Southport is to become a living storybook for October half term as Books Alive! brings a world of imagination and adventure to the town.
Step inside a world of imagination and adventure this half term as Southport is taken over by a living storybook – Books Alive!
This free kids’ festival will take place from October 24 to 31, bringing children’s stories to life with a mix of immersive and interactive experiences throughout the town centre and a festival set to take over The Atkinson.
From events with leading authors, hands-on activities and a new town-wide trail inspired by the iconic book The Jolly Postman as part of its 40th birthday celebrations, organisers are promising lots of fun.
Local businesses are being urged to participate in the family-friendly town-wide cultural celebration as visitors get the chance to engage with nationally recognised authors, artists and creative organisations as they explore Southport this half term.
Books Alive! is focused around three key elements:
The Jolly Postman Trail is a new interactive story trail inspired by the well-known children’s classic by Janet and Allan Ahlberg, published by Puffin, which will take over Southport town centre.
Make CIC have been commissioned to work with artists from across the Liverpool City Region to create nine large-scale installations celebrating iconic moments and characters from the story.
Families are invited to follow a specially designed trail map, discover immersive storybook scenes, meet the familiar characters, and even post their own letters along the route.
Puffin, part of Penguin Random House Children’s UK, is also providing a free copy of the book to every Key Stage One class across the Southport Learning Partnership Network. The trail aims to encourage children and families to experience books beyond the page while exploring Southport’s town centre.
Festival of Stories at Southport Library and The Atkinson. Taking place on October 29 to 30 in partnership with Children’s Book North Network – participants will enjoy a packed schedule of theatre performances, craft workshops and creative activities designed to spark imagination and encourage a lifelong love of reading. They will also be able to hear directly from some of the UK’s most celebrated children’s authors and illustrators behind the books – including Dapo Adeola, Joseph Coelho, Lydia Monks, and Kate Pankhurst.
Visitors can also experience Noisy Noise Noise which is an interactive sound library created especially for noisy children and their grown-ups by Working Boys Club. It has been commissioned by The Cultural Hub and produced by Activate Performing Arts, producers of ‘Inside Out Dorset’.
Kirsten Little, Co-Founder and Director of Make CIC, said:
“At Make CIC, we are passionate about using creativity to connect people, places and communities. The Jolly Postman Trail brings a beloved story to life in an exciting new way, inviting families to experience books beyond the page while discovering Southport’s town centre.
“Working with talented artists from across the Liverpool City Region, we’ve created a trail filled with imagination, nostalgia and adventure that we hope will inspire a new generation of readers.”
Fringe Festival will see local businesses, community groups and cultural venues unite for a celebration throughout the town. Businesses can host book-themed events, reading activities, workshops, performances or creative experiences aimed at and suitable for primary school children, helping to extend the festival atmosphere across Southport and create a truly town-wide celebration of storytelling.
Participation guidelines and information on how to get involved are available via the Visit Southport website.
Cllr Liz Dowd, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Partnership Engagement, said:
“It is fantastic to see Books Alive! coming to Southport and giving children and families so many exciting opportunities to discover the joy of reading in new and creative ways.
“This summer we have seen thousands of children across Sefton take part in the Summer Reading Challenge through our libraries, showing just how much enthusiasm there is for books, stories and imagination among young people in our borough.
“Books Alive! builds on that success by bringing stories to life beyond the library and classroom, encouraging families to read together, explore Southport and take part in fun activities that inspire a lifelong love of books.
“We are delighted to be bringing this event that celebrates reading, creativity and culture to Southport and attracting visitors to the town and supporting local businesses at the same time.”
