PRESS RELEASE: Storyfest Returns to Regional Queensland Following Record-Breaking 2024 Tour
GOLD COAST, Queensland – July 22, 2025 – Storyfest, Australia’s premier youth literary festival, announces It’s 2025 regional tour across Queensland, building on the unprecedented success that saw over 4,000 students engage with renowned authors in 2024.
The annual tour, running from September 1-16, will bring bestselling children’s authors and illustrators to St George, Longreach, and Emerald, providing crucial literacy support to communities where one in three students fail to meet proficiency benchmarks according to 2024 NAPLAN results.
“Last year’s tour exceeded all expectations,” said Andrea Lewis, CEO and Festival Director of Storyfest. “We engaged with over 4,000 individuals and sold more than 6,000 tickets across our three regional festivals. The hunger for these literary experiences in regional Queensland is undeniable.”
The 2025 tour features an impressive lineup of Australia’s literary talent: Storyfest South West (St George, September 1-3): Matt Stanton (Funny Kid series) and award-winning picture book author Andy Geppert
Storyfest Out West (Longreach, September 10-12): Outback Pioneers founder Richard Kinnon and bestselling author A.L. Tait
Storyfest Central Queensland (Emerald, September 15-16): Bestselling author R.A. Spratt and Victorian Premier’s Literary Award Winner Lili Wilkinson
“I don’t think that being inspired by an author should be an experience that only belongs to a select few,” says Storyfest Patron Will Kostakis. “Storyfest is about inspiring all kids in Queensland to see the value in the written word, but also to write a future for themselves.”
Each festival features free community events, including the popular Prologue Party, interactive writing workshops, and adult-focused literary discussions. The tour specifically addresses the unique challenges faced by geographically isolated students, with partnerships including the Longreach School of Distance Education.
The 2024 tour’s remarkable impact included:
South West: 12 schools, 1,100+ participants across 22 events in 3 days
Out West: 12 schools, 1,700+ participants across 36 events in 3 days
Central Queensland: 15 schools, 1,200+ participants across 30 events in 2 days
As the largest youth literary festival in Australia, Storyfest stands as a beacon of literary excellence, with its flagship Gold Coast event complemented by this vital regional outreach program. Tickets for all regional festivals are on sale now with limited availability at: https://storyfest.sales.ticketsearch.com/sales/sales
About Storyfest: As the premier writers’ festival for the Gold Coast and the largest youth literary festival in Australia, Storyfest delivers unforgettable storytelling festivals and programs for young people, stimulating curiosity, creativity, and empathy. The organisation’s mission extends beyond major cities to ensure equitable access to literary arts for all Queensland children. Further information available at www.storyfest.com.au.
Media Contact: Narelle Higgs
Business Development Manager
0424 384 848
[email protected]
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