It Takes a Village Festival Programme
Written 28 Sept 2026
Thursday 22nd October
Stitching Our Village with Kirsty Harris - 10:30am - 12:30pm
Join theatre designer Kirsty Harris to create a tablecloth for our collective village to feast around as part of Hurly Burly's performance on Friday. Using simple embroidery techniques, we’ll stitch the names of our caring circle into the cloth and share some stories as we sew.
Aromatherapy Calming Potions with Rebecca Bookless - 11am - 12:30pm
Enjoy a peaceful morning of music, scent and mindfulness with midwife Rebecca Bookless. While Mia Mai plays the harp for us, our aromatherapy session offers parents and carers a chance to pause, breathe and unwind.
Don't Forget to Scream with Niamh Riordan - 11:30am - 12:15pm
Join artist & writer, Niamh Riordan who will explore books from our It Takes A Village Library Collection, through reading excerpts to open up discussions and conversations around motherhood, care, family and life. The title takes inspiration from a chapter in Rachel Cusk’s A Life’s Work, one of the books that Niamh will read from.
Taking Flight with Movema World Dance - 1pm - 2pm
Dancers Pei Yee Tong & Riddhi Soni will share an interactive performance & movement session exploring belonging, home and community. Hone your nesting instincts as we meet the Feng Huang (鳳 凰), the mythical Phoenix bird from Chinese Culture and the Peacock, inspired by the traditional symbol of India. As their story unfolds, families will be invited to move, play & help build the nest and protect their delicate egg.
Friday 23rd October
Hurly Burly After Party Playlab - 11am - 4pm
An immersive performance environment inviting babies and their grown ups to explore the world through live music, song, movement and play. Drop in any time, come and go as you please, from 11am - 4pm to experience a series of live performances at your own pace, responding to your baby's curiosity.
Let us know you are coming here.
Finding Your Flow with Emma Hirons - 12pm - 1pm
A gentle, intuitive movement session for parents and carers of pre-crawling babies. Creative wellbeing facilitator Emma Hirons, will guide you through a free-flowing movement session, connecting to your body and inner self at a time when your focus is very often on new little people in your life! Places limited, booking essential.
Great Expectations with Dora Colquhoun - 1:30pm - 3pm
What would you tell your younger self about motherhood? What wisdom has been handed down via your mother or grandmother? What's surprised you or shocked you the most about becoming a parent? Artist Dora Colquhoun invites you to a meeting of minds exploring motherhood: the good, the bad and the ugly!
Saturday 24th October
Zine Club - 10:30am - 1:30pm
You're invited to this special edition of Zine Club with Lucy Sledge, aka Baby Slobber Zines!
Lucy will show you how to make your own zine and share some of her previous creations including "Sleep Time" and "Weird Stuff People Said to me While I Was Pregnant". Make a page for our collective zine or a whole one of your own. No experience needed and all materials provided.
Squish! Saturday Special 10.30 - 12.00 pm
Creative slow play and experimental music session for under 5s and their carers with Dan Astles and Soph Gossage. Come and make some noise!
All Three Days
It Takes A Village Library
A specially curated selection of fiction, poetry and prose, for both adults and children, exploring babyhood, matrescence and the experience of becoming a parent.
Quiet Space Installation
A place to relax, hang out, or feed your baby, designed by artist Kirsty Barlow. Quiet Space is a temporary installation exploring how fabric, colour and connection to nature can support moments of reflection within public environments. Recently appearing at Just So Festival, it has been adapted for Crosby Library to create a space for sensory respite and calm.
Sefton Breastfeeding Support - 11am - 2pm
Drop in and meet the Sefton Breastfeeding Support team, who will be in the festival Quiet Space on Thursday & Friday from 11am - 2pm, offering friendly advice, practical help and emotional support for pregnant women and new mums. For more information visit here.