11th annual children’s book festival starts next week

MAY 30, 2023 – The Abilene Cultural Affairs Council is preparing to welcome more than 5,000 people downtown for the 11th Children’s Art + Literacy Festival.

Festival registrants can start picking up their orders Thursday, June 1 at festival headquarters in the T&P Depot, 1101 N. 1st St.

The festival starts Thursday, June 8 with Group Day from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for nonprofit child-care groups. It opens to the public later that day with free events starting with the costume contest at 4 p.m. in the Elks Arts Center and the Storybook Parade at 5:30 p.m. The newest addition to the Storybook Sculpture Project will be unveiled at 6:15 p.m. followed by Evan’s Magnificent Garden Party. Then head to the Paramount Theatre for Sketch with Brian followed by a book signing.

This year’s CALF brings to life the books of award-winning illustrator Brian Lies, whose original artwork will go on display at the National Center for Children’s Illustrated Literature (NCCIL) on June 8.

The festival continues Friday and Saturday, June 9-10, in downtown with 17 venues participating in the celebration. Festival passes are required for Friday and Saturday events, which include dramatic reading of Brian’s most popular books and the best children’s entertainment from across Texas.

On Sunday, June 11, wear your CALF pass to the Abilene Zoo for free admission and enjoy additional dramatic book readings followed by Animal Encounters in the pavilion.

CALF brings more than 5,400 people from all over Texas and states across the country to the Storybook Capital of America©. More than 500 volunteers help make the festival possible, along with our generous sponsors.

Brian Lies (pronounced “lees”) has illustrated more than 30 books, including two best-selling bat books series and the Caldecott Honor-winning book, “The Rough Patch,” which also won the Crystal Kite Award from the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. His newest illustrated book is “Wombat Said Come In” written by Carmen Agra Deedy.

Registration for CALF will continue through June 11 online at www.abilenecalf.com and in person at the T&P Depot. Passes are $11 for children age 3-12 and $16 for ages 13 and up. Children 2 and under are free (no lanyard or pass provided).

CALF was started in 2012 by the Abilene Cultural Affairs Council, an affiliate of the Abilene Chamber of Commerce dedicated to promoting the arts and enriching lives in Abilene.

Festival brings books to life in Storybook Capital of America®

Feb. 24, 2023 – Registration opened today for the festival that fans are calling “incredible,” “inspiring,” and “a summer highlight!”

Go batty at this summer’s Children’s Art + Literacy Festival (CALF) as the Storybook Capital of America® brings the books of award-winning illustrator Brian Lies to life! The Abilene Cultural Affairs Council turns downtown Abilene into a childhood adventure you won’t forget from Thursday, June 8 to Saturday, June 10 with extra programming at the Abilene Zoo on Sunday, June 11.

The festival brings more than 5,400 people from all over Texas and states across America. This book festival is unlike any other because we celebrate the illustrator! The picture book artist on exhibit each summer at the National Center for Children’s Illustrated Literature (NCCIL) in downtown Abilene is the inspiration for our festival.

Brian Lies has illustrated more than 30 books, including two best-selling bat books series and the Caldecott Honor-winning book, “The Rough Patch,” which also won the Crystal Kite Award from the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. His newest illustrated book is “Wombat Said Come In” written by Carmen Agra Deedy.

The festival will kick off Thursday, June 8 with Group Day for day cares and summer camps. Nearly 700 children will attend Group Day who might otherwise not be able to come to the festival thanks to our generous sponsors.

The festival opens to the public Thursday afternoon with a costume contest, Storybook Parade, and unveiling of our 28th Storybook Sculpture set based on the book “The Rough Patch.” Abilene is home to the largest Storybook Sculpture collection of its kind in America if not the world. Brian Lies will be joining the festivities in Abilene, which includes the opening of a summer exhibit of his original artwork at the NCCIL, the first museum in the nation to exclusively exhibit children’s picture book art. Thursday night, see the artist in action at the Paramount Theatre and draw along with him during the free “Sketch with Brian” event followed by a book signing.

A festival pass is required to attend Friday and Saturday events, which include dramatic readings of Brian’s most popular books at six venues with art activities and costume characters, a live production of “Little Bat in Night School,” ventriloquist Nancy Burks Worcester, Le Marionette Theater of Dallas, Kornpop the clown’s balloon show, train rides, Abilene Philharmonic Instrument Petting Zoo, May Farm Petting Zoo and more! Children collect CALF buttons for their festival lanyards as they complete each activity. Wear your CALF pass on Sunday, and you can enter the zoo for free and experience more CALF with book readings and animal encounters.

Register for CALF at www.abilenecalf.com and celebrate the art of childhood! Thursday events are free. Passes for Friday and Saturday are $8 for children 3-12 (2 and under are free) and $13 for ages 13 and up through May 15. After that date, passes are $11 for children and $16 for ages 13 and up.

The Texas Legislature declared Abilene the official Storybook Capital of Texas in 2015, and in 2018, the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office approved Abilene to trademark and exclusively use the term “Storybook Capital of America®.”

CALF started in 2012 and is a program of the Abilene Cultural Affairs Council, an affiliate of the Abilene Chamber of Commerce dedicated to promoting the arts and enriching lives in Abilene. This year’s title sponsor is First National Bank, Albany/Breckenridge. For more information and full schedule of events, visit www.abilenecalf.com or call 325-677-1161.

CALF 2020 delayed to 2021

APRIL 24, 2020 -

After careful consideration of the health and safety of our participants, the Abilene Cultural Affairs Council and the National Center for Children’s Illustrated Literature have decided to postpone the 2020 Children’s Art & Literacy Festival and corresponding Loren Long art exhibition until June 10-12, 2021. The celebration previously planned on that date for artist Sophie Blackall will be moved to June 9-11, 2022.

“While I’m disappointed not to celebrate CALF this June by opening my exhibition, I am extremely proud of the efforts we are all taking to ensure our neighbors and friends stay safe and healthy,” Long said. “To have the opportunity to showcase my life’s work at the NCCIL and to see children’s pictures book art celebrated in this way, is truly extraordinary. I’m looking forward taking a year to further explore the exhibition and finally get to Abilene!”

Registrations for CALF 2020 will automatically be moved to CALF 2021, so no action is needed for those who want to keep their orders, including any workshops spots they have reserved. Those wanting a full refund can email operations@abilenecac.org. Festival registration for 2021 is open and will remain open throughout the rest of the year.

The ACAC has already printed the CALF 2020 Loren Long shirts and tote bags and plans to still use those. New 2021 specific merchandise will not be produced.

CALF 2020 costume contest registrations will also automatically be moved to CALF 2021. The ACAC office is currently closed to the public and employees are working from home, but when the office reopens, those who want to keep their CALF registration may pick up their shirts early.

The ACAC will be celebrating “The Year of Loren Long” between now and next summer and would love to see Loren Long shirts everywhere. Details about “The Year of Loren Long” will be announced soon. Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram (@AbileneCALF) to get the latest festival news.

“We are so sorry to share the news of the postponement of CALF 2021, but excited that all the pieces are in place to partner with the NCCIL to make this the best CALF ever,” said Lynn Barnett, executive director of the ACAC. “We look forward to welcoming Loren, Otis and CALF to the Storybook Capital of America next summer. We especially want to thank our generous sculpture and CALF sponsors, our volunteers, venues and the City of Abilene for making this such a special time for families to get together.”

Trish Dressen, NCCIL executive director, said she was also disappointed the festival and exhibition are postponed, but looking forward to celebrating both next year.

“The partnership the NCCIL has with ACAC to bring this festival to life is as powerful as the overall magic CALF brings. It saddens us greatly to postpone, but it would sadden us even more to have Loren miss the magic seeing those celebrate his work in unique ways that, quite literally, no one in the world does the way Abilene does.”

Last year’s CALF drew 5,200 people from 91 Texas cities and 12 states. The festival is a beloved Abilene tradition since 2012 and was one of the reasons the city was named the Storybook Capital of Texas and America.