newy.com.au – Author Peter FitzSimons and broadcaster Marc Fennell will headline Lake Macquarie’s History Illuminated festival, which runs from 30 October to 8 November and includes more than 30 talks, tours, exhibitions and cultural activities.
Presented by Lake Mac Libraries, the festival will open at Warners Bay Theatre on 30 October. FitzSimons will discuss his latest book, The Race to the Top of the World, about George Mallory, Edmund Hillary and their efforts to reach the summit of Mount Everest.
Fennell, host of the television and podcast series Stuff the British Stole, will appear at the same venue on 3 November for a discussion about contested artefacts, history and culture.
The program also includes a history cruise led by broadcaster Scott Bevan exploring Reid’s Mistake, military history presentations by Mike Carlton and World War II tours led by local historian Jacob Ure. Aboriginal cultural experiences and exhibitions examining local heritage will feature throughout the festival.
Lake Macquarie City Council’s arts, culture and tourism manager Jacqui Hemsley said the program would bring together authors, historians, researchers and local experts.
“It offers people of all ages the chance to hear from nationally recognised speakers and explore the rich stories that have shaped Lake Macquarie.”
The festival will conclude with Through the Lens: 120 years of Council, a photographic exhibition tracing changes in the Lake Macquarie community over that period.
Bookings are essential. The program includes free events, activities requiring a gold coin donation and paid sessions. Program details and bookings are available through Lake Mac Libraries’ History Illuminated festival page.
