The National Trust has announced its first-ever Children’s Book Festival Weekend will take place in March at Wray Castle in the Lake District, part of the organisation’s celebrations for author Beatrix Potter’s 150th birthday.
Taking place 4-6th March 2016, the event offers an impressive line up of guests including authors and illustrators that include Axel Scheffler, Philip Ardagh, Benji Davies, Sophy Henn and Steven Lenton.
Also at the event at Wray Castle – a mock-Gothic castle sitting on the shores of Lake Windermere with turrets, towers and informal grounds – will be the team from The Phoenix comic. Join them for a world of epic stories, awesome plots along with the odd monster or two!
Every child who comes to the festival will have the chance to meet the authors and illustrators personally and get their books signed and the Weekend will kick off on Friday with a Schools Day for local primary school children featuring authors Cressida Cowell, Philip Ardagh, Jo Empson, Kate Slater and Steve Antony.
As well as the bookable author events, there will be a fantastic range of activities on-site including craft-making, storytelling, literary quiz around the castle, face-painting and Squirrel Nutkin raft-building with our National Trust rangers.
Lounge in the Phoenix Comics chill-out room or have a stroll in the castle grounds down to the shore of Windermere. There’s something for everyone, all ages welcome from toddler to grannies and grandads!
• The full programme is detailed here on the National Trust web site and booking for events pens soon. The festival author events and play areas are suitbale for families with children aged 3 – 11 3/4 (free admittance for Under 3s sitting on knees).
- About the Author
- Latest Posts
The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.
He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.
Categories: Art and Illustration, British Comics, British Comics - Current British Publishers, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, Events, Other Worlds
65 Years Young! Dennis the Menace exhibition celebrates the eternal wild child 
2000AD Creator Competitions, New Posters At Thought Bubble 2015