The WayWord Festival returns for its second year this February half-term at Chester Town Hall and at libraries throughout Cheshire.

With free family-friendly activities in five libraries and Chester Town Hall being taken over by writers, comedians, mathematicians, gamers and poets there will be plenty of inspirational activities for young people to sink their teeth into this half term.

Paul Lavin, festivals manager at Chester Performs, said: “Wherever you are in Cheshire this February half-term you can come to the WayWord Festival and discover something new.

“I’m really looking forward to seeing the Town Hall in Chester and five libraries across the county buzzing with the excitement of the festival’s performers and young audience.

“This is definitely the one week of the year when the average age of the visitors to the Town Hall takes an almighty dip; the place is unrecognisable as we take it over and turn it into a truly magical space.

“And everyone can take part with competitions, workshops and book-signings where you can meet the stars of the festival face to face.”

Kicking off the participation programme is the Film Challenge - teams can register their interest and then have just 10 days to script, shoot and edit a two minute film.

Completed films will be shown at the festival on the large Moonlight Flicks screen at a special awards event. The challenge is open to groups and individuals; all you need is energy, enthusiasm and ideas.

Blossoming writers, poets, illustrators and photographers are also invited to take part in the festival, where the only limit is the imagination.

Entries will be displayed in the Town Hall during the festival and online thereafter, with books and free tickets among the competition prizes.

There is a series of workshops catering for a range of interests including a writing workshop lead by Action Transport Theatre’s Kevin Dyer, who will help you avoid the five biggest mistakes that writers make.

Cheshire born Paul Dowswell will deliver two sessions – how to write historical fiction and how to terrify your readers in a ghost story.

The festival’s resident illustrator Daisy Hirst will lead a fabulous workshop where she’ll help groups create the perfect cardboard box den, and she’ll also lead a group in designing their own animal friend; each of her workshops is inspired by her new book The Girl with a Parrot on her Head, which she will be discussing during the festival.

Experts from Kano Computers will be in town to show youngsters how to build a computer and then code with it and finally, for budding comedians, there is a stand-up workshop lead by Comedy 4 Kids.

Other events at The WayWord Festival includes author talks, web chats, free drop in craft activities at the region’s libraries and a picture book jam.

The Wayword Festival takes place from February 14-21. Visit www.wayword.co.uk for details.