Would you like to enjoy more stories and reading together at home? Join Cheltenham Festivals for our free, friendly Family book group.

Parents & Carers Book Group (Ages 3–6)

This friendly, parent‑and‑carer‑only group offers a relaxed space for adults to explore children’s books, share ideas, and enjoy discovering new stories. Although the sessions focus on books for children aged 3 to 6, the group itself is designed for adults to attend without children, giving everyone time to take part comfortably and enjoy the discussions.

Cheltenham Festivals will be leading the sessions throughout the year, creating a welcoming environment where families can connect, talk about books they enjoy at home, and pick up creative ways to make reading feel fun and engaging. Each month, participants receive a free children’s book to take home, along with simple, optional activities that can be used to bring stories to life in everyday family routines.

Everyone is welcome, whether reading is already a big part of family life or you are simply looking for new ideas. There is no assessment, no expectations and no required background, just an open, informal space to enjoy books and meet other parents and carers.

The group runs monthly, with each session building gently on themes introduced previously. To help everyone get the most from the programme and to ensure spaces are used fairly, we ask participants to book with the intention of attending the full series.

What you’ll experience

Each session offers the chance to explore a new children’s book, hear about creative ways families enjoy reading together, and take home practical ideas that can be adapted to suit your own routines. The atmosphere is informal and conversation‑based, with plenty of opportunity to share experiences and discover new stories.

Important information

This is a parent‑and‑carer‑only group. Children are not able to attend, as the sessions are designed to give adults dedicated time and space to participate fully. If more than one parent or carer wishes to join, each person will need to book their own place so that numbers remain manageable.

Session Dates

🗓️ 9:30am - 11:00am

Thursday 24 September

Thursday 22 October

Thursday 24 November

Thursday 17 December

Thursday 28 January

Thursday 25 February

Thursday 25 March

Thursday 29 April

Thursday 27 May

Thursday 24 June

Thursday 29 July

Description supplied by the event organiser.