
2025 Boswell Children's Festival Events
Children’s festival events are live at the weekend and tickets for children and adults cost just £3, or £2 for KA18 postcode addresses. Under 2s are free.
Tickets also available over the phone by calling 0333 0035 077.
Lines are open Mon - Sat, 09:00 - 18:00 until Friday 9 May.

Sat
11:00 AM
Woodland Walk & Tall Tales with Allison Galbraith (11:00-12:30 BST)
Age 5+
Get ready for an adventure with storyteller and folklorist Allison Galbraith, exploring the gardens of Dumfries House, gathering twigs, leaves, feathers, and other natural treasures and listening to enchanting tales along the way. After the walk, you’ll use your found materials to create a beautiful nature-inspired picture. Dress for the weather.
Click to buy book |

Sat
12:15 PM
My Dog Max with Alan Dapré (11:30-12:15 BST)
Age 3+
Step into author Alan Dapré’s tail-wagging adventure with his heartwarming picture book My Dog Max. Follow along as he brings to life the story of a girl whose biggest wish is to have a furry friend of her own. With bouncy rhymes that will get everyone barking for more, Alan’s interactive storytelling session is packed with props, giggles, and plenty of puppy-themed fun. Pup Pup Hooray!
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Sat
12:45 PM
Tastes of the Town with Vivian French & Astrid Jaekel (12:45-13:45 BST)
Age 7+
Join author Vivian French and Illustrator-in-Residence, Astrid Jaekel to cook up a special recipe for your local area. What ingredients make your home special to you? Add a pinch of local stories, a sprinkle of favourite places, and a generous helping of friends to create beautiful words and pictures about the place you call home.
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Sat
2:00 PM
Forest Bathing with Allison Galbraith (14:00-15:30 BST)
Age 8+
Immerse your family in the art of Forest Bathing, known as shinrin yoku, the Japanese practice of mindfully connecting with nature. Together with storyteller and folklorist Allison Galbraith, you'll discover the gentle magic of being still among the trees, listening to their whispers, and breathing in the woodland air. A perfect way to slow down and reconnect as a family. Dress for the weather.
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Sat
2:00 PM
Carrots, Spinach and Peas! Oh My! with Vivian French (14:00-14:45 BST)
Age 3+
Meet Oliver, who only eats chips - until he discovers a whole garden of delicious surprises with Vivian French author of Oliver’s Vegetables. Join in with storytelling, song, and puppets as we follow Oliver’s journey round the veg patch as he tries carrots, spinach, rhubarb, cabbage, beetroot, and peas! Will he ever find the potatoes for his beloved chips?
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Sat
3:15 PM
True Tales of Dragons with Kate Leiper (15:15-16:00 BST)
Age 7+
Step into the world of dragons with Kate Leiper, illustrator of An Illustrated Treasury of Dragon Tales. Hear about some real-life dragons, test your knowledge in a fun quiz, bring a dragon to life in an exciting draw-along session and hear one of the book’s thrilling tales. A fiery, fun-filled event for young dragon lovers and budding artists alike!
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