If your little ones love books, art and a touch of magic, then clear your calendar for Sunday 23 November. The Sydney Writers’ Festival is hosting its first-ever Family Day at the State Library of NSW, and it promises to be a celebration of stories, creativity and imagination for kids (and their grown-ups) of all ages.
The much-loved literary festival is teaming up with the State Library of NSW, with support from the NSW Government, to transform the iconic library into a wonderland of words. From free storytelling sessions to hands-on workshops, it’s set to be a day filled with laughter, learning and a whole lot of fun. As Nathan Luff, Sydney Writers’ Festival’s Manager of Children’s & YA Programs, puts it, “Family Day is all about celebrating the joy of stories and sparking kids’ imaginations.”
And spark it will. The day’s line-up includes everything from sing-alongs to storytime, pirates to pop-ups, and even a golden retriever named Dozer. The free Storytime Spectacular will kick off the festivities, featuring readings, music and live drawing from some of Australia’s most beloved creators, including Wiradjuri poet Jazz Money and Archibald Prize finalist Jason Phu, who’ll share their debut picture book The Frog’s First Song. Expect singing, dancing and plenty of giggles as kids get swept up in a world of frogs, music and imagination.
Next up, foodies and dog lovers alike can meet Nagi Maehashi from RecipeTin Eats, along with her lovable pooch Dozer, for Storytime with Nagi Maehashi, Adam Simpson & Dozer. Together they’ll bring their playful picture book Row, Row, Row Your Boat (with Monsters) to life on stage, complete with songs, laughs and, yes, a bit of drool.
Young adventurers can sail the seven seas with author Amelia Mellor in Seafaring with Amelia Mellor, a swashbuckling pirate-themed session packed with sea shanties and tall tales. And fans of the hilarious Real Pigeons books will flock to Real Pigeons Bin Baddies, where creators Andrew McDonald and Ben Wood reveal the secret life of their crime-fighting feathered heroes. Kids can even dress up as their favourite pigeon character for a chance to win a prize.
For budding creatives, Family Day also features a series of affordable workshops for kids aged seven and up. Aspiring authors can join award-winning writer Deb Fitzpatrick in a Writing Workshop that teaches how to turn real-life experiences into fiction. Comic book fans will love Andrew Cranna’s Graphic Novel Workshop, where they can design their own characters and storylines in a fun, choose-your-own-adventure style. And those who like a hands-on challenge can create their very own 3D masterpieces in Freda Chiu’s Pop-Up Book Workshop, bringing stories to life in spectacular form.
If all that sounds like too much excitement, there’s also a chance to slow things down with some good old-fashioned arts and crafts. So, drop into the Craft Stations running all day to cut, colour and create your own story-inspired masterpieces, or pop outside to visit Russ the Story Bus, a cheerful mobile library brimming with books and creativity. Kids can hop aboard, pick a story and curl up on one of Russ’s comfy benches for a quiet reading moment before heading off to the next adventure.
The day will end with The Totally Epic Kids Book Gameshow, where favourite authors go head-to-head in a hilarious showdown of storytelling, drawing and spelling, with plenty of help from the audience.
With a mix of free and low-cost sessions, Sydney Writers’ Festival Family Day is shaping up to be the ultimate day out for book-loving families. Most free events require registration, and workshops have limited tickets, so book early to secure your spot. Presale tickets go live on Wednesday 24 September, with general sales opening the following day.
To explore the full program or sign up for exclusive presale access, visit www.swf.org.au. Whether your kids dream of being authors, artists or adventurers, this Family Day is the perfect place to let their imagination run wild.