Looking for a fun, free and educational festival for your kids? The Central Coast’s annual Words on the Waves Writers Festival is back, and we’re thrilled to share that they’re hosting a free Family Fun Day on Sunday 2 June!

If you have a mini bookworm or budding cartoonist, they’ll get a thrill in rubbing shoulders with published authors, illustrators and creatives at this fabulous event. Have a tot just learning their ABCs? This festival will further ignite their love of storytime. Appreciate a good novel yourself? With book signings and published authors sharing tales, the Family Fun Day really is an event for literary lovers of all ages.

The Family Fun Day is part of the Words on the Waves’ new program called The Dip, and there’s a heap of literary events occurring throughout the day:

  • Get set for celebrity spotting! Are you a fan of Alpacas With Maracas? Or Worst Week Ever? Join internationally bestselling author and illustrator creators Eva Amores and Matt Cosgrove for mayhem and marvels!
  • Watch demonstrations from illustrators and see a “draw off” between illustrators Charmaine Ledden-Lewis and Sarah Davis.
  • Listen to authors talk about their books and how they come up with their story ideas.
  • Join firefighter Nathan Spare for the launch of his debut picture book When The Station Bells Ring.
  • Hear First Nations stories from Tim Selwyn of Girri Girra and didgeridoo demonstrations from Mingaletta Cultural Tutor Alan O’Brien.
Images supplied by Words on the Waves


There will be a tonne of non-wordy, non-booky, non-literary happenings happening, too:

  • Interact with a roving whimsical Merman Giant Puppet and share laughter and stories with a heartbroken clown searching for a laugh.
  • Get arty crafty in a mandala-making or puppet-making session.
  • Join in a beats, drumming and body groove workshop.
  • Shop the market stalls and grab a snack from the food trucks.
Bottom image supplied by Words on the Waves


There’s no need to register for this free day, but be sure to bookmark it in your calendar now. We recommend you invite your friends, bring a picnic rug and enjoy this fabulous day out.

The Free Family Fun Day is part of the larger annual Central Coast Words on the Waves Writers Festival, which is running from 29 May to 3 June 2024. They have more than 70 events occurring throughout the festival. You can view all events on their website here.

Free Family Fun Day (hosted by Words on the Waves Writers Festival)
When: Sunday 2 June, 9am – 2pm.
Where: Jasmine Greens Park, Umina Beach.
More Information: wordsonthewaves.com.au.

The Free Family Fun Day is made possible thanks to funding from CreateNSW.

This feature was created in partnership with Words on the Waves.

Written By: KATIE STOKES

Founder & Editor

After working in print and online media for more than a decade, Katie launched Playing in Puddles in 2017. A mum of three young boys and local of the Central Coast, Katie loves discovering and sharing all that’s happening in our region.