 events, featuring conversations, storytelling, comedy, arts and music in the Welsh town of Hay-on-Wye.

With the love of stories engrained in the city’s fabric, Seattle’s Native American ancestors set the groundwork for storytelling from its inception. With UNESCO City of Literature status, the city boasts a rich array of writers, independent bookstores, diverse publishers, and literary organisations, offering a connection between tale, people and place. Boasting an impressive public library system, including its architecturally renowned Central library, Seattle is the perfect exploration ground for the avid book lover.

Visit Seattle will be sponsoring the following events featuring acclaimed authors, comedians and actors from across the globe:

Friday 29 November: Luke Evans talks to Carol Vorderman
Saturday 30th November: Paula Hawkins talks to Julia Gillard
Saturday 30th November: Glyn Edwards
Sunday 1st December: Rupert Everett talks to Natalie Hayne
Sunday 1st December: Russell Kane

Visit Seattle will proudly highlight its own literary talent by teaming up with the Winter Weekend Book Store to bring attendees the very best literature from the West Coast city, including reading material from its Bookmarked Series and banned books series. Guests can also have their photos taken at the Visit Seattle photobooth and find out more about the city.

Tammy Canavan, President & CEO, Visit Seattle said: “Hay on Wye, being fondly known as the ”town of books”, couldn’t be a more fitting location to highlight Seattle’s UNESCO City of Literature status to a UK audience.

“Seattle wouldn’t be the place it is without the culture, famous names and Native American ancestors who set the groundwork for storytelling. We’re really excited to sponsor events featuring an array of globally renowned talented individuals. We hope the weekend will encourage culture lovers to book a trip and visit Seattle to follow in the footsteps of our literary legends themselves. ”

Hay Festival Global CEO, Julie Finch, said: “We are delighted to be working with the Visit Seattle team for the first time, connecting audiences across borders in a celebration of new ideas, joy and hope – what better way for a year-end festival to end one year and spring into the next? We’ll offer a world of different experiences at Hay Festival Winter Weekend 2024, sharing a heady dose of entertainment alongside some bold visions for the future. This will be our biggest Winter Weekend yet and none of that would be possible without the support of our artists, partners and funders. Join us!”

Look out for Visit Seattle at this year’s Hay Festival Winter Weekend from 28 November to 01 December. Visit: https://www.hayfestival.com/winter-weekend/home to book tickets now.