There will be a host of activities for the kids when the Wollongong Writers Festival returns this month.
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A celebration of stories, art and ideas, this will be the seventh annual festival.
Writers from throughout Australia will gather at Wollongong Art Gallery from November 22-24.
Featuring a program of free and ticketed events, the theme of this year's festival is 'All Lit Up'.
Festival director Chloe Higgins said their popular Kids Program is moving to the main festival weekend this year.
"It's running alongside our adult program, so if people have got a ticket to the main events, they can drop off their kids and have them entertained and educated while they're in the main adult program," she said.
Children of ticket-holding guardians are invited to attend Kids Program events and activities for free while their guardians are present at the venue.
Wollongong Writers Festival Kids Program co-ordinator Adara Enthaler said the festival's Kids Program "is always a big hit with the little ones, but is usually held on a different weekend to the main festival".
"This year, we combined the two in order to make it easier for parents of young children to attend festival sessions.
"You do not have to be a writer to get something out of the festival.
"Anyone who appreciates lively and engaging conversations that resist stereotype are invited to join us, and bring the kids along too."
Highlights from the Kids Program include:
- Kirli Saunders, a children's author, poet, educator and proud Gunai woman will share the secrets of how she wrote The Incredible Freedom Machines, do a live reading from the picture book, and help children build their very own freedom machine out of craft materials.
- Hear live readings from some of award-winning author and cartoonist Tohby Riddle's picture books from his decade-long career as an author, illustrator and cartoonist. Find out how he illustrates his colourful characters and learn how to draw your own with his expert instruction.
- Dale Newman will read from her graphic novel, KidGlovz (created with author Julie Hunt), and together you'll explore what went into creating the characters. Then you'll draw your own characters using fun word prompts.
- Miss Roxee is bringing her Drag Storytime to the festival. After her larger-than-life reading, they'll get designing their own book cover in Miss Roxee's Book Cover Art Class.
Ticket-holding guardians can reserve their child's spot in the Kids Program at https://wollongongwritersfestival.com/kids-program.
Children aged five to 13 years are welcome to join while their guardians attend festival sessions.
Children aged under five must be accompanied by a guardian.