Celebrate the opening of the 2020 Scribblers Festival Family Weekend with us. First, join us for a welcome to Whadjuk country, and then find out who the five Golden Feather Hunt competition winners are when Festival Director, Katherine Dorrington, calls them up for their prizes.

Get ready to shake, rattle and roar, because Andy Griffiths is a serious laughter hazard! Back by popular demand, this one-man gag factory will split your sides with his jokes. Make sure you arrive early to grab your seat.

They say let sleeping dogs –or mysteriously squashed cockroaches–lie, but if you are one of the Peski kids, that just isn’t going to happen. Currawong, where they live, is no ordinary town. Find out why when Nanny Piggins writer R.A. Spratt introduces you to her new series, The Peski Kids.

Leonard can’t sleep. There’s something with three heads, eight arms, 12 legs and a hairy, scary face that’s keeping him awake. Help Josh Pyke and Chris Nixon find the best way to keep the monsters at bay.

Lee Constable is always talking rubbish. As a garbologist, she knows everything there is to know about the ick, yuck and stink of scrap. Take out the trash with the guru-eew!–of garbage.

Hercules Quick is saving up for a box of magic tricks by doing some very odd jobs for his Aunt Alligator’s crazy neighbours. Will Hercules earn enough to make magic happen? Join, Ursula Dubosarsky, as she introduces her quirky characters.

Jingwen feels like he’s landed on Mars. A new country and a different language! He daydreams about baking cakes, just like his father did. Remy Lai introduces her delightful new illustrated novel exploring fitting in, annoying brothers, and the universal language of cake.

Professor Frankie Falconette is calling all muggles, wizards and Harry Potter enthusiasts! Join her as she brings the much-loved characters, creatures and adventures to life. Wear your house colours, have your books signed and sealed by Professor Frankie, and don’t forget to check your invisibility cloak at the door!

Know an Alamosaurus from an Albertosaurus? The difference between Triassic and Jurassic? Are you a budding palaeontologist? Join historian extraordinaire Christopher Lloyd with his famous multi-colour coat of many pockets for a look at the wonderful world of history, science and dinosaurs!

Gregg Dreise is a proud Kamilaroi and Euahlayi storyteller from south-west Queensland. He’s an artist, and loves sharing the sounds of the didgeridoo and guitar. Learn from Gregg’s rich and ancient Indigenous culture as he shares traditional storytelling and song.

Join storytellers R.A. Spratt, Mick Elliott and T.C. Shelley as they use your ideas to create a completely unique, hilariously original story! To make things even crazier, we’re asking illustrators Matt Cosgrove and Remy Lai to draw the story live as it unfolds!

Professor Frankie Falconette is calling all muggles, wizards and Harry Potter enthusiasts! Join her as she brings the much-loved characters, creatures and adventures to life. Wear your house colours, have your books signed and sealed by Professor Frankie, and don’t forget to check your invisibility cloak at the door!

This year we asked aspiring authors to put pen to paper and explore your world. State wide, young writers tackled the theme Planet Earth in submissions to our annual Golden Pen Writing Award. At this special awards ceremony, we’ll celebrate the next generation of storytellers and be treated to a sneak peek from the winning works.

Bestselling author, Leigh Bardugo explores the intersection between myth and magic, science and superstition in an alternate universe inspired by Tsarist Russia. Hear from Leigh about her compulsively readable novels, the burden of popularity and giving representation to a diverse range of characters.

Truth is often stranger than fiction, but when stories are influenced by real life, what’s fair game and what’s off limits? Is all fair in the name of a good narrative? Vikki Wakefield and Will Kostakis create stories inspired by their life experiences. They share the challenges and joys of writing fiction that’s grounded in truth.

Coming of age and self-discovery are popular themes of YA writing. Chinese-American writer Wai Chim, UK author and illustrator Alice Oseman, and Gambian-British poet Sophia Thakur share how these themes in their writing relate to their own experiences, and the power of writing what you know.

‍

Starting a story is one thing, but can you keep it going? How does Ursula Dubosarsky, award-winning author of The Strange Adventures of Isador Brown, do it? Join in to find out, and embark on your own writing adventure…

If you are writing about the past, can you make it up? Mark Greenwood regularly blends story with history in some of his books about some of Australia’s most intriguing mysteries. He is ready to share his secrets with you!

Picture book creator Fiona Burrows (Violet & Nothing) knows everything there is to know about creating colourful collages, and will inspire you to create an illustration that’s all about you. Glue sticks at the ready!

‍

Ever wanted to try writing for laughs? Mick Elliott writes stories that are long on LOLs, and in this workshop, he’ll show you how to write one too.

‍

How do you make a character leap out of a drawing? Join award-winning illustrator Craig Phillips to find out how to draw a range of characters, from the ordinary to the fantastical. Learn the methods Craig uses for his graphic novels.

Great things begin with a (great) mood board. Encompassing everything from colour palettes to imagery, mood boards can help you visualise your ideas and bring them to life. A fantastic opportunity to learn about mood boards from IKEA’s professional interior design team!

When novelist Wai Chim is not writing incredible YA fiction, she is making stop motion short films about her favourite character, Bogs. Learn how to create your own stop motion stories.

Note attendees will need to bring their own electronic device.‍

Do you have palpitations because you don’t know what book to read? Have you finished a great series and are sweating over what to choose next? Don’t fear, we can cure your ailment at our walk-in book clinic. Talk to one of our professional Book Doctors, and they will write you a prescription for your next great read.

We’re into upcyling in a big way at Scribblers Festival. Dip into our stash of old books and rearrange words and phrases into a brand new haiku poem. Sharpen up your syllable-count and join us for the fun.

Everyone’s favourite Conversation Caravan is back in 2020. Turning the interview process completely on its head, we’ve put young people in charge of the microphones, and the questions. Come along and meet our podcasters as they interview authors and illustrators across the weekend.

This year we’ve asked one of our Creative Stars, Beci Orpin, to share her love of colour and design, in a special Scribblers Festival installation. Immerse yourselves in creativity and see how the installation takes shape over the weekend.

If you were a monster what would you look like? Take inspiration from illustrator Chris Nixon, who drew a whole book full of monsters for Lights Out, Leonard, and add your very own monster to our Scribblers Monster Mural.

Explore the beautiful gardens of Subiaco Arts Centre and join the Educated By Nature crew to make your own flag using traditional artistic practices and skills including natural dyeing, stick whittling and sewing.

Feel the mindful benefits of collective colouring at Scribblers. Get your creativity flowing, your text as ready and add your mark to our giant IKEA colouring wall.

This year we’re inspired by the amazing powers of the honeybee. They take teamwork to the next level all while helping our environment thrive–does it get much sweeter? We think the same principles apply to creativity, so grab a Scribblers Festival journal, and head over to our collaborative Creativity Hive. Channel your creative buzz through the power of two fruits and five vegetables, and watch your ideas come to life.