The third annual Big Dog festival takes place in the town from March 29-31 and it’s all about the joy of reading. A high profile line up of authors, illustrators and stories are planned, including sessions with Julia Jarman, Cathy Cassidy and Ross MacKenzie. For the teeny-tinies, “A Song For Bear” by author Gabby Dawnay and artist Alex Barrow, is sure to be a hit, while Anne Fine will be talking to older children. She said: “I’m really looking forward to coming to Dumfries and the Big Dog Festival. Nobody quite understands what it is about meeting a real, live author that turns so many young people into more passionate readers. But teachers, parents and librarians are all agreed that it works. And it’s wonderful for the author. I’m fascinated by the questions I’m asked, both about the writing process and about the books.”
There will be storytelling, drawing and a chance to get creative in a variety of workshops, all taking place at the Theatre Royal, the Robert Burns Centre, Dumfries Museum and Moat Brae. Wigtown Festival Company, who run the event, are delighted with the programme and grateful to their funders and sponsors.
Programme director Anne Barclay said: “Big Dog returns for the third year with exciting activities for all the family. Children and their grown ups can look forward to stories, songs, film and making over the long-weekend event. We’re grateful to our funders Baillie Gifford and SSE for their support to bring the programme of more than 20 events to life, offering families from Dumfries and Galloway and beyond the opportunity to meet and hear stories from some of the nation’s best children’s writers.”
