WordFest returns in May for its fifth year
Wednesday, March 13, 2024
Our district’s annual celebration of words, WordFest, is back in May.
Hundreds of free and exciting events, from author talks and storytelling, film showings and music, will take place throughout the month, in local libraries and community venues.
The project is part of Our Year - Wakefield District 2024. The exciting 366-day programme of physical activity, cultural and heritage activity that is taking place across the Wakefield District.
WordFest has become more popular each year and I am so pleased to see it return.
“It is wonderful to be able to celebrate our fifth anniversary during Our Year. There’ll be so much for children and adults to do, with so many opportunities across the whole of May to have fun and learn something new.”
This year’s festival theme is Our Heritage, Our Stories - all about local heritage, local history, locally written stories, local folklore. It links in to the wider Our Year programme themes as well as central festival themes of family literacy and fun.
Cllr Michelle Collins
Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Sport
Organised by Wakefield’s Council’s Library Service, the festival has something for everyone.
There will be daily digital activities, with a weekly WordLab challenge on social media and in libraries and a word of the day on social media
Workshops and performances will take place across all libraries and events held at partner venues across the district. They are all promoting the message: ‘Make Words Count’.
Artists and creatives from across the city and beyond will be taking part and present an inspiring range of performances, workshops and events in the district’s libraries and community centres celebrating this year’s theme for families and young people.
Commissions totalling £24,500 have been awarded to artists to develop and deliver locally inspired events and community groups in places without council-run libraries.
The festival will also feature a wide variety of talks and workshops for adults including, poetry, creative writing, author visits and exhibitions.
The festival brochure and full line up will be announced in April and bookings will then open to members of the public. For more information on WordFest, visit: expwake.co/WordFest
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Our Year – Wakefield District 2024
Our Year – Wakefield District 2024 is a partnership celebration, led by Wakefield Council. It is a year-long programme of breathtaking spectacles, unique festivals, major events, and community-led activities that celebrate all the Wakefield district has to offer.
It will be a catalyst for inward investment, a boost to the visitor economy and vitally, an opportunity for people across the district to get involved in the region’s unique culture and experience the positive role creativity plays in their community.
For further information, follow Our Year on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.