The annual Children of Winchester Festival (COWfest) returned to the city recently after the last two runs were affected by the pandemic.

The festival is co-ordinated by local charity the Winchester Sport Art and Leisure Trust, with most of the events held at the Arc in Jewry Street.

Hampshire Chronicle:

Held on February 11, children could gain free entry to the Westgate and City Museums, as well as the Adjutant General's Corps Museum.

P&G Wells bookshop also had several readings and workshops with children's authors.

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Hampshire Chronicle:

Chief executive Emma Back said: “The festival was very busy this year with most workshops and activity sessions fully booked well before the event. The Arc was a hive of activity all day, and it seemed to go well at all the other venues too.

Hampshire Chronicle:

“Overall, it seems as if local families really enjoyed COWfest this year. We've had some lovely feedback from those who attended. I sense that people feel more comfortable mixing in venues again, after several years of festivals being affected by Covid-19 restrictions, and I think that free events like COWfest are particularly welcome at the moment given the cost of living crisis. Hopefully, we can make COWfest even bigger and better next year.”