 Inspire's new What's On brochure is here!
Our brand-new What’s On Guide for August to November 2025 has arrived – and it’s our biggest yet, with 40 pages packed full of exciting events and activities for all ages!
You can browse the guide online or pick up a free copy from your local library or Nottinghamshire Archives.
Kicking off the summer holidays is the 2025 Summer Reading Challenge: Story Garden! We’re also bringing an incredible line-up of family theatre to libraries across the county, with three brilliant productions to enjoy.
The Inspire Poetry Festival is back for 2025, with performances, workshops, films and a whole week of wonderful words in store. Plus, don’t miss the return of Heritage Open Days this September, offering a chance to explore local architecture and try out new experiences for free!
Read on to discover what's happening near you.
Family Fun
Summer Reading Challenge: Story Garden!
FREE Inspire Libraries
Saturday 5 July - Sunday 7 September
Dig into brilliant books with the summer reading challenge!
The 2025 Summer Reading Challenge, Story Garden is blossoming across Nottinghamshire. Story Garden celebrates nature and the great outdoors, exploring adventure, fantasy and the magical world of storytelling.
The challenge invites children aged four to 11, to read six or more library books over the summer. There are stickers to collect along the way and a medal and certificate for every child who completes the challenge.
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Family Theatre: The Quest for Planet P
£4 library members / £7 non-library members
Touring Inspire Libraries Tuesday 12 August to Sunday 17 August
Follow Ozmo & Orbi, two brave little aliens, as they set off on an amazing journey to find the perfect planet! When cracks start appearing and chaos hits their world, the grown-up aliens can’t agree on how to fix things. So, it’s up to Ozmo & Orbi to lead the way and find a new, perfect planet to live on. Along the way, they discover that the solution might be closer to home than they think.
A heartfelt, dynamic and inspiring story about fighting for the planet we love and showing how even the smallest voices can make a big impact. For children aged four to nine and their grown-ups.
Programmed in association with The Spark Arts for Children.
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Fun Palace
FREE Worksop Library
Saturday 4 October, 10am to 3pm
Fun Palaces is a campaign for culture at the heart of community, and community at the heart of culture.
Once again Worksop Library will join hundreds of Fun Palaces nationally and internationally set to explode with free and fun activities for all!
Come along and be part of the fun as you try out different arts, science, music and cultural activities aimed at anyone of any age.
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Virtual Reality Library
FREE Inspire Libraries
Saturday 27 September to Sunday 12 October
Beeston, Worksop and Mansfield Central Library
The innovative digital spaces programme, in collaboration with Arts Council England, BFI, with National Lottery Funding, and The Space, will bring more exciting VR experiences to libraries this autumn.
Be amazed by thrilling experiences including Wallace & Gromit in The Grand Getaway and Laika, the graphic novel adaptation following the true story of earth’s first space traveller – Laika the dog!
Plus: step into immersive films with Nottinghamshire makers, filmed and created with students of Brunts Academy, Mansfield.
Suitable for ages 10 and above.
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I am a Storyteller
FREE Inspire Libraries
Saturday 1 November to Saturday 29 November
Calling all families! Do you enjoy sharing and creating stories? Do you have big imaginations? Then don’t miss our free storytelling workshops for families this November.
With the guidance of one of our professional storytellers, at each workshop, you’ll have the chance to stretch your imaginations and invent wonderful stories.
For children aged seven and above, and their families.
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Wrapped!
FREE West Bridgford Library
Saturday 16 August to Monday 29 September
Come and see a heart-warming exhibition, where woolly works of art, and the act of giving are intertwined!
An exhibition of beautiful wrapped scarves is on display in West Bridgford Library Gallery this summer. It's a visually stunning celebration of yarn crafts, highlighting the generosity of the knitters and crocheters in donating their hand made scarves to a cause – and it's a perfect example of a creative community coming together to share their skills!
Scarves made for Wrapped and showcased in the exhibition will be donated with help from Trussell.
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Black British Ballet
FREE Inspire Libraries
Inspire is delighted to be a partner and host library for Into the Light: Pioneers of Black British Ballet, a powerful exhibition and accompanying event series celebrating overlooked trailblazers in British ballet from the 1940s to present.
Discover stories of resilience, artistry and change through talks, dance and photography workshops, and a special panel event.This free programme shines a light on the history of Black British ballet and explores the rich and varied careers of black dancers in ballet and beyond.
A unique partnership between creative agency Oxygen Arts and Libraries Connected, the exhibition will visit 25 libraries. It opened in Stockport and Redbridge in October 2024 and continues until November 2025.
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Heritage Open Days
FREE Inspire Libraries
Friday 12 September to Sunday 21 September
Welcome to England’s largest festival of history and culture!
Every September thousands of volunteers across England organise events to celebrate our fantastic history and culture.
It’s your chance to see hidden places and try out new experiences. Join us for a series of archaeology-themed events and escape games at libraries and Nottinghamshire Archives!
Enjoy fascinating talks such as Architectural Curiosities of Retford and Recent Archaeological Discoveries in Nottinghamshire, or test your skills by solving fiendish clues before the timer runs out in our thrilling Archives Escape game.
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Inspire Poetry Festival
FREE Inspire Libraries
Thursday 25 September to Thursday 2 October
Inspire Poetry Festival is back for 2025! With performances, workshops, films and an exhibition, it’s set to be a week of wonderful words. Look out for the full printed programme in your local library and online, coming soon!
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Adult Learning Courses
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Our brand new course guide for Autumn 2025 is coming soon! It's packed with courses for the new term, including tasty cooking classes, crafty activities, health and wellbeing, languages, music, and more! You'll also be able to discover our huge range of accredited courses, plus qualifications in maths, english, IT and digital skills.
Our new course guide will be launched on August 11, along with our brand new booking system. Once it's live, all our courses will be available to book on our website - make sure you check back then to browse and book your place!
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