Noni Hazelhurst.

Katoomba will be overflowing with ideas in the first weekend of November as the country’s greatest minds and most exciting new talent make their way to the Blue Mountains for this unique literary festival, growing in scale and impact every year. The 2024 program includes more than 80 authors featured in 46 sessions, 14 workshops and 10 special events.

The main program offers an astounding array of talent across four intimate stages in the iconic artdeco Carrington Hotel and recently refurbished Katoomba Community Hall; the children’s program brings raucous fun to Katoomba Library; and the workshop program at Blue Mountains Cultural Centre offers aspiring writers the chance to hone their craft.

However, what really sets the Festival apart is its special event program, offering one-of-a kind experiences set against the stunning backdrop of the world-heritage listed Blue Mountains. You could be hearing from writers in the rainforest, listening to poets in the sky (aka a cablecar suspended over the Jamison Valley at Scenic World), or taking in spectacular starlit night skies with Blue Mountains Stargazing. Alternatively, cosy up at the historic Carrington Hotel for a few Bedtime Stories, evening salon events featuring a mixed line up of poetry, comedy, storytelling and music.

Who wouldn’t want Noni Hazlehurst or Nardi Simpson to read them a bedtime story before they hit the sack?

On Sunday afternoon, audiences can kick back with their favourite authors over an (award-winning) beer at Mountain Culture Brewery for Beers and Books, a series of more casual events featuring Yumi Stynes, Dr Melissa Kang, Rick Morton and Matilda Boseley. Or, one of the hottest tickets in town is always the live broadcast of ABC Sydney’s TGIF with Richard Glover.

The 2024 Blue Mountains Writers’ Festival is the fourth iteration of the festival, which is
presented by Varuna the National Writers’ House, Australia’s foremost institution for literary development.

The inaugural program for Creative Director, Maeve Marsden, who took up the role in late 2023, is themed Big Skies, Open Minds.

“When I first moved to the Blue Mountains, what struck me most was the sky – the sheer scale of it,” Maeve says.

“Just an hour or two from the city, the stars seemed brighter, the clouds bigger, the air more crisp.

Living here, on beautiful Dharug and Gundungurra land, has afforded me a new approach to my creativity, space to think big and engage more thoughtfully with the world.”

“This is what reading and writing offer us, too. A sense of possibility, the capacity to consider different perspectives, and the opportunity to look at our surroundings with fresh eyes.”

“My hope is that the 2024 Blue Mountains Writers’ Festival, and the incredible authors we’ve assembled, offer both local and tourist audiences the chance to expand their horizons and deepen their focus, just as I have been able to in this spectacular place.”

Blue Mountains Writers Festival encourages audiences to purchase a Gold or Silver weekend pass, offering access to 40-50 sessions across the program, or a Bronze day pass for Saturday or Sunday.

TICKETS
Gold, Silver and Bronze passes are on sale now through the website, as well as Special Events.
Single tickets will go on sale 10 September.
www.bluemountainswritersfestival.com.au