Big Wordfest continues with many more fantastic activities!

After a colourful launch Parade, Big Wordfest is well and truly underway with events for young and old alike.

For young people and adults, activities include:

Saturday, March 18, 1.45pm - Talk, Q&A and Book Signing – Matt Smith and Robert Enright at Reason Coffee Shop & Bookstore. (FREE): Robert Enright, whose urban Sci-Fi thriller, Doorways was published in October 2016, will be on hand to discuss the process of writing, his personal journey from self-publication to Urbane, and will also be signing copies of Doorways in store.

As one of the leading independent publishers in the UK, Matt Smith will be discussing the publishing industry and the growth of Urbane publications. There will also be a Q&A session for fans, readers and aspiring writers to ask any questions that both Matt and Rob will be happy to answer.

Friday 17th - Saturday 18th March, 7.30pm - CYT Youth Connections Play - Status Update (Suitable for 15 years+) at the Pump House Theatre Watford. Status Update is an unflinching and funny catalogue of the things teenagers learn, believe and have sussed out about the world. To book visit: www.pumphousecyt.info

Friday, March 17, 6.00pm - #LobbyLive (FREE - Suitable for all ages) at the Watford Colosseum: Spoken word and poetry reading slot in the foyer before main show. For more details please ring 01923 571102 or email: info@watfordcolosseum.co.uk.

Events for children include:

Friday, March 17, 2.15-2.45pm - Baby Rhyme Time at North Watford Library: a fun half hour session of songs and rhymes suitable for babies and toddlers – children love being bounced and tickled, and rhymes are a great way of entertaining them!

Saturday, March 18, 10.30am - 4.00pm - Children's Activities at Waterstones Watford: join in all things Marvellous with their George's Marvellous Medicine day! (Suitable for children - FREE). For more details, please ring 01923 634724 or email: Watford@waterstones.co.uk.

Children's poet-TREE competition - running now until Thursday 20th April: write a poem about what you have seen, felt, heard and smelt at Cassiobury Park and hang it on our Poet-TREE. The best poems in each age group (5-8, 9-11 and 11+) as judged by the Watford Writers, will win book tokens from Waterstones and the runners up will receive a Cassiobury themed gift.

Visiting schools will be invited to take time out from bug hunting and history trails to write a poem. Visitors to the Hub and Café Cha can also take part. And if you can't make it to the park during the competition period or feel inspired after you've gone home you can email your entry to cassiobury@watford.gov.uk. All entries must be clearly marked with your name, age and contact details (either school name, parent's name and email or phone number).

Photograph courtesy of Dermot Carlin

Big Wordfest continues until Sunday 30th April 2017 and to find out what’s happening in each venue please click on the links below:

• ​Watford Museum

• Waterstones

• Watford Central Library

• North Watford Library

• Reason Coffee Shop & Bookstore

• Watford Writers

• West Herts College

• Watford Colosseum

• Cassiobury Park

• Pump House Theatre

• Watford Palace Theatre

• Peace Hospice

2016's Big Wordfest focused on Shakespeare on the Streets and this year's event is even bigger, so don't miss out, join in #WatfordBigWord!

(Source: Watford Borough Council).