No Limits 2025: Free Family Festival this weekend at Normanby Hall Country Park

Leo Park – Known as @draw_vengers, Leo is a 16-year-old artist from South Korea whose work blends imagination and reality, inspired by literature, history, and architecture, and The Rabbit Hole have known Leo since he was just a child. He has travelled widely with his “Drawing the World” projects and continues to impress with his creativity. 20th and 21st September.

Nick Sharratt – Illustrator of a range of board books for babies to novels for young teenagers. He has worked with authors including Julia Donaldson, Jeremy Strong, Michael Rosen, Giles Andreae, Kaye Umansky, Kes Gray and most notably Dame Jacqueline Wilson and written around 40 of his own books. 21st September.

Jenny McClachlan – Bestselling author of the much-loved Land of Roar series, with the fourth book released earlier this year. Jenny provides a welcoming and fun area for families to relax in and get creative together at the festival and no doubt there will be a dragon or two around to join in the fun! 20th and 21st September.

Mama G – A celebrated pantomime dame, author, and performer known for inspiring families with stories about self-acceptance and confidence. With nearly twenty years in panto, she has worked with stars from Boyzone, B*Witched, EastEnders and Neighbours, and British entertainment legends such as Paul Daniels, Debbie McGee, and Sir Tommy Steele. Mama G has toured internationally and brought her show The Magic Bookmark to stages across the UK and off-Broadway. In 2024, her debut picture book Oh Yes I Am! was published, and she continues to perform, write, and collaborate with top authors and publishers to spread the joy of reading. 20th and 21st September.

Kes Gray – Bestselling children’s author, best known for the Oi Frog and Friends series and the Daisy books. With over 70 titles and more than three million copies sold, his stories are loved for their humour and silliness. At No Limits, he’ll entertain audiences with a mix of classics and brand-new picture books. 20th and 21st September.

Matt Goodfellow – Poet and author of The Final Year and its sequel The First  Year, verse novels that explore working-class life in the North of England. The Final Year was shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal for Writing this year and won the CLiPPA Award in 2024. 20th and 21st September.

Hannah Dale – Artist and founder of the award-winning Wrendale Designs, and now author of A Wilding Year. Living on a farm in rural Lincolnshire, she and her husband have embarked on an ambitious rewilding project to restore their land and encourage wildlife to thrive. At No Limits, she will share her inspiring journey, offering insights into how even small actions can make a big difference for the environment. 20th September.

Darren Simpson – Author of The Memory Thieves and Furthermoor, Darren launches his new novel Thirst in September 2025, which has already been praised for its chilling atmosphere, vivid world-building, and unforgettable characters. 20th September.

Steve Webb – Author and illustrator of graphic novels and picture books, such as his Peng and Spanners series; he enjoys creating playful twists on superheroes and exploring quirky friendships. At No Limits, Steve will lead a fun, interactive draw-along event featuring his latest book, Peng and Spanners: The Swamp Thing. 20th and 21st September.

Helen Rutter – A comedian and actress turned author, whose most recent book, The Boy with Big Decisions, is fun and interactive, offering a ‘choose your own adventure’ format. Helen’s audience will be able to make decisions both for the story’s main character and for Helen, highlighting the book’s core themes of empathy and kindness in a stand-up-comedy-style performance. 21st September.

Louise Swanson (or Louise Beech) – Author of Lights Out and End of Story, as well as other digital bestsellers and award-winning short fiction. Based near the Yorkshire Wolds, she draws inspiration from the sea and personal history, and loves connecting with her readers. 21st September.

Annie Garthwaite – Author of Cecily and The King’s Mother, novels that illuminate the influential women of the Wars of the Roses. Her work highlights the ambition, courage, and impact of figures like Cecily Neville and Margaret Beaufort, offering fresh insights into some of England’s most enduring historical mysteries. 21st September.

Nick Quantrill & Nick Triplow – Nick Quantrill, from Hull, writes the Joe Geraghty series and Cast No Shadow, and has been Writer in Residence at Hull Kingston Rovers and the National Railway Museum. Nick Triplow, now in Barton-upon-Humber, is the author of Never Walk Away, The Last Days of Johnny Nunn and the biography Getting Carter. Together they co-founded the Hull Noir festival, exploring crime writing and the Humber’s dark undercurrents. 21st September.

Susannah Lloyd – Author of the hilarious picture book Steve and That Naughty Marcel and the Badgers Are Go! series for older readers. Susannah will lead interactive workshops where participants explore mischievous characters, create their own shocking Steve sequels, and learn the secret world of Badger Operated People (BOPs) through quizzes, inventions, and hands-on design. 21st September.

Ramzee – Author, illustrator and comics creator – known for his award-winning children’s book The Cheat Book. He has written for 2000AD and Marvel, and regularly runs comics and illustration workshops to inspire young creators. At No Limits, he’ll lead a fun, step-by-step cartoon workshop to help children turn their own ideas into unique creations. 20th and 21st September.

Liz Hyder – An author whose work spans both young adult and adult fiction, with novels including Bearmouth, The Gifts, The Illusions, and The Twelve. Liz Hyder will be offering a great workshop, where you will create the concept, characters and plot ideas for your own Netflix series, all in one hour! 20th and 21st September.

Bethany Walker – Author of How to Train Your Teacher and Medusa Gorgon’s Bad Hair Day, grew up in North Lincolnshire. Learn about the Greek myths that inspired Bethany’s story and imagine what it must be like to be a human in that world. 20th and 21st September.

James Harding-Morris – Author of Endemic, which explores Britain’s rarest species found nowhere else on Earth. From Orkney voles to cave shrimps and disappearing grasses, he travels the country uncovering their hidden stories and urgent conservation needs. He will share this fascinating journey and ask why protecting these irreplaceable species isn’t our top priority. 20th and 21st September.

Philippa Leathley – Author of Inkbound: Meticulous Jones and the Skull Tattoo, a magical children’s novel published in 2025. Originally from East Yorkshire, she has always loved storytelling and draws inspiration from her interests in languages, history, and the environment. 20th and 21st September.

Richard O’Neill – Storyteller, author and playwright, who was born into a traditional nomadic Romani Gypsy family and rooted in the coal mining communities of the North East. His co-cultural heritage shapes his creative work, which blends tradition with fresh ideas. Richard will be bringing stories to life through interactive performances that recycle old tales and audience suggestions into something entirely new. 20th and 21st September.

Saviour Pirotta – Author and playwright, specialising in children’s historical fiction, fantasy and myth retellings, will be storytelling and presenting at No Limits. He has written successful family musicals, including Granny’s Exploding Toilet and Miti Miti, the latter based on his bestselling The Orchard Book of First Greek Myths. 20th and 21st September.