Celebrating 10 years of The Storybarn with an even bigger end of summer family festival  

The UK’s biggest Shared Reading charity will be marking the end of the summer holidays and a major birthday milestone with a free family-friendly festival open to all on Sunday 31 August, 10am – 4pm. 

The Reader’s interactive play space bringing stories to life for children celebrates its 10th anniversary this year with a special one-day family-friendly festival and birthday party. 

The Storybarn is a magical, multi-functional family space at The Reader’s home in Liverpool. Perfectly positioned in the heart of Calderstones Park it is a one-of-a-kind reading retreat for children and their grown-ups – and has welcomed 93,701 family visits since it first opened in February 2015. 

Storybarn Fest will take place on Sunday 31 August, 10am-4pm. It is the second annual free family festival to be held by the UK’s largest Shared Reading charity and will again include an outdoor courtyard takeover at The Storybarn and Ice Cream Parlour.  

Set to be the perfect way to round off the summer and school holidays, a line of up scheduled events includes a special visit from Futureyard’s much-loved Mosh Tots Band with sessions at 11am and 3pm.   

There will be Storybarn Drop-In sessions with free play, stories and rhymes every 35 minutes, plus a birthday-themed craft (£2, under 1s free), facepainting (£5), outside play, a photobooth station, barbecue and a bespoke birthday ice-cream flavour created by Cheshire Farm. 

Natalia Rojas, Storybarn Manager at The Reader, said: “We’re thrilled to be hosting an even bigger Storybarn Fest to celebrate our 10th birthday! You can look forward to creating our very own story, and fantastic performances by Mosh Tots Band, Singing Mamas, and Holistic Harmonies. Come and sing Happy Birthday with us — we can’t wait to celebrate with you!” 

The charity will also be running a 10-day prize giveaway on its social media channels in the run up to the birthday celebrations on 31 August. 

Children of all ages can let their imaginations run wild at The Storybarn, discovering new stories to share, and become immersed in a wide range of seasonal experiences throughout the year, from guest authors and illustrators to Halloween specials and the annual Christmas Storytrail, alongside arts and crafts. The venue also hosts birthday parties for up to 30 children.  

Natalia added: “I’ve had the joy of working at The Storybarn in various roles for around eight wonderfully wacky years, and to me, it truly is a magical place - unlike anywhere else I’ve ever known. I love it for being an inspiring destination where families can come together to play, explore, and discover the joy of storytelling.  

“At The Storybarn, you can immerse yourself in the power of imagination, guided by our incredible Storyhunters, who welcome families, encourage silliness, and remind everyone that reading - and being read to - is pure fun. It’s a wonderful experience that brings people together and creates lasting memories.” 

Visitors will also be able to find out more about The Reader’s work as a charity running Shared Reading groups across Liverpool, the UK and internationally where people meet weekly to connect and share experiences through stories and poems. Groups are free and open to all. 

Entry to Storybarn Fest! is free with no booking required. For further information visit here. 

The  Storybarn  is a fully inclusive experience and all children are welcome. For any questions about facilities and access, call 0151 729 2227. Every penny spent at The Reader supports the charity’s work transforming lives through the power of literature. Find out more here. 

10 Fun facts about The Storybarn

In the last 10 years: 

1. We have used over 5,760 crayons! Stacked end to end that's as tall as The Shard in London.  

1. The Storybarn has welcomed 93,701 family visits. 

1. 492 schools have visited The Storybarn 

1. We have popped 2,341,500 bubbles from our trusty bubble machine. WOW! 

1. About 600 litres of paint have been used at our craft sessions. That weighs about the size of a small wild water buffalo. 

1. 606 brilliant Birthday parties have been celebrated. 

1. More than 8,000 people have attended our Story Trails around Calderstones Park. 

1. 1,218 Incy Wincy Rhymers sessions have taken place. 

1. 25 children had a magical sleepover (as well as 96 teddy bears!)  

1. We've sung our famous What's in the Bag rhyme over 10,212 times.