We were overwhelmed by the fantastic response to our first ever Word Up! festival last October and want to send a huge thank you to everyone that supported us including authors, illustrators, musicians, publishers, the Arts Council, sponsors, local press & media and above all families and children without whom we wouldn’t exist!

Seeing children sprint out of authors’ event towards the book singing queue was an inspiring sight to behold. There were so many highlights, we can’t even begin.

However for those who missed Blue Peter’s visit to Word Up!, here it is:

We have made the very difficult decision not to put on Word Up! during 2012 however please don’t forget us as we are intending to be back again in the October half term 2013!

We wish everyone a word-filled 2012 and see you next year!

Chloe & Videl Bar-Kar, Word Up! Directors

We are almost there! This Saturday morning October 22nd, our doors will open and a vibrant new a festival will be born! Some events are now sold out but we still have plenty of tickets left over the 3 days. Booking is easy online and by phone so don’t forget. There will be tasty food galore, free pop up events at our talent stage and more.

Welcome! Thank you for visiting us as we excitedly launch Word Up! a brand new, 3 day festival of performances, workshops and activities for children and families in south London.

Hear from the UK’s best children’s writers, poets and storytellers. Enjoy workshops with a variety of artists, belly laugh at stand-up comedy, make some noise with world-class musicians and shake your tail-feather to British carnival sounds.

Entry to the festival site will be free and there will be the chance for all festival goers to enjoy free storytelling sessions, poetry events, book making, face painting, music performances and pick up a free personally commissioned art work from the team of illustrators inside the Machine of Visual Delights.

There will also be lots of delicious food, tempting stalls, a Mum’s pamper zone and other pop up treats to enjoy around the festival site.

Booking is now open so get in quickly!

Festival Highlights

• Author Michael Morpurgo talks to BBC presenter Clare Balding about War Horse
• Former children’s laureate Jacqueline Wilson
• Actor Mackenzie Crook (The Office, Pirates of the Carribean) on his debut children’s novel
• Bestseller Francesca Simon on her latest venture after Horrid Henry
• Veteran writers Judith Kerr (The Tiger who came to Tea) and Penelope Lively
• Scientist Lucy Hawking on the Big Bang for kids co-authored with her father Professor Stephen Hawking
• Rib-tickling storytellers Andy Stanton (Mr Gum – Kate Winslet’s favourite!) and Philip Ardagh
• People’s poet laureate John Hegley
• Stand up comedian James Campbell with his Comedy 4 Kids show
  
• Plus family workshops with London Philharmonic Orchestra and British carnival group Kinetika Bloco, interactive storytellings of Peepo!, Moomins, The Very Hungry Caterpillar (now sold out) and Under 5s poetry and hip hop disco with Dr Octopus and The Wheels of Steel

We can’t wait to welcome you to the festival. It looks set to be amazing. Help us put our first year on the map. This is your festival too!

Word Up! festival is produced by Squiggle Arts Ltd, a not for profit organisation limited by guarantee.