Photo by Jackie Adelmann Photography
Next month, the fifth annual St. Louis Park Summer Reading Festival will transform parks, schools, and neighborhood gathering places into destinations for stories and creativity. Presented by Children First in partnership with Hennepin County Library and St. Louis Park Community Education, the festival features 12 free events designed to make literacy an engaging community experience rather than a chore.
“Reading allows us a way to escape, opportunities to see a broader world, and serves as a tool for us to discover more about ourselves and others,” said Heather Lyke, executive director of Children First, in a recent release. “This community reading festival is a celebration of literacy.”
Throughout the week, visitors can read to therapy animals, explore a nature-themed story trail, meet local authors, enjoy live music, play basketball with St. Louis Park police officers, plant seeds during a garden adventure, discover Little Free Libraries across the city, attend a community talent show, and receive free children’s books at every event.
The celebration begins Saturday, Aug. 8, with ArtWalk in the Park, a self-guided community art experience available throughout the whole week. Families can also attend Books and Fun for the Young at Aquila Elementary School before cooling off at the annual Children First Ice Cream Social with book giveaways, games, activities, and—of course—free ice cream.
On Sunday, Aug. 9, readers can take a stroll through all of St. Louis Park’s Little Free Libraries, exploring neighborhood book-sharing boxes.
The fun continues Monday, Aug. 10, with the Storybook Trail Adventure at Westwood Hills Nature Center, where families can enjoy a nature-themed story and scavenger hunt. Tuesday, Aug. 11, bring Everyone Has a Story at Rise Early Learning Center, featuring readings from local authors Sarah Warren, Jean Mountain, and Mike Huber, along with puppet shows, food trucks, and more.
Photo by Jackie Adelmann Photography
Families will find three events to enjoy on Wednesday, Aug. 12: Paws and Pages, where kids can read aloud to therapy animals; the annual Teddy Bear Band concert at Wolfe Park; and the St. Louis Park Community Talent Show later that evening.
On Thursday, Aug. 13, young gardeners can become garden knights at Benilde-St. Margaret’s Garden Knight Adventure by completing a story walk, planting seeds, and learning more about how gardens grow and flourish. That evening, Basketball in the Park returns to Ainsworth Park, where families can connect with members of the St. Louis Park Police Department over a friendly game while picking up free books.
The festival concludes Friday, Aug. 14, with the Community Stories-a-Thon at the St. Louis Park Library, a full day of stories, activities, and giveaways.
For the full schedule and additional information, visit children-first.org/summer-reading-festival. All events are free to attend.
