A new children’s literary festival will transform Clifton into a hub of imagination, storytelling and family fun this summer on Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 July.
Taking place in and around Clifton Library, the two-day festival will bring together bestselling authors, live performers, interactive workshops and creative activities for children aged 3–10, with events for older children and young people.
Following the success of last year’s Clifton LitFest, the new family-focused festival has been made possible thanks to proceeds from the original event being reinvested directly back into the local community. The aim is simple: to inspire a lifelong love of books, storytelling and creativity in children of all ages.
Among the headline attractions will be Bristol’s much-loved mermaid performer, Ruby Rockpool, who will be making a splash across the festival weekend with magical appearances guaranteed to delight young audiences.
The programme will also include a series of bilingual ‘Speak in Tongues’ storytimes, where children can hear classic stories read in both English and a second language, including Italian, Mandarin, Spanish and French, helping young audiences discover new words and cultures in a fun and interactive way.
Award-winning Bristol author, illustrator and animator Mikey Please will appear on Sunday with a series of live events inspired by his bestselling picture books The Cafe at the Edge of the Woods and The Cave Downwind of the Cafe. Families will be able to enjoy illustrated storytelling sessions and musical draw-along workshops where children can learn to sketch beloved characters René and Glumfoot alongside cosy café soundscapes.
The packed programme will also feature author events and creative workshops from a range of much-loved children’s writers and illustrators, including fantasy author Ash Bond, illustrator Yasmeen Ismail, author and environmental storyteller Martin Kiszko, poet and performer Tom Bonson, illustrator Hannah Rose and interactive sessions from The Bristol Crocodile.
Alongside the literary programme, the festival will include illustration workshops, live storytelling, family activities and face painting across Clifton, and Pokémon card swap sessions designed to appeal to older children and teenagers.
Paula O’Rourke, Chair of Clifton LitFest, said: “We are delighted to be launching the first Children’s LitFest. We want children to discover the joy of books, stories, creativity and imagination in a welcoming and fun environment. We are especially pleased that the success of last year’s literary festival has enabled us to invest directly in young readers and families.”
Edouard Gallais, events manager at Waterstones, added: “We’re very excited to open this new chapter in the Clifton LitFest and offer this children’s programme in 2026, the National Year of Reading. Events with brilliant local authors and illustrators are a wonderful way of introducing children to the fun of reading and sharing stories.”
Organised by Friends of Clifton Library, in partnership with Waterstones and the Clifton BID, all festival events will be free to attend, with tickets being available to reserve online via Eventbrite.
Further details, including programme information and booking details can be found at https://www.waterstones.com/events