What's Your Story, Chorley?
Enjoy our annual festival of words
Date
We are delighted to welcome back our 'What's your Story, Chorley?' event to Chorley town centre for 2023!
After the success of last year's event in March 2022, it's great news that we can welcome the much loved event back to Chorley.
We have so much on offer with published authors, writers, poets, musicians, arts and crafts and much more! There will be workshops, performances and people sharing their own stories across the town centre.
This event has expanded over the years into a wonderful arts festival, with so much to offer for visitors of all ages! Our popular book bench trail will return across the town centre, with thanks to local schools, nurseries and community groups for creating these for us.
So put the date in your diary and get involved - we can't wait to welcome you back!
What's it all about?
What's Your Story, Chorley? is organised by a group of dedicated volunteers and Chorley Council.
The event is based on a similar concept to Chorley Live and gives authors, writers and storytellers of all kinds the chance to showcase their craft in a range of venues in Chorley town centre. You can meet the authors and get a chance to develop your writing skills, listen to poetry or watch dramatic presentations. Plus, you can pick up a leaflet and follow the book bench trail around Chorley town centre. Look out for the fabulous book benches which have been hand painted by schools, nurseries and community groups across the Chorley borough.
Plus check out our pre-event information below.
Follow the Book Bench Trail
The book benches will be scattered around Chorley town centre for people to find. This year we will also have a fun quiz and a prize to be won!
There will also be a community book bench for visitors to come and paint their favourite book characters on. This will be located outside the Covered Market on Cleveland Street.
Book bench trail leaflets are available to pick up from Chorley Town Hall reception, Union Street Council Offices, Chorley Library, Covered Market - (side of noticeboard), Ebb & Flo bookshop, Malcolm's Musicland and Bubble n Shake.
You can also fill in our online book bench trail and send it to us by email at: events@chorley.gov.uk to be in with a chance of winning a prize!
You must download and save the above trail to your phone or smart device to fill in your answers!
On the back of the leaflets you will find the Book Bench Quiz. Find each book bench on the trail and answer the question related to the book benches. Then return your completed book bench trail leaflets to Chorley Library or via email to events@chorley.gov.uk for your chance to win prizes! Some benches will have a QR code on to display all the information about the book, the author and how the schools have created these benches. Be sure to check it out!
After the event, the book benches will be returned to schools for the children to enjoy, and to inspire reading for years to come.
Getting here
By car
Use junction 8 off the M61 or junction 28 off the M6. Chorley town centre is easily accessed from the A6, which passes directly through Chorley.
Parking
By Bus
Chorley is well-served by bus routes linking the town centre with surrounding villages. The main bus route is the 125/126, which links Chorley to Preston and Bolton. There are also direct bus routes from Greater Manchester, Merseyside and the Lake District.
By Rail
Chorley is on the main train line between Manchester and Blackpool. If you are travelling on a long distance service you will need to change at Manchester or Preston.