Festivals & fairs

Varta Storytelling Festival

When

Sat, Dec 5

Where

Central Library, Austin Public Library710 W. Cesar Chavez St., AUSTINAustin, TexasGet directions

Cost

Free

Phone

000-000-0000

Bring the whole family to experience a celebration of culture, literature, and art at the third annual Varta Storytelling Festival. Hosted at the Austin Public Library Central Branch, this afternoon festival brings global South Asian narratives to life for children and families across Central Texas. Festival highlights include award-winning authors, historical traditional arts, intergenerational folk music and dance, and hands-on workshops. Activities include interactive readings from celebrated children’s book authors Jyoti Rajan Gopal, Reem Faruqi, and Meera Sriram; a performance of traditional Kerala shadow puppetry (Tholpavakoothu), a rare, ancient art form making its debut in Austin; lively musical showcases and rhythm workshops designed for kids to drum, dance, and sing along; and arts and crafts stations where children can create their own puppets, explore storytelling elements, and take home their creations. Varta is dedicated to fostering empathy, diverse representation, and intergenerational connections through the universal power of a good story. Admission is free, and all workshop materials are provided. Space for specific author sessions and puppetry workshops may be limited, so early arrival or RSVP is highly encouraged.