Popular children’s author and illustrator Nick Sharratt helped draw the crowds as Farnham Maltings rounded off the summer with a packed family festival.

Sharratt entertained families with a live drawalong of some of his favourite characters at the festival on Saturday, September 26.

The day also featured performances, art, crafts and storytelling, including comedy circus from Out of the Box and stories on the front lawn with Cat & Hutch.

Illustrator and author Nick Sharratt at Farnham Maltings.
Illustrator and author Nick Sharratt at Farnham Maltings. (James Wills)

Visitors created a miniature world with community artist Becci Kenning and composer Tom Cook, while children made mythical pottery creatures, marionette puppets and prints.

The Museum of Farnham offered mammoth finger puppets, Surrey Music Hub hosted beat-making and there were natural crafts from Space2Grow.

A silent disco, balloon modeller and face painting added to the entertainment, while youngsters met puppets from the forthcoming Sir Charlie Stinky Socks & The Really Big Adventure.

The festival was supported by donations to the Maltings’ Arts for Impact Big Give campaign, which helped provide subsidised tickets and free places.

Peter Glanville, Farnham Maltings chief executive and creative director, said: “This year’s family festival was probably the best yet. The building was jam-packed with families having fun and engaging in a whole range of creative activities.

“A huge thank you to everyone who came along and to all who supported this event by donating to our Big Give campaign earlier this year.”