Family fun at BWF Kids Big Day Out

THE KIDS Big Day Out will fill two marquees at the Byron Writers Festival this year with a family-friendly event on Sunday, August 11.

The returning popular sessions feature a stellar line-up of authors and performers hosted by local author Zanni Louise. Guests include Matt Stanton, Ella Noah Bancroft, Kate & Jol Temple, Nova Weetman, Cheryl Leavy, Miss Nicky Says, Megan Daley, Peter Carnavas, and Bob Brown.

Byron Writers Festival Artistic Director Jessica Alice said the festival was delighted to present the beloved Kids Big Day Out again.

“It’s wonderful to nurture the next generation of storytellers once again,” she said.

“We can’t wait to welcome little readers and writers to the festival. It promises to be a wonderful, fun-filled day with something for families to enjoy,” Ms Alice said.

The program is broad and has something for everyone. The Lilly Pilly marquee will transform into a giant immersive storytelling arena for authors and illustrators, and kids can also explore the StoryBoard space at The Coolamon, where the StoryBoard bus and tipi village bustles with story time and drop-in creative activities.

From bin chickens to fearless frogs, kids will learn more about the hilarious characters of Kate and Jol Temple’s books, and YouTube star Miss Nicky Says will teach young visitors to sing their hearts out in the Māori language, Te Reo Māori.

Illustrator Peter Carnavas will get the troops scribbling up a storm, and bestselling children’s author Matt Stanton dishes the dirt on his imaginary giant fluffy bunny with attitude.

Bundjalung artist and writer Ella Noah Bancroft will celebrate the sun and moon, and with Bob Brown, kids will discover the wonders of native Tasmanian critters.

Families can take advantage of the day and location by sitting back with a coffee or tag-teaming little person supervision duties to explore some of the many other sessions across the day’s program.

Meet the Author book signings will follow each author’s stage presentation.

For the complete BWF program and all tickets, visit byronwritersfestival.com/festival