The annual Going West festival is nigh, one of West Auckland’s (many) claims to fame.

When this slightly nutty literary knees-up began eight long years ago, it was Auckland’s first writers’ festival. Under the direction of Titirangi legend Murray Gray, it has since attracted over 300 writers and performers - and this year’s lot is as good as you’ll get. Here are just a few highlights to pique your interest:

» Kicking off on Saturday 4th September, we have the Bookmarket at the Titirangi War Memorial Hall, South Titirangi Rd. Check this out for hundreds of second-hand, rare and handmade books; demonstrations on book making, repairing and printing, and delicious food, coffee and live music. At 7pm the same night is the inaugural Poetry Slam, with bar and food available …

» The following weekend is Between the Lines, a full-on litfest with such yumminess as reviewer Penny Bieder talking with Fiona Kidman (Songs from the Violet Café), Kelly Ana Morey (Bloom) and the West’s own Karyn Hay (oh, you know); C K Stead talking to Diane Brown; Australian cartoonist extraordinaire Michael Leunig in conversation with Titirangi colleague Bill Paynter, and Peter Wells (Iridescence) expounding to Martin Edmond (Chronicles of the Unsung), to name but a few.

Then there’s Lloyd Jones and his essayists Glenn Colquhoun, Harry Ricketts and Lydia Wevers, and a special tribute to Janet Frame (complete with recorded readings from 1974 and 2002) with C K Stead. Blimey. This weekend is dedicated to the memory of Michael King, an enthusiastic participator at Going West from 1998 to 2003, and sorely missed this year.

» There’s also That Train Trip, which was dreamed up by Waitakere Mayor Bob Harvey and Festival director Murray Gray (pictured). According to Muzza,

It came out of a desire to make literature into an event and to celebrate the train trip that Maurice Gee describes in his book Going West, which also became the name of the whole festival.

Leafsalon is willing to bet there might have been at least part of a bottle of good single malt involved as well … is that libellous? Not if the Scotch is good enough, I reckon, and I'm sure it would've been.

Anyway, the train leaves Auckland Central at 9.30am on Sunday 19th September heading to Helensville, and returns by 5.30pm. You are invited to ‘soak up the history of heritage stops along the Western Line that also become the settings for performances and readings from New Zealand writers and entertainers.’ Not to mention great food and West Auckland wine along the way. Fan-westy-tastic.

» There’s the Storylines Festival at the Kelston Community Centre, on the 18th, 10-4pm for the whole family, involving puppeteers, magicians, live theatre and storytellers; an event we've been to with our kids for the last few years, and always a great laugh.

There’s also film, stage performance, art – but you’ll just have to go and check out the whole programme yourself at www.goingwest.co.nz. Or contact Barbara.Cade@waitakere.govt.nz or phone her on 09-836 8000 × 8780.