Pinocchinello — Festival of Children's Books Schwalenberg

A Children's Book Festival in a Picture-Perfect Town

If any festival can claim to provide its own stage set, it's Pinocchinello in Schwalenberg. The half-timbered old town in the Lippe district is one of the best-preserved historic town centers in North Rhine-Westphalia — a backdrop of 16th-century buildings, cobblestone streets, and artist studios, where the festival of children's books will take place for the sixth time on June 28, 2026.

Hands-on Workshops Instead of a Consumer Program

Pinocchinello is not a toy market or a stage festival, but a hands-on festival. Over 20 workshops and activities are spread throughout the old town: mini print shops, classic book illustration, picture book cinema, Kamishibai performances (the Japanese storytelling theatre with illustrated cards), comic stations, mix-poetry workshops, reading corners, and encounters with illustrators. The concept: children don't just watch, they get actively involved.

The Organizer — Europäisches Laboratorium

Behind Pinocchinello is the association Europäisches Laboratorium e.V., a cultural collective based in Schwalenberg that has been organizing literary projects between languages for years. In 2026, the author and translator Esther Kinsky will be the focus of a literary accompanying program for adults with readings, discussions, and an excursion to the Mergelwand at Isenberg/Lügde.

Schwalenberg — A Hidden Gem in the Lippe Uplands

Schwalenberg is a district of the town of Schieder-Schwalenberg in the Lippe district and has been a well-known artists' colony since the 19th century. The historic townscape with its castle, market square, and parish church offers an atmosphere that few German towns have managed to maintain. The festival of children's books uses this backdrop by distributing the workshops in private courtyards, galleries, and on the market square — you wander through the town during your visit and discover a new station around every corner.

Who is Pinocchinello For?

The festival is aimed at families with children and teenagers of all ages — from preschoolers experiencing picture books audibly for the first time, to teenagers working with professionals in comic workshops. Adults with a penchant for book design, illustration, and literary translation will also get their money's worth: the accompanying program around Esther Kinsky offers a sophisticated discourse program.

Practical Information and Atmosphere

Admission is free — Schwalenberg has afforded this ambition since the festival's inception. The town largely closes the old town to car traffic for the day; restaurants and cafés offer picnic options for families. Those arriving by train can reach it via Detmold–Blomberg or Höxter; by car, Schwalenberg is reachable in 90 minutes from Bielefeld, Hanover, or Paderborn.