Festival event listing

The CBA and Forestry England are proud to welcome you to the launch event for the 35th Festival of Archaeology. This free family friendly event will be held at the Westonbirt Arboretum, the ideal location to explore this year's festival theme, nature. Join us for a wide range of free events and activities, including themed walks through the wonderful Arboretum landscape, experimental archaeology demonstrations, craft activities, living heritage displays and talks with some of the most exciting voices in British archaeology today.

This Festival of Archaeology meet Alex and Paul from Guarderobe, who share a lifelong love of archaeology and Roman history. As historical interpreters, they bring the past to life through hands-on demonstrations of Roman crafts, showing the tools, skills, and techniques used nearly 2,000 years ago. It’s a friendly and fascinating way to discover the craftsmanship behind everyday life in Roman Britain.

Step into the frozen world of Mammoth Rider in this immersive event with author S.J. Poyton.

Meet Cookie, Chedworth’s Roman cook, bringing flavours from the past to life. On selected days during the Festival of Archaeology, she will demonstrate traditional cooking, including grinding grain into flour, baking bread the authentic Roman way, and preparing simple dishes using historic techniques. Visitors can have a go at grinding grain, using the same methods as the Romans. It’s a lively and engaging glimpse into everyday life in a Roman kitchen at the villa.

Join us for two weeks of live demonstrations, ancient skills, and encounters with characters from the past. Discover Roman life and see history brought to life across the site.

We are very excited to invite you to join us for our FREE Skills Day. 

This Festival of Archaeology meet Alex and Paul from Guarderobe, who share a lifelong love of archaeology and Roman history. As historical interpreters, they bring the past to life through hands-on demonstrations of Roman crafts, showing the tools, skills, and techniques used nearly 2,000 years ago. It’s a friendly and fascinating way to discover the craftsmanship behind everyday life in Roman Britain.

Meet Cookie, Chedworth’s Roman cook, bringing flavours from the past to life. On selected days during the Festival of Archaeology, she will demonstrate traditional cooking, including grinding grain into flour, baking bread the authentic Roman way, and preparing simple dishes using historic techniques. Visitors can have a go at grinding grain, using the same methods as the Romans. It’s a lively and engaging glimpse into everyday life in a Roman kitchen at the villa.

Join us for two weeks of live demonstrations, ancient skills, and encounters with characters from the past. Discover Roman life and see history brought to life across the site.