Save the Date
8th - 13th September 2026
On the Easter Ross Peninsula
Inspiring A Community With Creativity
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Something For Young People
Each year the Festival offers free author visits to schools across the Easter Ross Peninsula area. Stuart Reid, Amanda Thomson, Jon Attenborough, Donald S. Murray, Barbara Henderson, Henry Fosbrooke and Lisa Mulholland are all taking part this year.
There can be few things as powerful as regularly reading to a young child. It has astonishing benefits for children: comfort and reassurance, confidence and security, relaxation, happiness and fun.
Open their minds, Open a book.
Ellie Buchanan: Outside the Beechwood
Saturday 13th September
11.00am—12.00 noon
The Rose Garden, 1 Lamington Street, Tain, IV19 1AA
on sale from 29 July 2025
Join children’s author and storyteller Ellie Buchanan in a family-friendly fun packed children’s event in Tain’s beautiful Rose Garden. Ellie will be reading from her children’s book Outside the Beechwood, and will be including adventure stories that inspired the book to entertain and interest children and adults alike. She will also be selling signed copies of her book at the event. This is Ellie’s first published book, but lots more are in the pipeline! Ellie is an outdoor guide and author living in the North West Highlands and most of her work has been centred around children, inspiring a love for adventure and the outdoors from an early age, and she hopes to do the same with her writing.
Maximum of 30 spaces so please book early. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Please note if the weather is wet the event will take place in Tain Parish Church Hall, Queen Street, Tain IV19 1AP
Henry Fosbrooke — Mindfulness Drumming
Wednesday 10th September 11.00am—12.00 noon
The Collegiate Church, Tain IV19 1AJ
on sale from 29 July 2025
Let the stresses of the day drift away as you lose yourself in an hour of Mindfulness Drumming with the inimitable Henry Fosbrooke.
Let the rhythms and vibrations of Henry’s handmade large drums and soft beaters lift your spirits and soothe your soul as you join in to create music in the setting of the ancient Collegiate Church, Tain.Woodworker Henry has been making and using musical instruments all his adult life, sharing his love of all things wood, running courses in wooden house construction, and visiting schools and Care Homes with his handmade instruments.
If the weather is fair the session will take place in the grounds of the church, if wet it will be inside.
Primary School Visit - Private Visit
Award-winning author Barbara Henderson’s historical fiction is widely studied in Scottish schools and has won two Young Quills Awards from the Historical Association.
Her latest children’s eco-adventure is called I Don’t Do Mountains. Barbara splits her time between writing and teaching Drama.
Family Event — Balloon Modelling Workshops
Saturday 13th September (Numbers limited to 20 children in each session)
Session (1) 1.30pm—2.30pm Session (2) 2.45pm—3.45pm
The Duthac Centre, Stafford Street, Tain, IV19 1BQ
Tickets - Children £3 Adults FREE
on sale from 29 July 2025
All Children must be accompanied by an adult at this event. Join the effervescent, energetic and entertaining Katy Louise in a fun-filled afternoon of balloon modelling. Discover how to turn simple balloons into animals and creatures of all shapes and sizes in a workshop setting. Adults are encouraged to be hands-on, balloon pumps will be provided but little fingers may need help tying the balloons. Fun for all ages and accessible for all.
Primary School Private Visit
Inverness singer-songwriter, musician, author and teacher Liza Mulholland collaborates with artists on projects and plays with bands Dorec-a-belle and Wounded Moose.
As a co-founding member of Edge of the World Cabaret, her original music features in films, including Scottish Women’s Aid.
Primary School Private Visit
Jon Attenborough, a visually impaired football fan, embarked on an extraordinary journey with his guide dog, Sam, across Scotland, visiting all 42 Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) grounds. What began as a personal challenge soon turned into a historic adventure. Jon will share stories of their travels across the length and breadth of Scotland, navigating the challenges of accessibility, the unpredictability of live sports, and the warmth of Scotland’s football community.
High School - Private Visit
Amanda Thomson is an artist and writer who makes work about our connections to the natural environment and how we belong. Belonging: Natural Histories of Place, Identity and Home was shortlisted for the Wainwright Prize for Nature Writing, 2023. Recently, Boundary Layers, a short f ilm about nature’s reclamation of Ravenscraig, the former site of Europe’s largest steelworks, was part of A Fragile Correspondence, Scotland’s exhibition in the 2023 Venice Architecture Biennale. Belonging is a book about how we are held in thrall to the elements of our past.
Children's Corner Popping Up
The children's corner in our Pop-Up book shop is a great addition to the festival. With games, drawing materials and of course books the children can lose themselves, dream big and expand and enrich their worlds.
3 x School - Private Visits
Author of the Gorgeous George series, Stuart Reid is one of the UK’s busiest children’s authors, going to over 3,000 schools and festivals across the world.
His book reading sessions were described by a teacher as “The best... by a long mile. Billy Connolly for kids!”
Popping up @ Tain Library
Visit Tain Library between 3-30 and 4.30 on Friday 12th September for a children’s event. A Scavenger Hunt and Storytelling for children of all ages. Fun filled hour in the beautiful Carnegie Library, Tain.
Free entry, open to all
TRA School - Private Visit
Donald S Murray’s poetry has received national awards, including the Callum MacDonald Memorial Award and his Gaelic play Sequamur has been adopted as a school drama text for Higher English throughout Scotland.