The genius of author Roald Dahl will be the focus of this year’s Manx Litfest Family Day, which will be held this Saturday afternoon (September 27th) in Laxey Glen Gardens.
The event, kindly supported by Sure, runs from 1.00pm until 5.00pm and will include Dahl-inspired workshops, performances of Revolting Rhymes by Platform Theatre School, characters to meet (including Willy Wonka, Charlie Bucket and Matilda), a Bug Hotel in association with Manx Wildlife Trust, games and activities, and a special visit by authors and illustrators Philip Reeve and Sarah McIntyre, who will be performing their Oliver and the Seawigs show.
The third Manx Litfest started on Wednesday and runs until Sunday, September 28th, with events across the Island aimed at book lovers of all ages.
Festival Director John Quirk said: ‘We are all just a little bit excited by this year’s family day. After the Gruffalo Hunt in 2012, and Winnie the Pooh and Friends last year, the wonderful work of Roald Dahl provides a fantastic opportunity for children - and grownups - to enjoy themselves and, having had a look around Laxey Glen Gardens recently, it’s an ideal and beautiful venue for the event. For the second family day running, we are extremely grateful to Sure for supporting the event and allowing us to stage the day’s activities, and to the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture for allowing us to use the gardens for this event.’
Times to note are: 1.30pm - Revolting Rhymes performance; 2.30pm - Oliver and the Seawigs; 4.00pm - Revolting Rhymes performance.
The Roald Dahl workshops, run by author Mark Lowery, sold out very quickly. These will take place at 1.15pm and 3.15pm.
Sarah Jarvis, Sure’s Marketing and PR Manager, said: ‘We are absolutely delighted to support this amazing event – every year the Litfest Family Day gets bigger and better! Sure is dedicated to supporting events in the Isle of Man community and this is one of the very best. I hope everyone has a great day and that the sun shines. I just wish my own children weren’t away at university – they loved Dahl’s books when they were growing up!'
Visitors on the day are asked to be mindful of parking - there is limited space in the car park at Laxey Glen Gardens, so if possible, park elsewhere in the village and walk the final part. Alternatively, why not make a day of it and take the Manx Electric Railway to Laxey.
The full schedule for this year’s festival can be seen on www.manxlitfest.com and printed programmes and event flyers have been distributed around the Island, including to bookshops and libraries. You can also keep up to date with the festival on www.facebook.com/manxlitfest and www.twitter.com/manxlitfest.
Manx Litfest is a registered charity (#1100) and has been supported each year by Isle of Man Arts Council and Culture Vannin, along with several corporate sponsors.
