Spend an unforgettable day with your family at the 2017 Vancouver Writers Fest!

With so many places to eat, shops to explore, art to admire and wildlife to spot, a trip to Granville Island makes an unforgettable family outing or field trip. But did you know that it’s also the home of the Vancouver Writers Fest, one of Canada’s premiere literary events? This year, the Festival celebrates its 30th-anniversary line-up this October 16-22 with an incredible lineup of 115 authors and 95 events (1/3 of which are for families and children). Whether you are new to the Festival or have been attending since you were a kid yourself, here are 5 events you (and your child’s class!) won’t want to miss.

1. Newfoundland Yarns
   Tuesday, October 17 at 1pm – Studio 1398
   Suitable for Grades 2-5
   Gemini award-winning actor and former CODCO member Andy Jones will delight kids with his lively renditions of Newfoundland folk tales. In Jack and the Green Man, Jack encounters hairy giants, impossible tasks, a three-legged pig and difficult demigods. 
2. A Series of Adventures
   Wednesday, October 18 at 10am – Waterfront Theatre
   Suitable for Grades 2-5
   Cary Fagan and Andy Jones know how to talk to kids. Both are acclaimed storytellers and the authors of popular series. Cary Fagan introduces us to Wolfie and Fly in his new series about a girl who thinks friends just get in the way, until she meets the weird and slightly wordy boy next door. And Andy Jones brings fairy tales from his native Newfoundland to life with comedic flare. 
3. Innocent Heroes
   Thursday, October 19 at 10am – Studio 1398
   Suitable for Grades 4-7
   To mark the centennial of the battle of Vimy Ridge, bestselling author Sigmund Brouwer took a look at the stories of Canadian heroes who made a difference: there’s the border collie who warns of a gas attack, the cat who saves soldiers from rat bites and the carrier pigeon who delivers a critical message. Maybe not the heroes you were imagining? 
4. Fault Lines
   Thursday, October 19 at 1pm – Performance Works
   Suitable for Grades 4-7
   Join Johanna Wagstaffe, seismologist, meteorologist and science host for CBC Vancouver, for a highly visual presentation where you’ll learn the science behind what makes the earth rumble, how to prepare for an earthquake, and hear the stories of kids around the world who’ve experienced the wonder – and terror – of an earthquake. 
5. Encouraging Creativity in Kids
   Friday, October 20 at 10am | Studio 1398
   Suitable for Grades 10-12 and adults
   Teachers, educators and parents, this discussion on nurturing creativity in young people is for you. Join internationally-acclaimed author and illustrator Marie-Louise Gay will empower you by offering to tools to engage children in making art of their own.

Tickets: $17 for adults | $15 for youth under 30 | $9.50 for school groups (plus service charge)

See the full list of events and authors at writersfest.bc.ca.