The word is out – Hull’s literary festival for kids the Big Malarkey is back with a bang
“A World of Adventures” is opening up at Hull’s East Park as the Big Malarkey returns with a huge helping of family fun.
This children’s literary festival is on its seventh outing to the city and celebrates children’s books and stories and their powers to entertain. The organisers said: “We love that every single book has the power to take you on an adventure, into the future or around the world, so this year our theme for the festival is ‘A World of Adventures’.”
The Big Malarkey has been previewing some of its fun offering this week with a programme aimed at schools. The public festival gets underway at Hull’s biggest park on Saturday, June 22 and runs through until Sunday.
READ MORE: Big Malarkey returns bringing huge buzz to Hull’s biggest park
The Big Malarkey Festival is organised by Hull Libraries and funded by the James Reckitt Library Trust and Arts Council England. Some events are BSL signed - find out more and book tickets at thebigmalarkeyfestival.com.
Promising something to entertain children of all ages, the Big Malarkey line-up will include writers, poets, cartoonists, illustrators, musicians and performers across the whole of the event site.
Here is a selection of just some of the highlights.
Saturday, June 22
Salma’s Bollywood Academy
What: Dance activity for ages two-plus
Where: Little Larkeys
When: 10am to 10.30am
The Knights of Sir Kuss
What: Interactive theatre for all the family
Where: Malarkey Park
When: 10.15am to 10.45am
Sir Charlie Stinky Socks
What: Theatre performance for four to eight years
Where: Live & Kicking
When: 10.45am to 11.45am
Superhero Veg with Sue Hendra
What: Craft workshop for four years-plus
Where: Make It Take It
When: 12.15pm to 1.15pm
Poetry with Paul Cookson
What: Creative writing for seven years-plus
Where: Let’s Write!
When: 12.45pm to 1.30pm
Video game design
What: Digital workshop for 11 years-plus
Where: The Hideaway
When: 3pm to 4pm
Mrs H and the Singalong Band
What: Saturday’s finale for all the family
Where: Big Top
When: 4pm to 5pm
Sunday, June 23
A Magic Carpet Ride
What: Music performance for all the family
Where: Big Top
When: 10am to 10.45am
Liz Million
What: Drawing for six years-plus
Where: Doodle Room
When: 10.30am to 11.15am
Meet The Marsupials
What: Meet the author event for ages seven-plus
Where: Let’s Write!
When: 11am to 11.45am
Art workshop with Eleanor Tomlinson
What: Art workshop with East Yorkshire's "Queen and Paddington" artist, for 11 years-plus
Where: The Hideaway
When: 11am to 12.15pm
Youth Aspire Connect
What: Film show for all the family
Where: Big Top
When: 12.15pm to 12.30pm
Hull New Theatre Panto
What: Meet the cast of the 2024 pantomime Goldilocks and the Three Bears, for all the family
Where: Big Top
When: 2pm to 2.30pm
Windrush Letters
What: Creative writing for six years-plus
Where: BookLove
When: 3pm to 3.45pm