Sharjah is known for its fun and educational festivals, attracting visitors from around the world. Likewise, in May 2024, the 15th Sharjah Children Reading Festival brought enthusiasm and zeal to children.
The “Once Upon a Hero” SCRF event encouraged children to read and become heroes in their own stories. This blog explores all about the Sharjah Children Reading Festival 2024. Let us walk you through all the exciting updates on this memorable festival!
- Overview
- Date and Location
- Activities
- Reasons to Attend
- MindblowingTheatre Performances
- Interactive Sessions for Parents
- Diverse Workshops
- Book Club
- Cooking Classes
- FAQs
SCRF 2024 – Overview
Sharjah Book Authority organises an annual event, the Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival. This education features booksellers, publishers, and various activities for children, families, and parents.
Every year, various celebrities and special guests attend this auspicious festival to encourage children to read books. The SCRF plays a vital role in enhancing children’s creativity and character development with a platform to exhibit their skills.
Also, this year at SCRF, Maria Thomas, Artistic Director of the Music Workshop Company, attended the festival. She shared her experience with the festival and conducted music workshops.
SCRF 2024 – Date and Location
The 12-day Children’s Reading Festival occurs in May every year. The dates and location of the Children’s Reading Festival 2024 were:
Date: May 01, 2024 to May 12, 2024
Venue: Expo Centre Sharjah, Al Taawun Street, Sharjah, UAE.
SCRF 2024 – Activities
This year, Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival organised over 1,400 fun activities for children, including:
- Theatrical Performances
- Culinary Displays
- STEM Courses
- Social Media Training
- Music.
- Author talks
- Science Exhibition
- Maths Contest
- Climate change awareness
- Comics
- Crafts
- Book Illustration Exhibition
- Storytelling
- Kids Fashion Show
- Yoga
- Marching band performances
- Dance displays
- 12th edition of the prestigious Sharjah Children’s Book Illustration Award
SCRF 2024 – Reasons to Attend
The 15th Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival offered numerous activities for children, parents, and those interested in creativity.
Meanwhile, participants interacted with authors, learned to write books, participated in hand-crafting workshops, and enjoyed various amusing contests. The festival provides an exciting experience for all.
Sharjah Children Reading Festival 2024 opened doors to creativity and imagination by arranging:
1. MindblowingTheatre Performances
The Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival is not a typical book-reading event. Meanwhile, the festival organises multiple fun activities and workshops to entertain the kids and young adults with their parents.
The highlights from SCRF 2024 theatrical performances are:
- Features performances by Arab sensation Rasha Rizk.
- Masaka Kids Africana performed electrifying dance routines.
- ‘Hum Bhi Agar Bacche Hote,’ storytelling by Pakistani playwright Waseem Badami, staged at SCRF Ballroom Theatre.
2. Interactive Sessions for Parents
SCRF also offers sessions for parents to navigate the digital era and improve their parenting skills accordingly. At the recent SCRF event, experts, including Dr Ahmed Bassiouni and Hamsa Younis, discussed :
- The role of family counselling in modifying children’s behaviour.
- The importance of libraries in promoting academic success.
- The use of AI for personalised learning.
3. Diverse Workshops
Workshops cater to various interests, offering adventure and excitement for all ages, including:
- Computer coding
- Science
- Arts
- Dance
- Cooking
- Furniture making
- Car making
Mini Fashion shows allow children to design, sew, and showcase their creativity on the runway. Whereas the Smash Room offers a fun way to release steam.
4. Book Club
Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival is a haven for books on diverse genres. This literary hub features over 186 publishers, taking visitors to the world of mixed genres and new releases. You can also get a captivating story experience in cosy reading corners.
5. Cooking Classes
SCRF offers culinary delights and creative spaces for children, offering cookery programmes like:
- Dine Sushi Sandwich
- Parfait blast
- Pizza Muffins
- Chinese Tea Workshop
- South Asian and Middle Eastern Cuisines
One of the best chefs teaches students about various cuisines. These chefs include:
- Omari McQueen
- Imad Al Arnab
- Natalia Samoilova
- Zaynah Din
FAQs
The 12-day festival features inspiring speeches from industry leaders (particularly in children’s literature), organising educational workshops, and creative activities.
The Sharjah Children Reading Festival was arranged at the Expo Centre Sharjah.
The entry at Sharjah Children Reading Festival is absolutely free.
You can call the SCRF at 80080000 or send an email to sccinfo@contactshj.ae.
Living or travelling to the UAE gives you a chance to attend multiple events and festivals, like
– Abu Dhabi Book Fair
– UAE Spring Events
– UAE Winter Events
– Yas Island Events (Concerts, Sports, etc.)
– Sheikh Zayed Festival Abu Dhabi
That was all about the Sharjah Children Reading Festival 2024. Now, you can attend this fun reading festival with your family in May 2025. The SCRF not only enhances the love for book reading but also unleashes your hidden talent with multiple activities.
For more updates on festivals in the UAE, check out Property Finder’s Blog!
