Celebrate the picture book art of the artist on exhibit at the National Center for Children’s Illustrated Literature with four days of fun spread out over 17 venues! One pass gets you into all four days.
This year’s festival is June 12-15, 2025
Registration opens in February
Celebrate the picture book art of LeUyen Pham at the 12th Children’s Art + Literacy Festival!
June 13-16, 2024
Registration is open!
Four days of festival fun for one low ticket price! CALF kicks off Thursday night and continues all day Friday and Saturday with dramatic book readings, costumed characters, a petting zoo, Abilene Philharmonic Instrument Petting Zoo, Kornpop the Balloon Sculptor, Professor QB, Marionette Show and Nancy Burks Worcester the famous Texas ventriloquist and more! On Sunday, wear your CALF pass and get into the Abilene Zoo for free and earn a bonus button with more CALF programming and animal interactions.
Sign up for CALF art workshops for an extra fee.
Earn up to 15 buttons for your festival lanyard by completing the activities! The festival is the largest children’s event in the Storybook Capital of America, attracting thousands of families from across Texas and the U.S.!
The 11th CALF will celebrate the work of Summer 2023 NCCIL illustrator and author Brian Lies.
Festival events Thursday are free. Pass required for Friday, Saturday & Sunday. Registration opens in February at abilenecalf.com
$8 for ages 3-12 and $11 for ages $13 and up through May 15; after that date $11 for kids, $16 adult
Everyone’s invited to the South Branch Library to enjoy a blast from the Children’s Art & Literacy Festival (CALF) past. We’ll feature one celebrated artist from the history of CALF and we’re starting off with the first author/illustrator to be honored, Dr. Seuss! Plus March is the best time of the year to celebrate as he was born in March. Come join your library as we enjoy stories, activities, and crafts that will showcase some great literature, and all the while learning about and looking forward to the next CALF in June, which will honor Brian Lies!
FREE
The 10th Annual Children’s Art & Literacy Festival is a two and a half day event that kicks off Thursday night and continues all day Friday and Saturday with dramatic book readings, costumed characters, a petting zoo, Abilene Philharmonic Instrument Petting Zoo, Kornpop the Balloon Sculptor, Professor QB, Joe McDermott singing, Marionette Show and Nancy Burks Worcester the famous Texas ventriloquist and more! Workshops available for an extra fee; limited spaces available.
Earn up to 12 buttons for your festival lanyard by completing the activities! The festival is the largest children’s event in the Storybook Capital of America, attracting thousands of families from across Texas and the U.S.!
The 10th CALF will celebrate the work of Summer 2022 NCCIL illustrator and author Sophie Blackall and it will celebrate the past decade of festival honorees and their books and characters.
Festival pass required for Friday and Saturday.
The 10th Annual Children’s Art & Literacy Festival is a two and a half day event that kicks off Thursday night with free activities. The costume contest starts at 4 p.m. The Storybook Parade is at 5:30 p.m. down Cypress Street. At the Convention Center, we will unveil the newest addition to the Storybook Sculpture Project followed by a Garden Party with food trucks and “Sketch with Sophie” event at Paramount Theatre.
The 10th CALF will celebrate the work of Summer 2022 NCCIL illustrator and author Sophie Blackall and it will celebrate the past decade of festival honorees and their books and characters. Sophie’s original artwork will be on display at the National Center for Children’s Illustrated Literature in downtown Abilene.
No festival pass required for Thursday.
The 9th annual Children's Art & Literacy Festival celebrating the summer artist on display at the National Center for Children's Illustrated Literature is a two and a half day event where books come to life. Enjoy fun activities nearly 20 venues in downtown Abilene as we celebrate the books and characters of Loren Long. Registration opens in February at www.abilenecalf.com.
Friday schedule (pass required):
9 a.m.-4 p.m. Loren Long Art Exhibition
9 a.m.-4 p.m. Cookie Decorating
9 a.m.-4 p.m. Abilene Philharmonic's Instrument Petting Zoo
9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Train Rides
9 a.m.-4 p.m. Face Painting
9 a.m. Dramatic Readings & Art Activities
9 a.m.-4 p.m. Palette of Purpose Chalk Art
9 a.m. Balloon & Magic Show
9-11 a.m. Loren Long Book Signing
9:45 a.m. Dramatic Readings & Art Activities
9:50 a.m. Joe McDermott Music
10 a.m.-3 p.m. May Farm Petting Zoo
10:30 a.m. Dramatic Readings & Art Activities
11 a.m. Balloon & Magic Show
11:15 a.m. Dramatic Readings & Art Activities
11:45 a.m. Farm Friends Storytime
12 p.m. Dramatic Readings & Art Activities
12 p.m. Joe McDermott Music
12:30 p.m. Farm Friends Storytime
12:45 p.m. Dramatic Readings & Art Activities
1 p.m. Balloon & Magic Show
1:30 p.m. Dramatic Readings & Art Activities
1:50 p.m. Joe McDermott Music
2:15 p.m. Dramatic Readings & Art Activities
3 p.m. Dramatic Readings & Art Activities
3 p.m. Balloon & Magic Show
3:45 p.m. Dramatic Readings & Art Activities
6 p.m. Movie at Paramount
6:30 p.m. NCCIL dinner with Lore Long (registration required)
The 9th annual Children's Art & Literacy Festival celebrating the summer artist on display at the National Center for Children's Illustrated Literature is a two and a half day event where books come to life. Enjoy fun activities nearly 20 venues in downtown Abilene as we celebrate the books and characters of Loren Long. Registration opens in February at www.abilenecalf.com.
Saturday schedule (pass required):
9 a.m.-4 p.m. Loren Long Art Exhibition
9 a.m.-4 p.m. Cookie Decorating
9 a.m.-4 p.m. Abilene Philharmonic's Instrument Petting Zoo
9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Train Rides
9 a.m.-4 p.m. Face Painting
9 a.m. Dramatic Readings & Art Activities
9 a.m.-4 p.m. Palette of Purpose Chalk Art
9 a.m. Balloon & Magic Show
9-11 a.m. Loren Long Book Signing
9:45 a.m. Dramatic Readings & Art Activities
9:50 a.m. Joe McDermott Music
10 a.m.-3 p.m. May Farm Petting Zoo
10:30 a.m. Dramatic Readings & Art Activities
11 a.m. Balloon & Magic Show
11:15 a.m. Dramatic Readings & Art Activities
11:45 a.m. Farm Friends Storytime
12 p.m. Dramatic Readings & Art Activities
12 p.m. Joe McDermott Music
12:30 p.m. Farm Friends Storytime
12:45 p.m. Dramatic Readings & Art Activities
1 p.m. Balloon & Magic Show
1:30 p.m. Dramatic Readings & Art Activities
1:50 p.m. Joe McDermott Music
2:15 p.m. Dramatic Readings & Art Activities
3 p.m. Dramatic Readings & Art Activities
3 p.m. Balloon & Magic Show
3:45 p.m. Dramatic Readings & Art Activities
6 p.m. Movie at Paramount
The 9th annual Children's Art & Literacy Festival celebrating the summer artist on display at the National Center for Children's Illustrated Literature is a two and a half day event where books come to life. Enjoy fun activities nearly 20 venues in downtown Abilene as we celebrate the books and characters of Loren Long. Registration opens in February at www.abilenecalf.com.
Thursday schedule (events are free):
4-5:30 p.m. Costume Contest in the Elks Arts Center
5-8 p.m. Loren Long art exhibit is open and free at the NCCIL
5:30-6 p.m. Storybook Parade down Cypress Street
6:15-6:30 p.m. Storybook Sculpture Unveiling: Otis the tractor
6:30 p.m. Otis’s Putt Puff Puttedy Party in the Adamson-Spalding Storybook Garden with entertainment and food trucks
7-8:40 p.m. Artist Talk and Book Signing with Loren Long at Paramount Theatre
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1101 North 1st St | Abilene, Texas 79601
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