HARROGATE International Festivals are inviting children into the mirrored world of the magical Spiegeltent for a weekend festival packed with history, science and art, sword fighting, fairy tales and fun.

Entertainers and authors will be heading to Europe's oldest travelling tent for the Children’s Festival in Harrogate’s Crescent Gardens on September 10 and 11.

The festival will open with author Hilary Robinson's Mixed Up Fairytales for three to eight year olds on September 10 from 9.30am to 10.30am. Her picture-book stories of princesses, parties and penguins have sold all around the world, with more than 40 books to her name, and she is a patron of The Children’s University, which promotes innovative learning outside school hours.

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Author Hilary Robinson

At 11am, author Alan Windram will offer interactive drawing, audience participation, storytelling and specially written sing-along songs in a "live and loopy" event for three to six year olds: Mac And Bob: Party Problem.

Mac the farmer and his dog and best friend Bob are always up to all sorts of exciting adventures and one day they are invited to a party, but oh no, there's a big problem. What will they do? Look out for the flying carrots, apparently.

In Tales From Africa, from 12 noon to 12.45pm, storyteller Mara Menzies will take an interactive, rollercoaster adventure across Africa, where four to seven year olds can discover the legend of magnificent Moon; how the tortoise acquired his cracked shell and why the chicken ventured into the deep dark forest. Expect fun, excitement and a tiny bit of danger.

Explorers are wanted for Menzies' next show at 1pm, suitable for age six upwards. In Journey With Mara Menzies, the storyteller will set out on a madcap journey around the world, taking in a dragon story from China and the secret world of the mythical selkies, alias seals in the water but humans on land.

"If you’re brave enough, we might just find out what happened to the world’s most disobedient boy too in a story from Kenya," says Mara. "There'll be lots of participation, so bring your imaginations."

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Mara Menzies: two shows

From 2.15pm to 3pm, children aged seven to 11 can travel back to the 9th century with History's Maid in Sagas Of The Vikings. A Viking storyteller, known as a skald, will explain the importance of stories of gods, giants and heroes in Viking society, as well as re-telling stories and reciting poetry heard by Vikings more than 1,000 years ago. Children can help to re-enact a myth about Thor and his hammer and also have fun with Viking riddles, also known as kennings.

The first day will end with the Have A Go At Sword School for five year olds and upwards at 3.15pm to 4pm. "Do you know your thrust from your parry, your rapier from your broadsword?" ask History’s Maid. "Try our swashbuckling workshop and see if you have got what it takes to be a medieval warrior."

The Sunday Spiegeltent programme will begin with Northern Ballet hosting workshops from 10am to 10.45am and 11am to 11.45am when children aged 18 months to six can explore the story of Goldilocks and The Three Bears. "Join us as we bring this classic tale to life through creative movement and play," say the Leeds company. "Be ‘pre-beared’ and bring your favourite teddy bear along with you."

September 11's line-up will continue with Dino Story Party for under fives and their grown-ups from 12.15pm. This 45-minute session for dinosaur devotees is a chance to perfect your growl, stomp your feet and join in with interactive storytimes, songs and games as Seven Stories' Story Catcher brings favourite stories to life.

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                Craig Bradley: Poetry Bloke. Picture: Richard Hanson 

Seven Stories, the National Centre for Children’s Books, host a second event at 1.30pm to 2pm, when the Daydreamer sets out on a journey through adventure and imagination. In a world of possibilities, three to eight year olds are invited to become part of the story too. Where will you go? What will you do? Anything can happen.

Craig Bradley, alias the Poetry Bloke, will combine poetry, music, imagination and comedy in a creative workshop from 2.30pm to 3.15pm. Children aged seven to 11 can write and perform their very own lyrics under his expert guidance in a session that will encourage audience participation aplenty.

Humorous author Andy Seed, winner of the 2015 Blue Peter Book Award for Best Book with Facts with The Silly Book Of Side-Splitting Stuff, will present Wacky Witty Wordfun from 3.30pm to 4.15pm for children aged seven to 11. "There'll be amazing facts, jokes, riddles, games, wacky words, punny poems, nutty names, challenges and activities to join in with. Find out just how much fun non-fiction can be," says Andy, who claims to be the only writer in Britain to have really slipped on a banana skin.

Roll up, roll up for Professor Pumpernickel's festival climax, the Superdooper Science Show, from 5pm to 6pm. The "greatest show on Earth" will star exotic chemical compounds, unfathomable physics phenomena and some really rubbish jokes, all mixed up with a German scientist as the host.

For the full Children's Festival line-up or to book tickets, visit harrogateinternationalfestivals.com; bookings also can be made on 01423 562303. Please note, children under 16 must be accompanied by an appropriate adult at all times.