The Big Malarkey is back for its ninth year and will celebrate alongside the UK National Year of Reading.
Tickets are now on sale for the celebrated children’s literature festival which will once again take over part of East Park, transforming it into ‘Malarkey Park’.
Established during Hull’s year as UK City of Culture 2017, this year’s festival will open on Monday 15 June with the James Reckitt Reading Conference, followed by an action-packed week of activities for schools, including the James Reckitt Hull Children’s Book Awards where children aged 7 – 11 years will meet the authors and choose their favourite book in a live vote.
The family friendly festival weekend takes place on Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 June with a theme of ‘It’s a Mystery!’. The event will celebrate children’s books and stories, filling the park with puzzles, collecting clues, dressing-up in disguises and exploring some of the Hull’s best mysteries.
There’ll be lots of incredible authors, illustrators, dancers, musicians, artists and theatre companies to enjoy including Michelle Robinson, Steve Webb, Sharna Jackson, Joseph Elliott, Liz Million, Mariesa Dulak, Kev F Sutherland, Fleur Hitchcock, Circo Rum Ba Ba, the Pauline Quirk Academy, Paul Cookson, Ben Rothery – and so many more!
The incredibly popular free ‘Hook-a-Book’ stall will also return with free books for everyone to take home.
Cllr Jackie Dad, Deputy Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Culture, said: “The Big Malarkey is one of our most popular children’s events and continues to go from strength to strength.
“It is a festival not just about reading, but about ideas, imagination, creativity and performance.
“Whether visitors choose to complete a secret mission, produce some amazing artwork or join in with a Great Detective Adventure, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. The only limit is the imagination!”
The festival is an inclusive, relaxed event, accessible to people of all ages and abilities. All events in the Big Top are BSL interpreted. Look out for accessible sessions with Concrete Youth, Drake Music and the Blue Badge Bunch.
Free pocket-sized programmes are out and about in libraries and selected venues around the city, or can be viewed online here to start planning your very own Big Malarkey Mystery!
Tickets can be purchased online here or are available at all branches of Hull Libraries.
Ticket prices:
- Child (under 1yrs free) £3.50/£4.50 OTD
- Adult £6.50/£7.50 OTD
- Family ticket (2 adults + 2 children) £18.00/£22.00 OTD
- Disabled parent/guardian + 1 free carer’s ticket £5
- Weekend Pass tickets (admits 4 across Saturday & Sunday) £30
Children must be accompanied by an adult. Adults must be accompanied by a child.