Manchester’s Biggest Summer Fest

This summer, Manchester will host its second Children’s Book Festival. What makes this a pretty huge deal is that the UK’s current and first female poet laureate, Carol Ann Duffy, will be directing the eleven days of exciting events.

The 2012 festival, in association with Manchester Metropolitan University, from June 28 to July 8, is going to be “bigger and better – truly a festival for the city”, as described by Duffy herself. I am delighted that such a prestigious festival will be taking place in Manchester, because it shifts the focus from the capital, showing that other parts of the UK also have something to offer.

Now this isn’t your typical one location festival. There will be over 60 events taking place across the region, not only for children but adults too.  Events such as, Roald Dahl workshops, meeting authors like Jacqueline Wilson, a Gala Dinner with Coronation Street’s creator, Tony Warren, will be held at places like The Midland Hotel, Hilton’s Cloud 23, Imperial War Museum, Manchester Metropolitan University and many more.

For me, the book  festival is what we need right now, in an era where perhaps reading has lost its significance in the midst of technological advancements such as social networking sites, Nintendo Wiis, and smartphones. This festival will bring different kinds of people together for the love of reading, like those who don’t speak English as their first language; there is an event where stories will be read in languages such as, Arabic, Italian, Urdu, Japanese etc. For children and even adults who want a career in writing, the festival will bring many opportunities. 

I spoke to Carol Ann Duffy about the festival at the official launch. (See Video)

For more information/book tickets call 0843 208 500 or visit http://www.mcbf.org.uk/  

Programme of Events

Festival Launch February 2012