ReimagiNation: Cumbernauld - A New Festival for a New Town This Weekend

The Book Festival’s new Festival – ReimagiNation: Cumbernauld – is just a few days away. The Festival, which runs from Friday 19 to Sunday 21 May is the first in a five-stop tour of Scotland’s New Towns in 2017 and 2018 and offers great events, fascinating writers, brilliant books and plenty of experiences for all ages to enjoy.

 

ReimagiNation is all about sharing stories, memories, passions and fears. You can come along to tell your own tales of Cumbernauld or hear the past and future stories of the town from participants of CACE Older People Active Lives and pupils from four local primary schools; you can take part in a free debate about Cumbernauld's future or simply share your thoughts on books in one of the reading workshops taking place in the Penthouse Flats. There are plenty of opportunities to contribute to the discussion.

 

There's no need to be a book lover to enjoy ReimagiNation: Cumbernauld.  From talks on Scottish contemporary artist Joan Eardley to celebrations of the music of the 1980s, events on the joys of football, a pop-up cinema showing films from Cumbernauld's archive and the raucous free Unbound cabaret night there really is something for everyone.

 

For families, there are four brilliant children’s authors taking to the stage on Saturday morning in the Big Book Bonanza, telling stories and jokes in a tall-tales jamboree, each vying to be funnier, scarier or more fantastical than the others. Cumbernauld-born storytellers Macastory take a lively song and story trail through the Town Centre; Eilidh Muldoon invites families to join her in building their own version of the Carbrain Totem and children of all ages can join free workshops to make their own short animation using Lego or learn to play the ukulele.

 

Audiences can revel in thrilling crime fiction events with Denise Mina and Graeme Macrae Burnet or spend a delightful hour in the company of former Scots Makar Liz Lochhead. You can enjoy Sunday afternoon tea with foodie and novelist Sue Lawrence; join a walking tour with local historian Diane Watters or see the stunning images of acclaimed photographer Chris Leslie as he and Johnny Rodger explore Disappearing Glasgow.