11th Annual

Inklings Festival

Our Dear Charles Williams

The Oddest Inkling & His Friendship with J. R. R. Tolkien

Anno Domini 2025, October 17-19

Wichita, KS

Celebrating literature & over three decades of Eighth Day Books. 

The Inklings Festival is a three-day, family-friendly celebration of a group of writers who have shaped the faith and imagination of countless people through The Chronicles of Narnia, The Lord of the Rings, and many other life-changing books. Join us as we feast and learn from our favorite authors. And do consider becoming an Eighth Day Member to support cultural renewal for this fall fundraising event.

Activities


Burgers, Bratwursts,

& Local Craft Beer

Bounce Castle with Slide

 Drawing Contest 


Inklings Lectures by

Sørina Higgins

Live Music 


Local Microbrewery

Walking Tour with Public Toasts to the Inklings
(Limited to 30 Participants!)

Annual Inklings Lectures

& Seminar by Sørina Higgins

"Our Dear Charles Williams": Tolkien's Friendship with the Oddest Inkling


Gynecomorphical Geography? A Close Reading of Williams' Poem "The Vision of the Empire"


"Charles' Wain": A Close Reading of Tolkien's Poem to Charles Williams


Click here to learn more about Dr. Higgins

Annual Walking Tour  with Toasts led by Jeremy Wagner

PDF Flyer with Schedule Coming Soon


Inklings Festival Schedule

Friday 10.17.25

  • 6:00 p.m.     Keynote Inklings Lecture 1 - "Our Dear Charles Williams": Tolkien's Friendship with the Oddest Inkling by Sørina Higgins at the Eighth Day Books Rear Parking Lot


Saturday 10.18.25


  • 1-5 p.m.        Inklings Walking Tour - Meet in front of Eighth Day Books (Separate Registration Required)


  • 6:00 p.m.      Keynote Inklings Lecture II - Gynecomorphical Geography? A Close Reading of Williams's Poem "The Vision of the Empire" by Sørina Higgins at the Eighth Day Books Rear Parking Lot


Sunday 10.19.25


  • 12:30-6 p.m. Inklings Festival behind Eighth Day Books

Children’s Activities

  • 12:30-5 p.m. Bounce Castle at Eighth Day Books back parking lot
  • 1:30 p.m.      Inklings Reading in The Ladder
  • 2:30 p.m.      Drawing Contest. Winner Announced at 5:30


Live Local Music (schedule to be finalized soon)

  • 1-2 p.m.        TBA
  • 2:30-3:30 p.m.   Kansas Calamari
  • 4-5:30 p.m.   The Jack Korbel Confluence


Seminars

  • 1-1:30 p.m.  "Charles' Wain": A Close Reading of Tolkien's Poem to Charles Williams by Jason Baxter at Eighth Day Books
  • 2-2:30 p.m.  TBA
  • 3-3:30 p.m.   TBA
  • 4-4:30 p.m.   TBA

Live Music 

Performing live on Sunday, October 22nd behind Eighth Day Books 

TBA

Kansas Calamari

The Jack Korbel Confluence

Past Inklings Lectures

2021


"Dreamt in Fire: The Dreadful Ecstacy of Arthur Machen" and "Of Sacraments and Ghosts: Comments on Christianity and the Horror Genre" by Christopher Thompkins



2020


"Saving the Shire Ascetic Renunciation and Love of Home in The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings" by Richard Rohlin


David Jones: History & Sacrament as Home" by Fr. Gabrielle Rochelle




2019


The Sacramental Imagination of George MacDonald by Vigen Guroian


Maddened Beauty: Imagination as Knowing in C. S. Lewis by Jessica Hooten Wilson

2018


G. K. Chesterton: Father of the Inklings by Ralph Wood



2017


World on Fire: How the Inklings Responded with Hope & Creativity by Joseph Pearce



2016


A Society of Gods? Theosis in the Inklings by Ralph Wood




2015


The Ethics of Elfland: Virtue & Vice in Narnia and Middle Earth by Louis Markos








Location and Contact

2838 E Douglas Ave, Wichita, KS 67214

Have a question? We are here to help. Send us a message and we’ll be in touch. 

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