Current HCA Families: Storybook Festival is on Friday, October 31

On October 31, 2025, Heritage Classical Academy will host our very first Storybook Festival — a day designed to spark joy and imagination while celebrating the rich tradition of classic literature. This year, our “one hallway schoolhouse” will transform into the whimsical world of A.A. Milne’s Hundred Acre Wood, inviting students to step inside the pages of beloved stories. Keep reading below for everything families need to know — from costume guidelines to event details — to help your child feel part of the magic on this special day.

Who: All current HCA students

When: Friday, October 31, 2025

What is Storybook Festival?

Heritage Classical Academy’s annual Storybook Festival is a day to celebrate the beautiful works of literature that help make classical education what it is. Storybook Festival is a day when students and teachers are invited to come to school dressed up as characters from classic storybooks. This will be a magical day for our students, one in which they will experience beautiful read alouds, enjoy themed crafts, and see stories come to life. This year, our "one hallway schoolhouse" will be transformed into A.A. Milne's Hundred Acre Wood from Winnie the Pooh.

Costume Guidelines

At Heritage Classical Academy, our celebrations center around our curriculum because it unites each of our students and families in the common pursuit of truth, goodness, and beauty. Storybook Festival is an opportunity for our students to enjoy a day spent in wonder and delight, while also playing a part in planting the seeds of a genuine love of reading and literature within their hearts. One of the most special elements of our storybook festival is allowing our students the opportunity to come to school in costume. When selecting and creating your child’s costume, it is important to keep several guidelines in mind to ensure that your child is able to fully participate in this special day in a safe and joyful fashion.  How to Participate

1. Choose a Character from Classic Literature 

Examples for Inspiration: 

• Peter Rabbit 

• Paddington Bear 

• Stuart Little 

• Winnie-the-Pooh 

• Pinocchio 

• Charlotte’s Web 

• The Chronicles of Narnia 

• Little House on the Prairie 

• Greek or Roman Myths 

• An animal from Aesop’s Fables 

2. Modesty, Comfort, and Ease of Use 

   • Costumes should be neat, modest, and school-appropriate 

   • Costumes should allow students to participate in regular school activities (walking, running, writing, using the bathroom, playing) without difficulty  

3. Stay True to the Book 

   • Costumes should reflect the literary version of a character whenever possible, rather than a movie adaptation 

Things to Avoid 

1. Superhero, video game, tv show, or movie character costumes 

2. Halloween-themed or scary costumes 

3. Costumes representing pop culture, celebrities, or bands 

4. Costumes containing inappropriate humor, violence, or immodesty of any kind 

Decoration Guidelines

  Decorations for Storybook Festival help our students to be transported into the pages of their favorite stories. Each year our parents play a pivotal role in transforming the halls of our school with tasteful decorations. While themes may change as the school continues to grow there are few more enduring gifts than to give a thoughtful decoration that sparks joy in the hearts of our students for this year and Storybook Festivals to come. 

Our teachers work with the Room Parent Liaisons (RPL) to form a plan for decorating sections of the hallway. Please follow the direction and guidance of the RPL in your child’s classroom to help bring Storybook Festival to life! If you have any questions about what decorations may be needed, please reach out to the RPL. You may also sign up to help decorate by clicking the button below.

When creating decorations, we want to model after and be inspired by the illustrations that the students will recognize from the books. When seeking out inspiration, be cognizant of the possible differences between film adaptations and the illustrations that our students are becoming familiar with. This year, Kindergarten and First Grade are both decorating for the Hundred Acre Wood from A.A. Milne’s Winnie the Pooh. With the prevalence of the Disney adaptation of this classic it can be helpful to search specifically for the illustrations by E.H. Shephard. 

Sign Up to Help Decorate

Owl's Story Corner: A Little Sibling Read-Aloud 

Owl's Story Corner is a short and cheerful event which will feature a brief tour of the decorations, a read-aloud story by Ms. Lifsey, and a take-home activity bag for the fun to continue. • When: 7:45am - 8:05am on the morning of Storybook Festival • Who can join: Younger siblings (ages 3 and 4 only) of students who currently attend Heritage Classical Academy. Siblings must be accompanied by one adult. • Please RSVP: This is a limited space event and seats are first come, first served! Our space is limited to 15 siblings, so please RSVP early if you would like your little one to participate.

Owl's Story Corner RSVP

We can't wait to celebrate our first Storybook Festival together. Please send us an email with any questions.