Glowworm Festival Turns 10: Richard Walpole on Building One of the UK's Leading Family Festivals
Arts & Toast with Kirsty Corbett
Thursday, 23 July 2026 - 12 minutes
Gloworm Festival celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2026, marking a decade of creating affordable, unforgettable family experiences in the heart of the East Midlands. In this episode, Festival Director Richard Walpole shares the inspiring story behind one of the UK's most successful family festivals, revealing how a family-first approach has helped Gloworm thrive while many other events have struggled.Ahead of this year's festival at Thoresby Park in Nottinghamshire (7–9 August 2026), Richard talks about the realities of organising a large-scale event, the challenges and triumphs of growing a festival over the past decade, and why combining nostalgia with fresh entertainment continues to delight audiences of all ages. The conversation also includes behind-the-scenes stories, including the surprisingly memorable risk assessment for the one and only Mr Blobby.Whether you're interested in festivals, live events, entrepreneurship, family entertainment or business resilience, this episode offers valuable insights into building a successful brand that keeps people coming back year after year.📍 Thoresby Park🗓️ 7 - 9 August 2026🎟️ https://glowormfestival.co.uk/If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review and share it with anyone who loves festivals, entrepreneurship, family entertainment and inspiring stories from behind the scenes.
