Ninth year of the Towers and Tales book festival set for Lismore
As part of the annual Towers and Tales Children’s Book Festival, the idyllic setting of Lismore Castle will once again play host to the popular carnival-style Festival Hub on Saturday, 29th April.
Festival-goers can participate in a range of free events from doodling their own creations on the walls of the eerie dungeon, knocking on the Castle door for a story, creating mysterious creatures of dark caverns with the team from the Glucksman Gallery or getting their very own reading prescription from the Children’s Books Ireland Book Doctors.
The Towers and Tales Festival Hub is the heart of the festival and promises to be a magical, fun-filled day of reading, wonder and curiosity for the entire family to enjoy.
At the Courtyard Tent, the Glucksman Gallery will go back to basics with The First Ever Drawing in a hands-on, imaginative workshop where children will use pencils, crayons and pastels to create large collaborative cave drawings. They will also host a fun illustration workshop, Down in the Deep Dark Cave, teaching children techniques to create their own characters and stories.
The Lismore Castle Arts team will be on hand at the Inspiration Station, a hub of creativity where children will have the chance to create their own crazy creature and participate in a giant drawing adventure. For those who dare to enter the Castle’s creepiest place, head for the dungeon to draw glow in the dark monsters, ghouls and ghosts on the walls. Throughout the day, festival artists can be found at the Woodshed Wall where all are invited to take inspiration from Ed Vere’s new picture book ‘The Artist!’ and create characters on the giant doodle wall.
VARIETY APLENTY
Waterford City and County Library Service will host a Book Swap and will be on hand to help visitors sign up for free Library membership. An on-site book tent will also operate, while at the ChildVision Camp, children can learn a new way of experiencing the world by taking part in fun games using Braille and enjoying sensory stories that are sure to ignite their imaginations.
Visitors to the festival can also embark on a creative journey as they Sketch and Stroll around the Castle Gardens with illustrators Olivia Golden and Jennifer Farley. Or join musician and super-fan of books Pádraig Wallace for a musical adventure where you’ll discover famous musicians and songbirds from the world of picturebooks and compose your own tune.
With many more events happening, including discovering the world of Leaflings and parading the castle grounds with A Snail’s Tale, local singers and musicians will take over the Stable Yard, while on the Courtyard Lawn, the circus comes to town!
Alongside the Festival Hub, ticketed author and illustrator events will take place throughout Lismore town. Entry to this magical, creative and fun festival at Lismore Castle is free and takes place from 10am on Saturday, 29th April. Ticketed events and those requiring online registration can be found at www. towersandtalesfestival.ie