Boom Book Fest

A festival to grow through books

The Boom Book Fest is a travelling festival entirely dedicated to read-aloud literature for children and young adults. Conceived and organized by the L'albero delle parole APS Association, the event brings several days focused on books, stories, and the joy of reading together to Melendugno and its hamlet of Borgagne, in the province of Lecce. The festival has its roots in years of experience gained at the Voltalacarta bookstore in Calimera, before finding its new home in Melendugno, in the heart of Salento.

The program across squares and cultural venues

During the festival, the town transforms into a widespread cultural stage. Events enliven various spaces, including Piazza Pertini, the Rina Durante Cultural Centre, the Municipal Villa, and the Nuovo Cinema Paradiso, as well as Piazza Sant'Antonio in Borgagne. The program weaves together different languages and formats, designed for children, teenagers, and families:

• read-aloud sessions and storytelling for all ages;
• meetings with authors and illustrators of children's literature;
• creative workshops and hands-on activities inspired by books;
• interactive shows and children's theatre;
• exhibitions dedicated to books, including pop-up books and paper theatres;
• stages of the National Poetry Slam Championship.

Reading as a shared experience

The common thread of the Boom Book Fest is the belief that reading aloud is a powerful tool to bring children, and even adults, closer to the world of books. The artistic direction curates a proposal where the book is not just an object to flip through, but an experience to live and share: a voice reading, an audience listening, and a community coming together. Alongside events open to everyone, the festival traditionally offers days reserved for local schools, involving classes in a journey towards reading.

Melendugno, Borgagne, and Salento

Set in a fascinating territory between the hinterland and the Salento Adriatic coast, the Boom Book Fest highlights Melendugno and Borgagne as places of culture and encounter. The festival is part of Puglia's rich calendar of reading-related events, offering families and young readers an opportunity to discover new books, meet those who write and illustrate them, and experience the joy of stories told aloud together.