Books, Belly Laughs and Big Fun: Byron Writers Festival’s Kids Program is Back
The Gumboots
Sunday 10 August at Lilly Pilly Marquee & Coolamon Tent
Featuring Peter Helliar, Tony Armstrong, Anita Heiss, Kirli Saunders, The Gumboots and many more
Calling all young bookworms, daydreamers and doodlers – the 2025 Byron Writers Festival’s Kids Program is bursting with imagination, adventure and laugh-out-loud moments!
This year’s program will be hosted by beloved comedian and author Peter Helliar, and it’s stacked with incredible talent guaranteed to keep kids (and their grown-ups!) grinning all day. From magical tales to high-energy performances, this is one festival day you won’t want to miss with your kids.
On Sunday 10 August, the Lilly Pilly stage will transform into an immersive storytelling arena where authors and illustrators will entertain, inspire and delight.
Catch Word Travels’ dynamic duo Miles Merrill and Rachael Williams kicking things off with rhyme and rap. Making his exclusive Byron Writers Festival appearance is rising literary legend Tony Armstrong, who’ll be sharing stories from George the Wizard and Maggie the Dragon. Expect a heartwarming ride through dreams, dragons, and big imaginations.
Peter Helliar will take the stage with his own hilarious mystery, Detective Galileo. Then it’s story time with Anita Heiss, featuring Koori Princess and Yirra and Her Deadly Dog, Demon. Kids can create their own story alongside Run author Sarah Armstrong, before celebrating young writers at the Jesse Blackadder Prize Presentation.
Over at the Coolamon stage, the StoryBoard space comes alive with the iconic StoryBoard bus and tipi village offering free, drop-in workshops and story time sessions with some of the country’s most exciting children’s storytellers.
Start your day here with Afloat author Kirli Saunders, then buzz into biodiversity with Judy Friedlander and The Bee Squad. Kids can get crafty with flower crowns alongside Zanni Louise, before diving into poetry with Sarah Temporal and finishing with a drawing workshop led by Jake A Minton, creator of Inked: A Graphic Novel.
There’s more magic in store with joyful dance breaks with The Gumboots, and dazzling roving performers from Spaghetti Circus - yes, including stilt walkers!
Pack your snacks, bring your imagination, and get ready for a day of stories, silliness, and serious fun. Whether you're into books, bugs, beats, or brush pens Byron Writers Festival Kids Program is the place to be!
For the full Kids Program and tickets, head to https://www.byronwritersfestival.com/festival/kids-program
Photograph by Kate Holmes
DOWNLOAD THE 2025 BYRON WRITERS FESTIVAL PROGRAM HERE
BYRON WRITERS FESTIVAL
Friday 8 – Sunday 10 August 2025
Bangalow Showground
Bundjalung Country
About Byron Writers Festival
Held on the lands of the Arakwal Bumberbin peoples of the Bundjalung Nation, we pay respect to the traditional owners of this land and acknowledge them as the original storytellers of this region. The annual Byron Writers Festival is Australia's largest and leading regional celebration of storytelling, literature and ideas. The line-up predominantly features Australian writers and thinkers who together share their stories, inspirations and insights. Byron Writers Festival is renowned for its relaxed atmosphere and for delivering a diverse program of panels and conversations that celebrate storytelling in all its forms. Byron Writers Festival 2025 will be held at the Bangalow Showground in the hinterland town of Bangalow, 15 minutes from Byron Bay on beautiful Bundjalung Country. Free shuttle buses will be operating daily from Byron Bay.