There is one week to go before Swindon Festival of Literature kicks off with a jampacked schedule of events.

The event starts on May 5 and lasts a week until May 12 with events from circus to storytelling to singing at the crack of dawn.

Matt Holland has organised the year for over 30 years and in January reassured Swindonians that there would be a 2024 festival after earlier signs it might not happen.

The festival kicks-off with a book auction and sale on Sunday, but the proper beginning is the next day with the dawn chorus on Monday, May 6.

Starting at 5.30am in Lawn Woods, it promises ‘an exciting variety of performers who will put on a mesmerising show that celebrates the outdoors, the love of movement, and the joy of bringing people together’.

Later that day is the very first iteration of the Swindon Circus Festival, ‘a one-day all-day outdoor circus and arts event with performances and workshops’ also in Lawn Woods.

This runs from 10am to 6pm and will feature acrobatics, comedy, and everything else you might expect from a great day at the circus with the opportunity to try it all yourself.

A third highlight might be Tam Lin Retold, an oral storytelling and music show of folk tales brought by Forging Fantastical.

In The Kings Arms, the story of Tam Lin will be told by a singing storyteller and an instrumentalist.

This event costs £11, but many of the events are free or pay-as-you-can.

Sunday, May 5

Book Auction and Sale Lower Shaw Farm, West Swindon SN5 5PJ 2pm - 4pm

Monday, May 6

Dawn Chorus Lawn Woods, High Street, Old Town SN1 3EN 5.30am

Swindon Circus Festival Lawn Woods, High Street, Old Town SN1 3EN 10am - 6pm

Roger Morgan-Grenville Waterstones, 3 Canal Walk SN1 1LD 6.15pm

Tuesday, May 7

Dr Caroline Campbell Arts Centre, Devizes Road SN1 4BJ 12.30pm

Mum's the Word Lower Shaw Farm, West Swindon SN5 5PJ 7pm

Wednesday, May 8

Pop-up Poetry Town Gardens, Quarry Road SN1 4EN 11am - 1pm

Anne-Marie O'Dwyer Arts Centre, Devizes Road SN1 4BJ 12.30pm

A Downland Poetry Walk The Ridgeway south of Ashbury 2pm - 5pm

Eleanor Barker-White Waterstones, 3 Canal Walk SN1 1LD 6.15pm

Jo Bell Lower Shaw Farm, West Swindon SN5 5PJ 6.30pm

Downland book launch Lower Shaw Farm, West Swindon SN5 5PJ 7.30pm

Tam Lin Retold The Kings Arms, Upstairs, Wood Street SN1 4AB 7pm

Thursday May, 9

Elizabeth Oldfield Lower Shaw Farm, West Swindon SN5 5PJ 12.30pm

Mark Rutterford The Hop Inn Function Room, Devizes Road SN1 4BH 7.30pm

Friday May, 10

Marcus du Sautoy Arts Centre, Devizes Road SN1 4BJ 12.30pm

Paterson Sofa Screening, Create Studios, 10 Carriage Works, London Street SN1 5FB 9pm

Hilary Bradt Arts Centre, Devizes Road SN1 4BJ 6.30pm

Felice Hardy Arts Centre, Devizes Road SN1 4BJ 8pm

Friday May, 11

Marcus du Sautoy Arts Centre, Devizes Road SN1 4BJ 12.30pm

Paterson Sofa Screening, Create Studios, 10 Carriage Works, London Street SN1 5FB 9pm

Hilary Bradt Arts Centre, Devizes Road SN1 4BJ 6.30pm

Felice Hardy Arts Centre, Devizes Road SN1 4BJ 8p

Sunday May, 12

Children & Families Day Lower Shaw Farm, West Swindon SN5 5PJ 10am - 4pm

Festival Finale Arts Centre, Devizes Road SN1 4BJ 7.30pm