Wordfest Kicks Off Oct. 7, 2016!

(Calgary, AB – October 6, 2016) The 21st edition of Wordfest kicks off October 7 and runs to October 16, 2016, at various Calgary venues including the Big Secret Theatre and Motel Theatre in Arts Commons, the Glenbow Theatre, River Cafe, Deane House and Sidewalk Citizen Bakery in the Simmons Building in East Village.

This year’s jam-packed festival features 97 writers from Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, Mexico and Italy in over 60 public events. The 2016 line-up includes Emma Donoghue, Yann Martel, Kenneth Oppel, Peter Robinson, Jane Urquhart and dozens more.

“Wordfest is about getting up close and personal with high-wattage bestselling authors,” said Shelley Youngblut, General Director of Wordfest. “I personally guarantee our patrons will learn, love and laugh while having their mind blown open with Wordy Goodness,” she said.

For the first time in 2016, Wordfest will also present a staged reading of playwright Karen Hines’ performance of Crawlspace from October 11 to 15, 2016 at Motel Theatre in Arts Commons. The work is inspired by the true story of the artist buying a fully detached “condo alternative” in a hip downtown neighbourhood and how it all went horribly, nightmarishly wrong.

On October 15, 2016 Wordfest’s Adult Spelling Bee – featuring eight celebrity spellers – is back by popular demand along with the introduction of the “Naughty Bits Read-a-Thon” on October 14, 2016. Both of these special events will take place at the Big Secret Theatre in Arts Commons.

In addition to the adult public events, Wordfest Youth – Calgary’s most prominent youth literature program -will connect authors with over 10,000 students at 70 in-school events, theatre events and workshops throughout Calgary.

For more information about Wordfest plus a complete list of 2016 artists, schedule of events and tickets please visit www.wordfest.com.

ABOUT WORDFEST
Wordfest is a not-for-profit arts organization that brings readers and writers together through a world-class international festival and year-round literary events.

WORDFEST MEDIA CONTACT (Media Requests Only)
Tara Sukut
pr@wordfest.com
P: 403 471 8272

GENERAL QUESTIONS
info@wordfest.com

BUYING TICKETS
Single tickets are sold through the Arts Commons Box Office:
Phone: 403-294-9494
Online: wordfest.com/schedule

Arts Commons Call Centre Hours
Monday to Friday: 9am – 8pm
Saturday: 10am – 6pm
Sundays and Holidays: 12pm – 4pm  (Sept 4 – June 30)
Closed Sundays from July 1 to Sept 4