It gives me the greatest pleasure to talk about Hoo’s Kids Book Fest 2014. Firstly, because we get to go this year (woohoo!) and secondly, because we get to offer a family ticket to one lucky reader this year too!
I don’t think I ever went to a literary festival or book event before I had children. I’d been to book signings (mainly Terry Pratchett in my student and post student years. Huge queues. Wonderful man.) but not events. I still don’t go to many because finances don’t allow but blogging about books has introduced me to wonderful authors and fab events.
Literary festivals are quite nice to go to, but children’s literary festivals are amazing. Hoo’s Kids Book Fest is held in the Luton Hoo Walled Garden, part of the Luton Hoo Estate. The garden was designed by the infamous “Capability” Brown and although I’ve never been to Luton Hoo, I used to live minutes away from Blenheim Palace whose gardens were also designed by Brown so can imagine how wonderful the setting must be.
Hoo’s Kids Book Fest is a one day festival with a packed programme of events. I’ve just been trying to decide what we’re going to do and came up with the following:
11.00-11.45 Tent of Terrific Tales: Roald Dahl event
12.15-13.00 The Creative Conservatory: Clara Vulliamy, Dixie O’Day
1.30-2.15 The Creative Conservatory: Petr Horacek, Puffin Peter LUNCH
2.45-3.30 The Marvellous Marquee: Alex T Smith & Caryl Hart, Foxy Fiction
4.00-4.45 The Pavillion of Possibilities: Steve Lenton, Shifty McGifty
Except… I also want to fit in:
2.00-2.45 Awesome Action Tent: Mike Brownlow, Ten Little Pirates
3.00-3.45 Awesome Action Tent: Steve Antony, The Queen’s Hat
Oh, and then there’s the Signing Tent, and the Comics, and the gardens…
Mighty Girl and Danger Girl love Clara Vulliamy, so her event is a must. Mighty Girl has met Caryl Hart and loves her too, and really I couldn’t miss Alex and Caryl as they are both so wonderful. Oh, it’s so hard choosing! And I’m only focussing on the picture book events, there are plenty of things for children of all ages.
Entry for the festival is £6 per person, with certain individual events costing an additional £3 each. My plan of four events would cost £72 for a family of four if paid individually, but there are ‘Golden Tickets’ at £25 for two allowing you up to six paid events saving over £10 per person. Under 2’s are free to everything (and may like the Miffy and Kipper events especially…)
If you have children ages 7-11, the festival can be especially bargainous as the Groundbreaking Tent has a day of events for free, plus the Comic Tent workshops are also free. There are such a variety of activities for all ages that the day can be as packed or as leisurely as you’d like. I haven’t even mentioned the other activities on offer because I’m so excited about the author and illustrator events!
We will be travelling about 70 miles (each way) to experience this wonderful festival (I owe my husband for this as he has little interest in children’s books but I can’t drive annoyingly) and maybe we’ll see you there too?
This year’s festival will be held on Sunday 11th May from 10.30am – 5.00pm and I have a prize of one family ticket (4 tickets, one adult minimum) to give away. The tickets are ‘Golden Tickets’ so festival entry and paid-for events are included. Travel, food, and any other costs you might incur are not covered.
If you would like to be in with a chance of winning this fabulous prize (and can make it to Luton Hoo on Sunday 11th May) please enter via the Rafflecoptor widget below. It’s one easy entry, no social media following required (although that would be nice, but won’t affect your chances!)
Terms and Conditions
Closing date midnight (UK time) Sunday 4th May. Winner will be notified via e-mail and have 2 days to confirm or alternate winner will be chosen. Winner chosen at random. Prize cannot be transferred and no cash alternative is available. Tickets are to be collected from the festival on the day. The decision of Child-Led Chaos is final and no correspondence will be entered into.