BOOK LOVERS turned out in force to celebrate their literary passions and catch a glimpse of their heroes at the Lowdham Book Festival over the weekend.
Yesterday, author and broadcaster Simon Mayo spoke to the crowds at Lowdham Village Hall, discussing his children's book Itch and his experiences as a radio presenter.
Jane Streeter, one of the organisers of the Lowdham festival, said the event was going particularly well this year.
She added: "We've had a really nice mix of people. It's going really well."
And next weekend, visitors can expect a packed schedule of literary activities, with a talk from Second World War poetry expert John Lucas just one of a plethora of events taking place.
On top of that, the festival is going on tour with a host of events taking at the Bromley House Library in Long Row in the city today.
Steff Harrison, 63, went to the Simon Mayo event with her husband, Andy.
And Mrs Harrison, from Gunthorpe, said: "This is the first time we've been.
"It is a badge of honour for the area; everyone has heard of the Hay-on-Wye festival, but this is so good."
In Sherwood, knitters covered the area in their yarns as part of a week-long arts festival.
The Sherwood Arts Festival runs through to next weekend and included the "yarn bombing" event which saw bus stops adorned with knitted cushions and knitted apples hanging from trees on Saturday.
Natasha East is on the committee that organised the event.
She said: "It's been brilliant – the comments have been fantastic.
"People coming out of pubs have been taking pictures and there's loads of people looking, touching things and sitting on the benches."
In Carlton, ten football teams took part in a charity five-a-side competition – raising more than £1,000 for Barnardo's.
Oliver Bowler is business development manager for Talbot and Muir, the firm behind the event.
He said: "It's gone really well even though the weather was a bit hit and miss."
The event also included a variety of food and drink stalls and competitions.
Beeston residents flocked to a festival celebrating the best of the area.
The event opened with an arts and crafts fair in Beeston Square from 10am through to 4pm on Saturday.
There was also a teddy bear trail on Friday and a family fun day and jazz festival at the Commercial Inn, in Wollaton Road, on Saturday.
