What’s On at the Festival Hub

Join us at the Festival Hub on Upper Level Southgate for storytelling, dance, craft and face-painting throughout Book Fest. The Festival Hub is free and open to everyone.

Day 1: Friday 2nd October

ALL DAY: Pop-up Bookshop, Bookmark Lucky Dip and colouring crafts.

11am to 12pm Storytelling and Craft with Sharna Carter, Toni D’Alia and Sarah Speedie

12.45-1.30pm Lunch Break

Aussie Wildlife Meet and Greet - Get up close to real Aussie wildlife!

Meet the Author Signing Table: Meet authors and get your books signed! Authors appearing include special guest Fiona Wood author of The Boy and the Dog Tree, Sarah Speedie, Sharna Carter and Toni D’Alia.

3.15pm Story Competition Showcase (All ages)

A Read-out-loud of all the shortlisted stories from the Kids Book Fest.

Day 2: Saturday 3rd

ALL DAY: Pop-up Bookshop, Bookmark Lucky Dip and colouring crafts.

12pm - 12.45pm Free Face-painting

12.45 - 1.30pm Lunch Break

Jafre Dabke Dance Performance - Watch a special Dabke dance performance and have a go yourself!

Meet the Author Signing Table: Meet authors and illustrators and get your books signed. Includes special guest Simon Howe, author and illustrator of Betsy and Bon and The House That Walked Away.

Inked Scavenger Hunt

Join in this free Scavenger Hunt for clues around Southbank! Based on the CBCA award-winning graphic novel Inked, the scavenger hunt is aimed at kids ages 5-13 and takes around an hour to complete. Pick up a map from the bookshop.

Ned Kelly’s Treasure Escape Room

Can you solve the puzzle in time? Try your luck in the Ned Kelly Escape Room, a fun interactive activity for ages 7 and up based on the middle grade novel The Phantom of Flinders Street by Taggerty Daggins.

(Ticket Required) BOOK NOW