The WhizzFizzFest team is delighted to announce that this year’s authors are:

  • Sir Michael Morpurgo, one of Britain’s best-loved story makers and author of timeless literary works such as War Horse, The Butterfly Lion, Kensuke’s Kingdom and Why the Whales Came.
  • Dan Freedman, top football journalist, creator of everyone’s favourite footballer, Jamie Johnson and fantastic author of Unstoppable.
  • Eoin Colfer, the incredible mind behind the global bestselling, fantasy-favourite Artemis Fowl and the blockbusting spin-off series The Fowl Twins.

Each author will be recording a family-friendly, fun and informative online event with a Q&A session at the end, to be broadcast on festival day – Saturday 26 June. Morpurgo will also be joined by Emily Gravett, the multi-award-winning author and illustrator who has brought Morpurgo’s latest book A Song of Gladness to life with pictures and colour, for a virtual draw along!

Don’t miss out on your chance to get tickets to these exciting headlining events. Find out more and book your tickets today.

In true WhizzFizzFest tradition, the day will be a spectacular celebration of children’s art and literature, with many ticketed and free events to be a part of. Families are invited to get creative at one of the festival’s Brush Party sessions hosted in the beautiful grounds of Bucks County Museum, enjoy the stalls at the festival themed WhizzFizz Market in Market Square, or to take part in one of the exciting dance workshops, Dino Stomp! or Dance Carnival Brazil, at Granville Street Church.

And that’s not all. This year’s event will be brimming with stalls and activities in Kingsbury from festival friends, Festive Road, Queens Park Arts Centre and DJ Dan Blaze as well as plenty of street entertainment, from stilt walkers to the comedy news crew, throughout the town. Festival goers are invited to explore a world of imagination with interactive storytelling at the Story Stall and from Oxford Story Museum, both offering the perfect opportunity to listen to stories and share your own favourites. And of course, no WhizzFizzFest would be complete without the amazing selection of local authors at The Exchange.

Along with a whole host of craft videos and activities available online, festival goers are also invited to leave their mark on WhizzFizzFest 2021 by getting involved in the festival’s fantastic art mural – proudly sponsored by Hale Leys Shopping Centre. Be inspired, get creative and help bring this fantastic community art piece to life!

Clive Harriss, Buckinghamshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure, commented:

“WhizzFizzFest is always an exciting day for Buckinghamshire’s story-loving families and we’re delighted to welcome festival goers back for 2021.

“Our organising committee has been working hard behind the scenes to bring another year of fantastical fun to Aylesbury’s town centre and online with the safety of festival goers at the forefront of planning. WhizzFizzFest has always been a highlight for many families and we hope this year the event continues to build on Buckinghamshire’s fantastic community spirit as we continue to safely take the next steps along the Covid-19 roadmap.

“It’s amazing that we’re able to welcome some of Britain’s best-loved story makers to the festival to shape our celebrity author line-up, and we can’t wait to reveal what other exciting, accessible and whizzfizzing fun there is in store for the day. Don’t miss out on your chance to get tickets!”

For more information on each event, and to buy tickets, visit: www.whizzfizzfest.org.uk or follow @WhizzFizzFest on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (using the hashtag #WhizzFizzFest) for all the latest announcements and updates on the festival.