Event date - 1 March to 29 March 2023. 

Words Out West: Western Downs Readers & Writers Fest takes a novel approach to storytelling, with a host of events for all ages and interests.

Join us at Books & Bubbles: with Lion's Saroo Brierley as we kick off the Words Out West festival weekend in style! Sip on champagne, mingle with presenters, and hear Saroo's incredible true story of courage and hope that launched 2016's Lion into blockbuster status.

Let the best of local and national storytelling talent captivate you at our Festival Day, with concurrent sessions featuring keynote presentations and panels across popular and emergent genres. Stay on after the day wraps up for drinks & mingling on The Deck, complimentary with your admission.

Immerse yourself in our day-long Writers Retreat, with a creative writing masterclass for the adults — and for the first time — a tailored youth short story workshop for high-school aged writers.

And for a taste of our famous country hospitality, order at the bar and pull up a seat at Schooners & Stories: An Evening with Brent Tate.