A bold and evocative new adventure novel from Cerrie Burnell, celebrating difference and found family. Perfect for fans of Sophie Anderson, Katherine Rundell and Catherine Doyle. Silverthorne is a place of secrets. A forest of twisting paths and tangled thorns. A...

Join Amelia Fang creator Laura Ellen Anderson for a journey to The Weatherlands, the magical setting for her Rainbow Grey series. In a fun-filled hour, meet an extraordinary cast of new characters including Ray Grey and her Weatherling friends Snowden Everfreeze and...

Join Simon Farnaby, writer and star of the much-loved TV series Horrible Histories and scriptwriter for Paddington 2, as he talks about his The Wizard in my Shed series. This series is a hilariously silly, heartfelt adventure with a historical twist, which sees Merdyn...

Nicholas is the author/illustrator of best-selling picture-books, including The Queen's Knickers, Jesus' Christmas Party, Father Christmas Needs A Wee, Where Willy Went and many others. Hilltop Hospital, a tv series based on his book, won him a BAFTA. It continues to...

Our world is drowning in plastic, and it's a big problem. Award-winning author-illustrator Neal Layton is here to explain where plastic comes from, why it doesn't biodegrade, and why that's dangerous for animals and humans alike. But he's also FULL of ideas for how...

Liska lives in Arborven, a city surrounding an extraordinary tree that gives all those living there special powers. As a shapeshifter, Liska is training as a warrior. When she discovers that the Tree is under threat, it is her duty to act - but she can't convince...

Join Jamie Littler as he delves into how he made his best-selling Frostheart series - from early inspirations to how he writes and draws the books themselves! Grab your pens for a how-to-draw draw-along of a Frostheart character and fire up your imaginations as we...

Love hares and bunnies? So does Jules. Listen to the springtime story of Little Hare and make some bunny ears to wear all day! The House on Hare Hill Hares love boxing: it's a fact. But Little Hare gives up boxing and takes up Yoga. When she goes on a walk to find...

Gareth will be reading from My Daddies, Forever Star and Who Will You Meet, and talking about his writing journey, family and books. A fun and interactive session for all those that love stories. Gareth Peter is an author and stay-at-home dad, living in Nottingham...

A drama workshop of pirates, mermaids and sea creatures! Come and play. Miss Ann has taught workshops all over the world and has put on many productions including Westend and cruises, Disney Land to name but a few. She currently runs Dance Vibez and  Afro Dance Vibez...

Bring your own amazing puppet characters to life from otherwise discarded materials, with Teresa Grimaldi. Teresa is an experienced artist/educator. She loves using open ended, recycled materials to bring new creations to life both in her own sculptural, animation and...

Inspired by the mystical majesty of stars, and their power to grant wishes, children will follow Perry Como’s advice and ‘catch a falling star and put it in your pocket’ saving it for a rainy day. Creating and crafting colourful puffy paper stars, beautifully...

Bring your babies and toddlers along to our free Rhymetime, run by one of Lord Louis Library’s fabulous librarians. Saturday 18th Feb 10am

Join Story Festival regular Debbie as she tells the story of the Hungry Shark. What does he manage to eat for his dinner? Experienced craft activity co-ordinator Debbie will help you make something Sharky to take home with you. Just bring yourself! [button...

Peta will be reading her rhyming picture book. Milly’s Marvellous Mistakes and showing you how to make your scribbles, blobs and smudges into marvellous works of art! Peta writes and illustrates her funny picture books on the Isle of Wight, where she lives with her...

  Daring doctors, curious cures and quests for rare ingredients! Discover some strange historical cures and make a pomander bag to stay healthy and keep foul smells away in this fun, interactive storytelling session. Holly is a historian and storyteller, with a...

Get crafty with Kathy using natural materials to make an item to take home – a crown, a wand or a flag. Kathy is a Forest School leader and environmental educator, delivering outdoor learning, well-being and training opportunities to schools, families and communities...

If you want to be an author, come and listen to an author panel with your questions ready for an open conversation with the IW Story Festival author forum. Ages 8-88 welcome. Friday 17th February. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. All participants...

Come and make your own story! A fun, interactive, no pressure session to think about what makes a good story and start creating your own, fantastic story that can be absolutely anything you like. Come with an idea or no idea at all and find out who your hero will be....

Geoff Banks will be talking about his book ‘Journey to the unknown’ which tells the fictitious story of a teenage brother and sister who, in 1635, journey from Cowes Isle of Wight to Maryland on the eastern American seaboard. The story follows their epic and often...

Watch! Listen! You might need what you just saw or heard! Felicity will be talking about the excitement of being in the right place at the right time. In her book Grandpa’s Dear Old Girl little Millie listens - and finds out exactly what to do! In The Kid on Slapton...

Storytime from the Lord Louis Library - on tour at the Story Festival! Listen to some of the best animal stories with one of your favourite librarians. Fri 17th Feb 2023 10am Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.

Inspired by the debut children’s book by illustrator Zoe Sadler, The Lighthouse Keeper fuses clowning, circus, comedy, and theatre in this quirky show that the whole family will enjoy. This is the tale of a Lighthouse Keeper who isn’t very good at his job and a...

Book illustrations really bring a book to life - which are your favourites? We’re going to use fabric and stitch to find exciting ways to illustrate a story! Have lots of fun finding new ways to enjoy being creative story teller. Mandy is a textile artist, using...

Graphic novelist Meg will be talking about her book Dancing With Lights, how she works as an illustrator and how you can too! Deep in the north a small village of cats live out their days in a clifftop village. They fish, create goods from leather and other materials,...

Do you want to look your worst, frighten your friends or look less like the living? This hands-on introductory class will help you grasp how to produce some quick and effective special effects techniques, and try them out on yourself too! Run by Master of Disguise....

Join Julia Tuffs for a talk covering all things witchy, the Isle of Wight and smashing the patriarchy! Julia’s fabulously feisty debut novel Hexed, and the sequel Twice Hexed, follows the story of Jessie Jones - an ordinary girl who manifests strange powers whilst on...

Ever wanted to write a song? Join musician and songwriter JC as he guides you through the process. JC is a well known musician and songwriter, based on the Isle of Wight. He performs both locally and internationally, playing jazz, blues, folk and world music with a...

The Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game is about storytelling in worlds of swords and sorcery. Like games of make-believe, D&D is driven by imagination. It’s about picturing a crumbling castle in a darkening forest and imagining how a fantasy adventurer might...

If you want to find out how comics are created, from ideas to publishing, Russell will show you exactly how he does it. Russell is a comic book writer and content creator who has worked for some of the most recognisable names in comics and media, including Image...

Join model making expert Anthony James as he helps you make an amazing creature out of junk. Anthony has worked for the BBC and ITV in model production and film. You might have even seen one of his creations on Jurassic Park, or on Blue Peter. Bring a bag of clean...

Making words with Adam Gaterell Adam will take a group of young people on a journey through a workshop where everyone will create a new word and then a short piece of poetry surrounding it. Adam Gaterell is a high energy performance poet of 20+ years experience,...

Come along and join in making a simple rocket, and learn about some of the history of the Island's famous rocket inventors. Independent Arts is the Isle of Wight arts for wellbeing charity, working with the community for 35 years. The charity offers many opportunities...

Love and hate are intimately entwined, as this story unfolds we see love in its many guises, but does it come with conditions? Growing up and finding out who you are is difficult for many teenagers, but for Zak, it was harder than most. Differing viewpoints to the...

The young people on the Sandown & Lake Youth Forum want their voices to be heard; they want the area where they live and go to school to be a better place, not just for them, but for other young people. Come and see their film and join in the conversation! The...

Thurs 16th Feb 6.30pm

Thursday 16th Feb, 8pm

Saturday 18th Feb, 4.30

Amy Jolliffe is a singer-songwriter and guitarist who loves summer, sunflowers and festivals. Inspired by artists such as Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen, she writes heartfelt songs based on personal experiences, exploring themes of youth, friendship...