I’m back from vacation to bring you more great Narnia news than you can possibly dream of. I can’t give specifics of my vacation, but I can say that I did visit Middle-earth while I was in New Zealand, and that I saw wonderful, weird and marvelous creatures while I was away. Onto the news: The C.S. Lewis Festival returns for its seventh year, expanding its offerings into early October.
Stretching from Oct. 1 through Nov. 23, the festival explores the famed author’s works and life.
Festival executive director Anne McDevitt said one of the biggest highlights of the festival will be a visit from Walter Hooper of Oxford, England.
“In the world of C.S. Lewis, there is no one more respected than Walter Hooper. He served as estate advisor and also as the editor of the works of C.S. Lewis, and he’s credited with keeping (Lewis’) books enormously popular. He also was a close personal friend of Lewis, so it’s rare that we get to encounter people who actually knew Lewis,” McDevitt said.
Scheduled events are as follows:
— “The Four Loves” by C.S. Lewis book discussions are at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 1, and Thursday, Oct. 8, at McLean & Eakin, Booksellers, in Petoskey, and 6-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21, at Charlevoix Public Library in Charlevoix. Dennis Duggan will lead the Thursday discussions, while Beth Strawbridge will lead the Wednesday discussion. Freewill donations will be accepted.
— “The Magic Never Ends: The Life and Works of C.S. Lewis” PBS documentary will be shown 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 7, at the Otsego County Library, Gaylord. Producer David Crouse will show the film and lead the discussion that follows.
— “Just an Inkling” October pub nights are 7 p.m. Mondays, Oct. 12, 19 and 26, at Stafford’s Perry Hotel. These nights feature readings, discussions and debates on Lewis’ works.
— Festival keynote speaker and author Dr. James Como will sign his books 3-5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23, at McLean & Eakin, Booksellers, in Petoskey.
— The Manthei speaker series hosts keynote addresses at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23, at the North Central Michigan College cafeteria in Petoskey. The first speaker will be Dr. James Como, professor of rhetoric and public communications at York College of the City University of New York and co-founder of the New York C.S. Lewis Society. He will speak on “Aristotle, C.S. Lewis and the Virtue of Friendship.” The other speaker will be Walter Hooper, estate advisor and editor of the works of C.S. Lewis, who will speak on “My Friendship with C.S. Lewis with Readings.” There will be a question-and-answer session following the addresses.
— The Saturday seminar of C.S. Lewis and friends is 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, at the North Central Michigan College library conference center. The seminar features Como, Hooper and Kim Gilnett of Seattle Pacific University. Topics are: “Aristotle, C.S. Lewis and the Virtue of Friendship,” “Oxford and Beyond: A Geography of C.S. Lewis’ Friendship” and “The Friends of C.S. Lewis: Parties.” A panel discussion will feature the above speakers, as well as Dr. Christopher Mitchell, director of Marion E. Wade Center at Wheaton College, and Marjorie Mead, associate director of the Wade Center at Wheaton College. Cost is $50 for the full day and $30 for a half day. Register at www.cslewisfestival.org.
— An opening reception for Michael Morris’ Narnia-inspired works will be 3:30-5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, at Stafford’s Gallery of Art and History next to the Stafford’s Perry Hotel in Petoskey. Refreshments will be served. The work will be on display through Nov. 23.
— “Spoken Groove” featuring Peter Nevland is 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 1, at Petoskey United Methodist Church in Petoskey. Nevland talks about his life with candor, humor and passion in this all-ages show. A freewill donation will be taken.
— The C.S. Lewis juried fine art exhibition and opening reception is 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6, in the lower level of Crooked Tree Arts Center in Petoskey. On display will be interpretations by area artists of C.S. Lewis’ “The Four Loves.” The exhibit runs through mid-December.
— The children’s performance of “Prince Caspian” is 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Nov. 13-14, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 15, at Harbor Light Community Chapel, 8333 Clayton Road, Harbor Springs. Tickets are $5 for students and seniors, $7 for adults and $25 for immediate family. For more information, call (231) 838-6320 or visit www.nmyt.org.
— The C.S. Lewis writing workshops for area fifth-graders culminate with a reading and reception at 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 23, at Petoskey Middle School.
For more information on the events, visit www.cslewisfestival.org.