Dearest Friends,
It is with the greatest pleasure that we invite you to an afternoon of refined enjoyment and cultural pursuits at the historic Oldfields Schools on Saturday, May 2, 2026, or make it a full weekend with overnight opportunities Friday and Saturday night!
To make merry the entire weekend, we suggest The Pemberley Experience beginning Friday, May 1st! Feast like the Darcys at Manor Mill, dance at a special Ball at Oldfields, and enjoy campus strolls and Regency crafts on Saturday morning. Extend your Saturday with dinner and a night at the David Niven Theatre to see the Manor Mill Playhouse perform “The Complete Jane Austen: Abridged” (with a special after-talk). Awake refreshed Sunday for breakfast and a trip to Ladew Gardens.
For those with slightly less time, join us for The Longbourn Experience: Saturday afternoon festivities, dinner, and the theatre performance.
Should you desire a restful end to the excitement, The Netherfield Experience offers Saturday night stay, breakfast, and the Ladew Gardens trip.
Delights are to be had for everyone and every budget at Jane Austen Day (and weekend). Your presence would lend an air of distinction, merriment, and wit to our gathering, and we sincerely hope you will favour us with your attendance.
We remain, with the warmest regards,
Your friends at Jane Austen Fest
For a brief tour of Oldfields School, please click here.
To view lodging at Oldfields School, please click here.
If you would like to be a speaker at Jane Austen Fest, please email JADcoordinator@gmail.com.
Jane Austen Fest - Weekend Pass
Want to come to all 3 days, but don't want to stay over? Consider a Weekend Day Pass!
Includes:
Friday night dinner and call dancing
Saturday lunch and dinner
access to all Austen Exploration Sessions
Sunday’s Ladew Gardens visit
Please note that this pass does not include lodging for the weekend.
Jane Austen Fest - Day Pass
12:30 - 6:00 PM, Saturday May 2
An afternoon of lectures on Pride and Prejudice, Austen’s Life and the Regency period in the beautiful setting of Oldfields School.
Activities include an "Escape From Rosings Park", a Regency Emporium, Carriage Rides, Period Crafts
Speakers and Austen Exploration Sessions include (and still growing!)
Jane Austen’s romantic tropes
The Genius of Jane Austen
Regency Writing Workshop
2 Book promotional talks
Neckerchief stamping
Austen and Dance
Level up your Jane Austen Day with an Experience!
We have three extended programs for you to choose from!
Option 1
Pemberly Weekend Experience
Friday, May 1 - Sunday, May 3
Friday
4:00-6:00 PM
Check-in / Orientation / and Whist Demo – Oldfields
6:00-7:30 PM
Jane Austen Theme Dinner – Manor Mill
8:00-10:00 PM
Ball – Oldfields Dance Studio
Sleep on campus at Oldfields School
Saturday
8:00 AM
Breakfast – Oldfields
10:00 AM
Regency Crafts / Turn about the Campus
11:00 AM
Lunch – Oldfields
12:30 - 6:00 PM
An afternoon of lectures on Pride and Prejudice, Austen’s Life and the Regency period,
PLUS activities: an "Escape From Rosings Park" escape room, tea, a Regency Emporium and more.
6:00 PM
Dinner – Oldfields
7:30 -10:00 PM
Play “Complete Works of Jane Austen; Abridged” performed by the Manor Mill Playhouse
Sleep on campus at Oldfields School
Sunday
8:00 AM: Breakfast – Oldfields
10:00 AM: Ladew Gardens Trip
12:00 PM: Pack up and farewells
Option 2
Netherfield Overnight Experience
Saturday, May 2 - Sunday, May 3
Saturday
11:30 AM
Lunch – Oldfield’s Cafeteria
12:30 - 6:00 PM
An afternoon of lectures on Pride and Prejudice, Austen’s Life and the Regency period,
PLUS activities: an "Escape From Rosings Park" escape room, tea, a Regency Emporium and more.
6:00 PM
Dinner – Oldfields
7:30 -10:00 PM
Play “Complete Works of Jane Austen; Abridged” performed by the Manor Mill Playhouse
Sleep on campus at Oldfields School
Sunday
8:00 AM: Breakfast – Oldfields
10:00 AM: Ladew Gardens Trip
12:00 PM: Pack up and farewells
Option 3
Longbourn Experience
Saturday, May 2
11:30 AM
Lunch – Oldfield’s Cafeteria
12:30 - 6:00 PM
An afternoon of lectures on Pride and Prejudice, Austen’s Life and the Regency period
6:00 PM
Dinner – Oldfields
7:30 -10:00 PM
Play “Complete Works of Jane Austen; Abridged” performed by the Manor Mill Playhouse
PLUS activities: an "Escape From Rosings Park" escape room, tea, a Regency Emporium and more.
Instructors
Juliette Wells – "Conversations in Pride and Prejudice: Conflict and Courtesy."
Karen Sagun – Tropes in Pride and Prejudice (and beyond)
Jennifer Jones – How to Play Whist
Tara More - Pride and Prejudice and Poetry – Versifying with Jane Austen (Writing Workshop)
Amanda Halla – Horse and Hounds
Specials Treats (ala carte)
Carriage Rides around the campus $
Period Photos with the Carriage $
Dress Up Room – Forget your pelisse? Can’t find your bonnet? No worries, we’ve got you covered. Just come to our Dress Up Room and borrow an outfit for that special photo with friends.
More to come…
Thank you to our volunteers!
Rita Baker-Schmidt
“Regency Sing-a-long”
Easy-breezy, fun session to give you a taste of music in the Regency Period and around the Austen piano. Come prepared to sing, hum or just listen.
LaShawn King
”The Immature Prefrontal Cortex”
Come and learn a little science about brain development and have a laugh at the antics of the immature prefrontal cortexes of Lydia and Mrs. Bennet in "Pride and Prejudice"
Nalani Brown
”Austen’s Narrative Dance: How the ballroom gives us insight into Austen’s characters”
An examination of the narrative importance of dancing in Austen’s novels and how a characters relationship to dance aligns with their narrative roles.
Maggie Schmidt
“Escape from Rosings Park”
Are you a proper member of the Ton? You must prove your merit- and puzzle solving ability- to escape from Lady Catherine de Bourgh's salon... or else no shelves in your closets! Beware, guests can't outstay their welcome or you might have to stay FOREVER!
Troy Wellington Smith
"Thomasine Gyllembourg: A Danish Jane Austen?”
In my talk, I will introduce the audience to Thomasine Gyllembourg (1773-1856), whose novellas An Everyday Story and Two Ages I have translated. Gyllembourg is said to have been influenced by Austen, as she was the first author to successfully introduce realist fiction into Denmark. Yet a study of Gyllembourg’s so-called “poetic realism” can show us what makes Austen’s realism so distinctive.
Amanda MacMurtrie
”Transformative Connections in Jane Austen”
What if reading Jane Austen is a remedy to today’s widespread disconnection and depression? We’ll explore how Austen defines and promotes connection in the lives of her characters and in the reader's experience with the text. From nature to creativity, to specific writing techniques, let’s unpack Austen’s ideas to increase connection, acquire self-knowledge, and improve overall wellbeing.
Jenn Jones
”Whist Demonstration”
Whist is one of the card games mentioned in Pride and Prejudice. Learn a litte of the history of this game and enjoy a few hands.
Tara Moore
”Pride and Prejudice and Poetry – Versifying with Jane Austen”
Join us for a lively and imaginative creative writing workshop that brings Jane Austen’s language to life! Participants will craft their own poetry using Austen’s words, with guidance and plenty of fun along the way, bringing her language to life in unique ways.