Westside BID is planning the first Westside Floating Writers’ Festival to be hosted on the district’s canals network on 21 and 22 August.
The literary weekend will see a range of well-known authors, songwriters, poets, playwrights and other creative writers from all over the UK take centre stage in Westside – with maybe one or two familiar faces.
Visitors can enjoy the interactive sessions with top writers during relaxed and scenic boat rides around the heart of Birmingham’s canal system, also enabling them to see all that Westside has to offer.
Their canal barge rides will end with a step onto dry land to visit some of Westside’s iconic venues to engage in yet more exciting writing workshops.
The event is aimed at readers of all ages, with story-telling for children, song-writing workshops for young adults and exciting sci-fi fiction sessions.
There will also be events about romance novels, a play-writing workshop and a session explaining how local businesses can get their stories in the media.
Luisa Huggins, Westside BID’s media and communications manager, said: “Westside will be a great destination for family and friends this summer, and with the first floating writers’ festival I’m confident that it will be a fun time for all.
“We are pleased to be working with some big headline names and we will reveal more information during the next few weeks.”
Ms Huggins added that the event would be Covid-safe, with reduced capacity on barges, sanitising stations at all venues and other safety guidance such as potential temperature checks and mask-wearing as required.
Watch out for more details about the Westside Floating Writers’ Festival here and on Westside BID’s social media channels.
By Luisa Huggins
