Foyles Storybox Festival

Foyles Storybox Festival brings books to life

with Harry Potter, Where’s Wally, Roald Dahl and more

23 July – 14 August

Foyles, the world-famous bookseller, has today announced the programme for Storybox, its second annual children’s festival, from 23 July – 14 August 2016.

 

The three-week celebration of storytelling and imagination takes place across Foyles’ London, Bristol and Birmingham branches, following on from the success of the Summer of Fun in 2015. It will see dozens of events bring much-loved children’s books to life, including the worlds of Harry Potter, Where’s Wally and Roald Dahl.

 

Creativity is at the heart of this year’s festival, which celebrates stories in all their forms. Alongside classic storytelling, there will be opportunities for children and young people to try their hands at illustration, making comic books and creating their own radio shows. Other highlights include a live reading of Roald Dahl’s Matlida from a member of the cast of the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Matilda The Musical, a daylong celebration to mark the publication of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and Beatrix Potter festivities to coincide with the legendary author’s 150^th birthday

 

Included for the first time in the festival is a Young Adult strand that includes a Dystopian Creative Writing Workshop with author Emma Pass, a YA Reception with Martyn Bedford, Nat Luurtsema and Siobhan Curham, and a meet and greet with debut author Irena Brignull.

 

Megan Brown, National Events Coordinator at Foyles, comments:

“This year our festival is all about inspiring and enabling children to create their own stories, whether that's by recording their own radio show, making some new animal friends, meeting their favourite author or learning to draw with a renowned illustrator. Storybox offers an eclectic programme of interactive experiences to keep the whole family entertained.”

 

Many of the events are free to attend, with discounted family tickets available for others. Every ticket will have an optional £5 goody bag add-on which includes a drawstring bag, colouring pencils, water bottle, balloons, stickers, a bookmark, and colouring sheets. There will also be a competition throughout the festival to win a family ticket to The View from the Shard Summer Garden.