AS November draws to a close and Christmas draws steadily closer, get in the seasonal swing with one of Herefordshire's most unique weekends of the year , as Hay Festival opens its 15th Winter Weekend.

As always, the weekend programme has been created with children and families in mind, ensuring that it's a weekend infused with fun, laughter and creativity as well as a fascinating line-up of talks and parties for the grown-ups.

The selection of workshops on offer is impressive, with everything from the return of the popular 'Make a Book in a Day' with award-winning children's author Jenny Valentine who'll explore the writing and crafting of a narrative before Paul Thomas takes over to get hands-on with formatting and style, so that participants leave having created a completely unique book.

There's also a drop-in session at Booth's Bookshop for families to get festively creative with all sorts of things to make and do, or head for Hay Castle where local illustrator Alexia Tucker will be on hand to help you create your own Advent calendar, just in time for the start of the Christmas countdown.

Throughout the weekend, there are two puppet shows - and two puppet workshops where you can design and create your own dragon puppet, storytelling with Atinuke, who'll conjure up the sights, sounds, hustle and bustle of life in Africa, and with Jenni Desmond who'll reveal what happened to The Zebra Who Ran Too Fast. For three- to five year olds, Emma Dodd perfectly captures one little boy's excitement in I Love Father Christmas, a chance to join in with rhymes, illustrations and craft activities. Older children won't want to miss Pigsticks and Harold, a crime-busting duo hot on the heels of the Tuptown thief.

But the Winter Weekend isn't just for the kids and there's more than enough to keep the adults entertained, provoked and intrigued. Opening on Friday afternoon with broadcaster Mavis Nicholson talking to Francine Stock about women's experiences during and after the war, a time that changed their lives forever, the Winter Weekend is then kicked off in style with the festival opening party night at 8pm. Featuring Zoophonium, a killer electro swing dance trio, the party is preceded by two 'swing jive for beginners' classes with learn to jive expert Kevin Garrod.

Also on the menu are sweets as author Adele Nozedar presents the history of Great British Sweets, from peardrops to humbugs and coconut ice to sugar mice, and bread, chocolate and pasta feature in Food, Glorious Food on Saturday, as an artisan baker (Hay's Alex Gooch), a Welsh-Italian cook, Romina Chiappa and chocolatier Liam Burgess talk about how they set up family food businesses. Or discover The Secrets of Sewing Lingerie with designers Katherine Sheers and Laura Stanford, and the key to Wearable Vintage Fashion with Clare Bridge and Jo Waterhouse.

The weekend will end on Sunday night, as it began, with music - a Good Cheer Singalon in Booth's Bookshop at 6.30pm will be followed by Candleight Acoustics with Rozi Plan in Hay Castle at 8pm, bringing the festive fun to a close.

Find full details of the weekend's events at hayfestival.org. For tickets, call the box office on 01497 822629 or visit the website.