The Big Wig Children’s Festival of Literature is back – and it’s packed with pirates, dragons, chickens, cats, space adventures and even a pop star.
Taking place in Scotland’s National Book Town as part of Wigtown Book Festival, and is named after a large, friendly blue furry creature who emerges from the woods each year to share his love of storytelling.
The festival runs from 25 September to 4 October, with Big Wig events taking place at the weekends (26-27 September and 3-4 October).
For 2026 Big Wig has teamed up with the town’s primary school to organise a Fun Day where everyone is invited to dress up as pirates for an afternoon of swashbuckling entertainment.
Among the guest authors are Dougie Payne (yes, the one from Travis) who has set aside his bass guitar to join Rachel Seago for a reading of his book Poochie Pete and His Very Big Feet, a heart-filled tale about a lonely dog with huge paws.
Big Wig has also got together with one of his best friends, Wigtown storyteller Renita Boyle for a free (but ticketed) family drop-in called Saltmarsh, Swallows and Geese. It’s a gentle event, shaped by the rhythms of Wigtown Bay and its birdlife, tides and seasons, with multi-sensory stories, poems and songs.
The whole programme is designed to inspire and delight young imaginations. Right at the very start there’s The Interactive Dragon Adventure, with music and stories from Rachel Huggins.
Then there’s Cluck! The Eggstraordinary Story of Chickens, presented by Evelien De Vlieger and Michele Hutchison which is full of chicken facts and sounds, and the chance to design your own bird.
Anne Barclay, Wigtown Festival Company Communities Director (who helps Big Wig programme his festival, said: “We’ve got a huge amount to entertain and inspire young imaginations and nurture the love of stories, reading and literature that does so much to enrich people’s lives.
“Just as important is that we know that a love of reading has a powerful impact on children’s life prospects as adults, so we are committed to doing all we can to promote literacy among children – to help give every child the best life chances.”
This year there will be two special events by Catherine Heymans where children are challenged to Ask the Astronomer Royal Anything (so long as it’s science).
It’s a chance to ask about whether there might be aliens out among the stars and whether we might one day live on other worlds. If anyone has an answer, it’s Catherine.
Another old friend of Big Wig, author Alan Windram, will be joining the festival with Robots and Oranges which promises to be high energy and hugely interactive.
Children can also have a sing-along and dress up games at The Catventures of Sparky and George, an interactive event run by Alan featuring his two cats.
The Big Wig festival offers lots of enjoyable fun in doing stuff – for example there’s Explore and Colour with Bentley where children can hear the true story of a little sausage dog then make a moveable dachshund and sing songs about it.
You can also buy a special Big Wig day pass which allows the whole family into up to five events.
The festival includes a programme for young people aged 14-26 that features authors, poets and others including Taylor Dyson, Manjeet Mann, William Hussey and many others.
- To explore the full Wigtown Book Festival programme, see www.wigtownbookfestival.com.
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- For more about Wigtown Book Festival see www.wigtownbookfestival.com
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For media information: Matthew Shelley at Matthew@ScottishfestivalsPR.org or 07786 704299.
Wigtown Festival Company Ltd, 26 South Main Street, Wigtown, Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland, UK. Wigtown Festival Company Ltd is a company limited by guarantee with charitable status. Scottish Charity No. SCO3798.
