In addition to the virtual events taking place November 4-6, FOLD Kids Book Fest has fun in-person events taking place November 6 and 7 as well as the annual Community Days at Gore Meadows Community Centre and Library now on November 8 AND 9.
Community Days at Gore Meadows includes a range of events including writing and art workshops, storytimes and special presentations that allow attendees to interact with incredible authors and storytellers in the Brampton Library and throughout the Community Centre. Explore our activity zone and our book fair, where books by all of our festival authors will be available for sale.
Thursday, November 6
Come Read with Me: A Storytime Pajama Party
Brampton Library – Gore Meadows branch | 6:30PM ET
Come in your pajamas and bring your favourite stuffie as special guest readers share some of our favourite picture books at our annual read-a-loud event at Brampton Library’s Gore Meadows branch.
Designed for ages 4 – 10.
Friday, November 7
The Poetry SLAM! with Patrick de Belen
Chinguacousy Secondary School | 9:45AM ET
As part of FOLD Kids Book Fest, join us at Chinguacousy Secondary School for a high-energy event where students in Grades 6–8 will experience the thrill of spoken word poetry. Three dynamic poets—Amal Abdullahi, Ugoma Brainer Nwabeke and Jules Roslyn—will take the stage to compete in an interactive Poetry SLAM, hosted by award-winning poet Patrick de Belen.
Designed for Grades 6-8
Register Here
Music and Movement with EarlyON
Brampton Library – Gore Meadows branch | 10:00AM ET
Join us for a special, interactive music and dance event for our littlest readers based on two picture books: You Can’t Tame a Tiger by Stephanie Ellen Sy and Julien Chung, and It Began with a Buzz by Shiva Delsooz. This event, designed for families with young children (birth to 6 years), develops physical coordination, social skills, and creative expression, and is presented in cooperation with BridgeWay Family Centre (EarlyON) and FOLD Kids Book Fest. This is a drop-in event, pre-registration is not required.
Designed for ages 0 – 6.
Saturday, November 8
The Kick-Off Celebration
Gore Meadows Community Centre | 9:30AM ET
Kick-off Fold Kids Book Fest’s annual Community Day with a family & friends parade celebration! Join us for a light breakfast and enjoy lively music at Gore Meadows before embarking on our opening parade.
- Kick-off Celebration – 9:30am
- Community Day parade – 10am
All Ages
The Opening Parade
Arena at Gore Meadows Community Centre | 10:00AM ET
Join the excitement of FOLD Kids Book Fest as family and friends march with us through Gore Meadows Community Centre and Library to kick off Community Day at our annual opening parade!
All Ages
Storytime Show with Sheetal Sheth
Brampton Library – Gore Meadows branch | 10:30AM ET
Celebrate FOLD Kids Book Fest at Gore Meadows with a day of storytelling magic! The Storytelling Stage invites school age children and families to enjoy live interactive storytime sessions with authors and special guests, where books come to life through laughter, music, and imagination. Authors will also be on hand for photos and book signings following each event. Sheetal Sheth will read from her picture book, Anjali Can!
Designed for ages 4 – 11
The Escape Room: A Dream Detective Adventure
Brampton Library – Gore Meadows branch | 11:00AM ET
Escape the Library! Escape Brampton Library’s Gore Meadows branch in a mystery-filled escape room inspired by the book, Danica dela Torre, Dream Detective. Created by Basil and Kevin Sylvester, this thrilling adventure challenges you to solve puzzles, uncover clues, and race against time before the library doors lock for good! The escape room will begin in the library and end in the community centre.
Registration is required. Participants should arrive 15 minutes early to secure their spot; a limited number of drop-in spaces will be made available prior to the event on a first-come, first-serve basis. Registration opens October 25.
Designed for ages 8 – 13.
REGISTRATION OPENS OCTOBER 25
The Sunshine Project: A Drop-In Art Workshop with PAMA
Gore Meadows Community Centre – Community Room 2 | 11:00AM – 4:00PM ET
As part of FOLD Kids Book Fest, kids are invited to drop in for a hands-on art workshop inspired by The Sunshine Project by Uma Krishnaswami and Julianna Swaney. Participants will create their own suncatcher and leave with one small action they can take to support their community. This all-day drop-in event is facilitated by the Peel Art Gallery, Museum and Archives.
All Ages
Storytime at EarlyON with Kid Haile
Early ON Child and Family Centre – Gore Meadows | 11:00AM ET
Join us for a joyful storytime at the Gore Meadows EarlyON building for the littlest readers as author Kid Haile reads Sometimes I Eat with My Hands, a playful picture book that celebrates food, culture, and the many ways kids enjoy their meals. Drop-in event, pre-registration is not required.
Ages 0-6.
Storytime Show with Karina Zhou
Brampton Library – Gore Meadows branch | 11:30AM ET
Celebrate FOLD Kids Book Fest at Gore Meadows with a day of storytelling magic! The Storytelling Stage invites school age children and families to enjoy live interactive storytime sessions with authors and special guests, where books come to life through laughter, music, and imagination. Authors will also be on hand for photos and book signings following each event. Karina Zhou will read from her picture book, Eddy’s Shadow Puppets.
Designed for ages 4 – 11
The Amazing Animal Show
Gore Meadows Community Centre – Community Room 2 | 1:00PM ET
Join us for The Amazing Animal Show! Taking place at Gore Meadows Community Centre, it features exciting tricks, magic, special props and comedy! Attendees will get to see a range of animals from a savannah cat to a bearded dragon. This experience runs for two hours: the first half is the show, and the final hour includes a meet and greet with the team and animals.
Registration is encouraged. Please arrive 10 mins before to secure your spot. Drop-ins welcome if there is space. Registration opens October 25.
All Ages.
REGISTRATION OPENS OCTOBER 25
Storytime at EarlyON with Karina Zhou
Early ON Child and Family Centre – Gore Meadows | 1:00PM ET
Join us for a joyful storytime at the Gore Meadows EarlyON building for the littlest readers as author Karina Zhou reads from her picture book, Eddy’s Shadow Puppets, and shows off her puppets! Drop-in event, pre-registration is not required.
Ages 0-6.
Kids Discovery Club: STEM with Stories
Brampton Library – Gore Meadows branch | 2:00PM ET
Science + technology + engineering + art + math = STEAM! In this special FOLD Kids Book Fest Kids Discovery Club event at Brampton Library’s Gore Meadows branch, families can dive into fun, hands-on challenges inspired by Leigh Joseph and Natalie Schnitter’s The Land Knows Me. Explore the connections between nature, knowledge, and creativity through fun activities that spark curiosity and celebrate Indigenous wisdom. Collect codewords from each challenge to enter library’s online contest for the chance to win prizes!
Ages 6 – 12
Storytime Show with Kid Haile
Brampton Library – Gore Meadows branch | 2:00PM ET
Celebrate FOLD Kids Book Fest at Gore Meadows with a day of storytelling magic! The Storytelling Stage invites school age children and families to enjoy live interactive storytime sessions with authors and special guests, where books come to life through laughter, music, and imagination. Authors will also be on hand for photos and book signings following each event. Kid Haile will read from his picture book, Sometimes I Eat with My Hands.
Designed for ages 4 – 11
Storytime Show with Shiva Delsooz
Brampton Library – Gore Meadows branch | 3:00PM ET
Celebrate FOLD Kids Book Fest at Gore Meadows with a day of storytelling magic! The Storytelling Stage invites school age children and families to enjoy live interactive storytime sessions with authors and special guests, where books come to life through laughter, music, and imagination. Authors will also be on hand for photos and book signings following each event. Shiva Delsooz will read from her picture book, It Began with a Buzz.
Designed for ages 4 – 11
Make a Zine! with Mitali Banerjee Ruths
Brampton Library – Gore Meadows branch | 3:30PM ET
Join author Mitali Banerjee Ruths (The Party Diaries: Lucky Mermaid Sleepover) at the Brampton Library’s Gore Meadows branch for a fun, hands-on workshop where kids create their own mini zines—tiny, DIY booklets that mix words and art. From sharing hopes for their community to celebrating things they love, participants will discover how small pages can hold big ideas.
Registration is required. Participants should arrive 15 minutes early to secure their spot; a limited number of drop-in spaces will be made available prior to the event on a first-come, first-serve basis. Registration opens October 25.
Ages 6+
REGISTRATION OPENS OCTOBER 25
Sunday, November 9
How to Write! Creating Your Own Storytime with Sheetal Sheth
Brampton Library – Gore Meadows branch | 1:00PM ET
As part of FOLD Kids Book Fest, join author Sheetal Sheth (Anjali Can!) for a fun, hands-on writing workshop. Designed for kids ages 4-8, participants will create their own very short story and present it on the Storyteller Stage—just like a real author!
Registration is required. Participants should arrive 15 minutes early to secure their spot; a limited number of drop-in spaces will be made available prior to the event on a first-come, first-serve basis. Registration opens October 25.
Designed for ages 4-8.
REGISTRATION OPENS OCTOBER 25
Details! Details!: A Writing Workshop with Ripple Foundation
Brampton Library – Gore Meadows branch | 1:00PM ET
At FOLD Kids Book Fest, budding writers ages 8–14 can take part in a creative writing workshop led by Ripple Foundation instructors. Participants will explore how descriptive details bring stories to life.
Registration is required. Participants should arrive 15 minutes early to secure their spot; a limited number of drop-in spaces will be made available prior to the event on a first-come, first-serve basis. Registration opens October 25.
Designed for ages 8-14.
REGISTRATION OPENS OCTOBER 25
Writing the Spoken Word with Patrick de Belen
Brampton Library – Gore Meadows branch | 1:00PM ET
Poet Patrick de Belen leads tweens and teens in a spoken word writing workshop as part of FOLD Kids Book Fest, guiding them through the process of crafting a poem and sharing performance tips. The session concludes with a performance on the Storytelling Stage.
Registration is required. Participants should arrive 15 minutes early to secure their spot; a limited number of drop-in spaces will be made available prior to the event on a first-come, first-serve basis. Registration opens October 25.
Designed for ages 12-16.
REGISTRATION OPENS OCTOBER 25
Show & Tell at FOLD Kids Book Fest
Brampton Library – Gore Meadows branch | 2:15PM ET
It’s time to share! Participants from the writing workshops are invited to present their creations—whether short stories, descriptive scenes, or poetry—and experience what it’s like to be a FOLD Kids Book Fest author. Hosted by Sheetal Sheth.
All Ages.