FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA — Fairfax Library Foundation held the first of its two 2024 Children’s Summer Reading Festivals on Saturday, June 15, at Woodrow Wilson Library to much acclaim. Magnificent sunshine beamed down upon nearly 1,000 attendees as they enjoyed free activities such as games and crafts, live storybook characters, bounce houses, snacks, facepainting, a deejay, live entertainment, caricature artists, balloon sculptors, and a photobooth.
Now in its second year, the event is specifically designed to encourage young readers to continue their school-year enthusiasm for reading straight into summer vacation. More than two dozen library staff, teen volunteers, and Foundation board members and staff came together to ensure the event went smoothly. More than 350 festival tote bags were distributed with sponsor materials inside, and a drawing was held for 2 gift certificate for a FREE “Parent’s Survival Night” package from The Little Gym™ of Falls Church.
Community partners, such as Fairfax County Police Department, Fairfax County Department of Emergency Management, Fairfax County Department of Public Safety, The Fairfax County Parks Authority Wonder Wagon, Charge Up Fairfax!, Reading is Fundamental of Northern Virginia, and others were also on hand to engage with attendees. Food trucks from The Big Cheese, DC Steakholders, and Hershey’s Famous Ice Cream were on hand, ready to satisfy the inevitable hungry tummies.
The festival was made possible with the generous support of 11 sponsors, including Fun-and-Games Level Sponsor Friends of the Burke Centre Library, and Storytime Level Sponsors Virginia 529 College Savings Program, Wegmans, Grimm + Parker Architects, Friends of the Chantilly Regional Library, Friends of the Centreville Library, Friends of Pohick Regional Library, Friends of the Kingstowne Library, Friends of Richard Byrd Library, Friends of City of Fairfax Regional Library, and NOVEC.
A second Children’s Summer Reading Festival is scheduled for Sunday, August 18, from noon to 3pm at Chantilly Regional Library. Additional details can be found here.
Since 1994, the Fairfax Library Foundation has existed solely with the mission to enhance the programs and services of the Fairfax County Public Library, the largest public library system in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Designated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable and educational organization, the Foundation provides supplementary support to the community by providing access to information, technology, innovations, civic engagement and entertainment, and by offering literacy and educational opportunities.
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