Led by Wakefield Libraries as part of Festival of the Earth, WordFest 2021 combines the power of our spoken and written language through poetry, theatre, debate, song and creative writing with the Festival of the Earth climate change and sustainability themes. The festival ends with a spectacular free pop-up immersive exhibition at WX (former Wakefield Market Hall, Union Street) during half term week 23-30 October open 10am-4pm daily. To see what’s on click here
Curated by Backstage Academy students with spectacular sound and visual effects and featuring three zones of activity representing three biomes of our planet, this free WordFest finale exhibition is not to be missed! With craft activities, theatre, music and film performances for all ages including a live talk by TV environmentalist Liz Bonnin there will be something for everyone.
Visitors can experience The Ocean zone, an underwater wonderland featuring a 18m long inflatable whale, the Enchanted Forest zone featuring trees of wisdom contributed by communities across our district, and the Air zone with an installation of The Butterfly Effect by Tony Wade, a mesmerising aerial exhibit of butterflies created at community workshops throughout 2021
For more information or to book your free place CLICK HERE
October half term events & activities for children & families at Wakefield District Libraries for WordFest 2021
To download a PDF click here
Please note some events do require pre-booking.
| Day | Date | Location | Time | Event | Description |
| Sat | 23rd October | South Elmsall Library | 10:00am – 12:30pm | WordFest Halloween Crafts | Spooky Halloween themed crafts for all the family |
| Sat | 23rd October | Wakefield Library | 10:00am – 10:20am & 11:00am – 11:20am | Hope Returns | Hope Returns: an interactive live performance for ages 3-11. Hope is a tiny creature from the enchanted world, with an insatiable appetite for adventure and travel! |
| Sat | 23rd October | Sandal Library | 10:30am | Halloween Crafts | Halloween themed crafts |
| Sat | 23rd October | Stanley Library | 10:30am – 11:30am | Family Crafts | Wordfest themed family crafts |
| Sat | 23rd October | Airedale Library | 11:00am – 1:30pm | Long Division Do Libraries | Long Division do Libraries – Songwriters Social Club is a live music performance and practical songwriting workshop for 14-25 year olds. Linked to the theme of making change in our world through a focus on protest songs |
| Sat | 23rd October | Ponetfract Library | 2:00pm – 2:20pm & 3:00pm – 3:20pm | Hope Returns | Hope Returns: an interactive live performance for ages 3-11. Hope is a tiny creature from the enchanted world, with an insatiable appetite for adventure and travel! |
| Mon | 25th October | Castleford Library | 10:30am – 11:30am | Lion Learners | A fun and interactive small animal experience for all the family. Animal story included |
| Mon | 25th October | Featherstone Library | 10:00am – 10:20am & 11:00am – 11:20am | Hope Returns | Hope Returns: an interactive live performance for ages 3-11. Hope is a tiny creature from the enchanted world, with an insatiable appetite for adventure and travel! |
| Mon | 25th October | Hemsworth Library | 10:00am | Topsy Turvy Theatre Company Present Ruby Flew Too | Topsy Turvy Theatre proudly presents Ruby Flew Too! Follow one small duckling’s journey to find her feet…all in her own time. A magical, musical performance. |
| Mon | 25th October | Ponetfract Library | 10:00am – 10:30am | Word Fest Storytime | Stories and rhymes for the under 5’s |
| Mon | 25th October | Ponetfract Library | 10:00am – 10:30am, 11:00am – 11:30am, 2:00pm – 2:30pm & 3:00pm – 3:30pm | Voices in the Wilderness | Ali Bullivent presents a quirky and thought provoking performance of words, sounds, instruments and song inspired by books with an environmental theme. |
| Mon | 25th October | Stanley Library | 10:30am – 11:30am | WordFest Storytime | Stories and rhymes for the under 5’s |
| Mon | 25th October | Wakefield Library | 10:30am – 11:30am | Spooky Foods | Juniper Foodwise will be joing us for a fun family session making foods with a Halloween twist. |
| Mon | 25th October | Normanton Library | 11:00am | Renewi – Recycled Words Craft Session | reuse and recycle old words with renewii and create your own sculpture. |
| Mon | 25th October | Hemsworth Library | 2:00pm | Renewi – Recycled Words Craft Session | reuse and recycle old words with renewii and create your own sculpture. |
| Mon | 25th October | Sandal Library | 2:00pm – 2:20pm & 3:00pm – 3:20pm | Hope Returns | Hope Returns: an interactive live performance for ages 3-11. Hope is a tiny creature from the enchanted world, with an insatiable appetite for adventure and travel! |
| Mon | 25th October | Ossett Library | 2:30pm | Rock and Pebble Decorating | Decorate rocks and pebbles and spread kind words and positive quotes in the community |
| Mon | 25th October | South Elmsall Library | 2:30pm | Topsy Turvy Theatre Company Present Ruby Flew Too | Topsy Turvy Theatre proudly presents Ruby Flew Too! Follow one small duckling’s journey to find her feet…all in her own time. A magical, musical performance. |
| Mon | 25th October | Ponetfract Library | 4:00pm – 5:00pm | Build for the planet | STEM activities with an environmental twist (over 5’s) |
| Tues | 26th October | South Elmsall Library | 9:30am | Storytime with crafts | Crafts, Stories and Rhymes |
| Tues | 26th October | Hemsworth Library | 10:00am – 10:20am & 11:00am – 11:20am | Hope Returns | Hope Returns: an interactive live performance for ages 3-11. Hope is a tiny creature from the enchanted world, with an insatiable appetite for adventure and travel! |
| Tues | 26th October | Ossett Library | 10:00am | Topsy Turvy Theatre Company Present Ruby Flew Too | Topsy Turvy Theatre proudly presents Ruby Flew Too! Follow one small duckling’s journey to find her feet…all in her own time. A magical, musical performance. |
| Tues | 26th October | Castleford Library | 10:30am | Crafts with words | word themed crafts |
| Tues | 26th October | Stanley Library | 10:30am – 11:30am | Bookstart Storytime | Under 5’s bookstart story time session |
| Tues | 26th October | Wakefield Library | 1:30pm | Word Fest Storytime | Stories and rhymes for the under 5’s |
| Tues | 26th October | Pontefract Library | 2:00pm – 4:00pm | Tiger who came to tea | Tea Party |
| Tues | 26th October | South Elmsall Library | 2:00pm – 2:20pm & 3:00pm – 3:20pm | Hope Returns | Hope Returns: an interactive live performance for ages 3-11. Hope is a tiny creature from the enchanted world, with an insatiable appetite for adventure and travel! |
| Tues | 26th October | Horbury Library | 2:30pm | Topsy Turvy Theatre Company Present Ruby Flew Too | Topsy Turvy Theatre proudly presents Ruby Flew Too! Follow one small duckling’s journey to find her feet…all in her own time. A magical, musical performance. |
| Tues | 26th October | Pontefract Library | 3:00pm | Cinema at the Library | Hocus Pocus – spooky showing of the Disney classic with Hallowwen snacks available (£4 per ticket) |
| Wed | 27th October | Wakefield Library | All day (20 min sessions) | Changing Places Through Stories | An imaginative, interactive theatre performance by Stride Theatre. |
| Wed | 27th October | South Elmsall Library | 9:30am | Frickly Rangers | Halloween themed craft |
| Wed | 27th October | Airedale Library | 10:00am | Topsy Turvy Theatre Company Present Ruby Flew Too | Topsy Turvy Theatre proudly presents Ruby Flew Too! Follow one small duckling’s journey to find her feet…all in her own time. A magical, musical performance. |
| Wed | 27th October | Pontefract Library | 10:00am – 11:00am | Word Fest Storytime | Stories and rhymes for the under 5’s |
| Wed | 27th October | Sandal Library | 10:30am | Halloween Storytime | Halloween storytime for under 5’s |
| Wed | 27th October | Featherstone Library | 11:00am – 11:45am & 2:00pm – 2:45pm | Inkonjane – The Lightning bird | Inkonjane – The Lightning Bird’ follows the swallow’s migration from South Africa to Yorkshire incorporating both European and South African folklore, rhythm and music along the way. Fettle and fable theatre. 7 years plus |
| Wed | 27th October | Pontefract Library | 2:30pm | Topsy Turvy Theatre Company Present Ruby Flew Too | Topsy Turvy Theatre proudly presents Ruby Flew Too! Follow one small duckling’s journey to find her feet…all in her own time. A magical, musical performance. |
| Thurs | 28th October | Castleford Library | 10:00am – 10:20am & 11:00am – 11:20am | Hope Returns | Hope Returns: an interactive live performance for ages 3-11. Hope is a tiny creature from the enchanted world, with an insatiable appetite for adventure and travel! |
| Thurs | 28th October | Wakefield Library | 10:00am | Topsy Turvy Theatre Company Present Ruby Flew Too | Topsy Turvy Theatre proudly presents Ruby Flew Too! Follow one small duckling’s journey to find her feet…all in her own time. A magical, musical performance. |
| Thurs | 28th October | Stanley Library | 2:30pm | Topsy Turvy Theatre Company Present Ruby Flew Too | Topsy Turvy Theatre proudly presents Ruby Flew Too! Follow one small duckling’s journey to find her feet…all in her own time. A magical, musical performance. |
| Thurs | 28th October | Normanton Library | 2:00pm – 2:20pm & 3:00pm – 3:20pm | Hope Returns | Hope Returns: an interactive live performance for ages 3-11. Hope is a tiny creature from the enchanted world, with an insatiable appetite for adventure and travel! |
| Fri | 29th October | South Elmsall Library | 9:30am | Wordfest Baby Morning | Stories and Rhymes for under 5’s |
| Fri | 29th October | St Mary’s Community Centre Chequerfield Pontefract | 10:00am – 12:00pm | Word Fest Storytime | Eco hub craft event for families |
| Fri | 29th October | Normanton Library | 10:00am | Topsy Turvy Theatre Company Present Ruby Flew Too | Topsy Turvy Theatre proudly presents Ruby Flew Too! Follow one small duckling’s journey to find her feet…all in her own time. A magical, musical performance. |
| Fri | 29th October | Wakefield Library | 10:00am | Word Fest Storytime | Stories and rhymes for the under 5’s |
| Fri | 29th October | Horbury Library | 10:00am – 10:20am & 11:00am – 11:20am | Hope Returns | Hope Returns: an interactive live performance for ages 3-11. Hope is a tiny creature from the enchanted world, with an insatiable appetite for adventure and travel! |
| Fri | 29th October | Hemsworth Library | 11:00am | Sandy Kidz Creations | Sand Art Workshop – aged 5 years + |
| Fri | 29th October | Pontefract Library | 11:00am – 11:45am & 2:00pm – 2:45pm | Inkonjane – The Lightning bird | Inkonjane – The Lightning Bird’ follows the swallow’s migration from South Africa to Yorkshire incorporating both European and South African folklore, rhythm and music along the way. Fettle and fable theatre. 7 years plus |
| Fri | 29th October | Stanley Library | 1:30pm – 1:50pm | Bookstart Storytime | Under 5s bookstart story time session. |
| Fri | 29th October | Airedale Library | 2:00pm – 2:20pm & 3:00pm – 3:20pm | Hope Returns | Hope Returns: an interactive live performance for ages 3-11. Hope is a tiny creature from the enchanted world, with an insatiable appetite for adventure and travel! |
| Fri | 29th October | Castleford Library | 2:30pm | Topsy Turvy Theatre Company Present Ruby Flew Too | Topsy Turvy Theatre proudly presents Ruby Flew Too! Follow one small duckling’s journey to find her feet…all in her own time. A magical, musical performance. |
| Sat | 30th October | Hemsworth Library | 10:00am – 11:00am | Halloween Storytime and Crafts | Stories & crafts for families |
| Sat | 30th October | Horbury Library | 10:00am – 11:00am | Pumpkin Festival | Pumpkin decorating competition |
| Sat | 30th October | South Elmsall Library | 10:00am | Halloween Craft | Spooky halloween themed crafts for all the family |
| Sat | 30th October | Stanley Library | 10:00am | Family Crafts | Wordfest themed family crafts |
| Sat | 30th October | Ossett Library | 10:00am – 1:00pm | Halloween Craft | Drop in family craft session |
| Sat | 30th October | Pontefract Library | 10:00am | Cinema in the Library – Luca | Join us at Cinema in the Library for a screening of the new Disney Pixar movie Luca. Tickets £4 |
| Sat | 30th October | Normanton Library | 10:30am – 11:30am | Long Division Do Libraries | Long Division do Libraries – Songwriters Social Club is a live music performance and practical songwriting workshop for 14-25 year olds. Linked to the theme of making change in our world through a focus on protest songs |
| Sat | 30th October | Wakefield Library | 10:30am – 11:30am | Spooky Lego | Halloween themed Lego Craft (over 5’s) |
| Sat | 30th October | Pontefract Library | 1:30pm | Cinema in the Library – Cruella | Discover the origin of one of Disney’s most famous villains at Cinema in the Library where we will be screening Cruella. Tickets £4 |
