About
Roe Valley Arts & Cultural Centre has partnered with the Steinbeck Festival team to host the 7th annual celebration of John Steinbeck's enduring legacy and his connection to Limavady. Running from 7–28 February, this vibrant festival offers a dynamic programme of music, theatre, talks, art, and storytelling, with something for everyone to enjoy.
STEINBECK IN GEORGIA
Saturday 8 February | 1.30pm | Free admission but booking essential
Talk and short film presentation by the internationally celebrated photographer James Hughes. In 1947, Steinbeck visited Georgia, Russia, and devoted two chapters of his book A Russian Journal to his experience. James traces Steinbeck's travels through riveting photographs he has taken of the same region.
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LIMAVADY BIG BAND
Saturday 8 February | 8pm (Doors 7.30pm) | Tickets £12
This event is cabaret style and BYOB
Dance the night away as the Limavady Big Band play some stomping numbers as well as American Classics.
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AN EVENING WITH LOCAL STORYTELLERS AND POETS
Thursday 13 February | 8pm (Doors 7.30pm) | Free admission but advance booking is essential
This event is cabaret style and BYOB
An evening when you can show your support for local poets, writers and storytellers, some performing for the first time on the big stage.
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WHISK(E)Y WARS
Friday 14 February | 8pm (Doors 7.30pm) | Tickets £15
This event is cabaret style with a limited bar
This highly acclaimed show could not fail to leave you moved. A tale so filled with passion and emotion and twists and turns and so true to life, that it makes you wonder exactly what is fact and what is it fiction. There will be a free whiskey tasting of our local award-winning whiskey 'Limavady 1750'.
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STEINBECK SATURDAY | DISCOVER THE LOCAL STEINBECK SITES
Saturday 15 February | 9-10.45am | Tickets £8
Minibus tour of local historical sites, with an emphasis on Steinbeck's visit to the Roe Valley in 1952. Meeting point is Cafe Steinbeck at Drumceatt Square.
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IN DUBIOUS BATTLE A talk by Dr Linda McKeown
Saturday 15 February | 11am | Free admission but booking essential
A regular at the Festival, Dr Linda McKeown will explain the novel and place it in its social context, outlining Steinbeck's thinking behind his writing of this important, but often overlooked, novel.
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LIMAVADY WORKHOUSE LUNCH AND TOUR
Saturday 15 February | 12.30 – 2.15pm | Tickets £30
Enjoy lunch in the beautiful surroundings of the 19th century former Workhouse followed by a brief tour of the building.
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STEINBECK SATURDAY | STEINBECK IN SOMERSET A talk by Dr Andrew Pickering FRHistS
Saturday 15 February | 2.30pm | Free admission but booking essential
In 1959 John Steinbeck spent nine months in the beautiful village of Bruton, in Somerset, England. Both Steinbeck and his wife Elaine would refer to this period as the happiest time of their lives together, with Steinbeck throwing himself into research on his lifelong obsession, the Legends of King Arthur.
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STEINBECK SATURDAY | MUIREANN BRADLEY Supported by Highly Strung
Saturday 15 February | 8pm (Doors 7.30pm) | Tickets £17
This event is in the auditorium with unreserved tiered seating with a limited bar
What a coup for the Steinbeck Festival to welcome seventeen-year-old Blues playing sensation Muireann Bradley to round off Steinbeck Saturday! After shooting to fame following her performance on the BBC's Jools Holland Show in 2023, her highly acclaimed album I Kept These Old Blues entered the top ten of the UK Albums Download Chart. Muireann graces the Danny Boy auditorium as part of an extensive tour of Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales.
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BLUE LIGHTS A talk by Declan Lawn and Louise Gallagher
Thursday 20 February | 8pm | Free admission but booking essential
From the team behind the hit television series 'Blue Lights', Declan Lawn and Louise Gallagher will discuss everything from script writing, to what is involved in producing a programme, as well as what goes on behind the scenes of a whole host of successful series.
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VOICES FROM A FAR FIELD Friday 28 February | 8pm (Doors 7.30pm) | Free admission but booking is essential
This event is cabaret style and BYOB
Closing event - an evening of music, stories and poetry. Hear work read in English, Irish and Ulster Scots, with participants coming from the fair and far-off fields of Letterkenny, Stranorlar, the Roe Valley and beyond.
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