The Muskingum County Library System is teaming up with the Muskingum County Literacy Council to bring the 5th Annual Muskingum County Reading Festival to Colony Square Mall (3575 Maple Ave, Zanesville) on Saturday, September 26.
The event was previously held in the summer around the time of the Summer Reading Challenge, but the team at the library wanted to separate the two to extend excitement surrounding literacy into fall.
“So we did change the reading festival date this year. Because it has been so successful that it was, in some ways, getting folks a little bit confused about the difference between the reading festival and summer reading, and we also realized that we have a little bit of a gap in the fall for like a larger literacy type of activity similar to summer reading. So, last year we had the conversations, and that’s when I think we really made the decision that we thought it’d be best to separate the two because we think that summer reading deserves its own time and space,” said Marketing & Community Relations Director Sean Fennell.
The free event will begin at 10 a.m. and will run until 1:00 p.m., although some participating community partners may stay later. There will be so much to see and experience that you will want to come toward the beginning to fit in all the excitement the festival has to offer.
“The partnership with the mall has been a fabulous transition for the Reading Festival. Being that it’s been our second official year there as the Muskingum County Reading Festival, having the space for people to navigate has been perfect. Even after the remodel here, the idea of moving it back just doesn’t make sense. We had over 2,000 people last year that attended, and having them all come through our building would be a challenge. Whereas with the Mall, it’s a lot more accessible, too, being a large, flat space,” MCLS Outreach Manager Joshua McPeek stated.
All ages are welcome to attend as there will be something for everyone to enjoy.
“When you walk into the Reading Festival at the Colony Square Mall, the first thing you’re going to be greeted by are some friendly staff members. They’re going to give you a bag, and you can carry your stuff around, because you’re going to collect a lot of really cool stuff that day. And they will also be giving you a map with a guide where you can see that, and your raffle ticket for a grand prize that will go in for everyone to be drawn throughout the day. And then you can use that bag to just kind of go around and collect all of the fun crafts and the giveaways. The variety of organizations and authors and businesses will be there sharing really wonderful community resources for folks,” explained Fennell.
Cosplay is encouraged! Dress as your favorite literary character to share your passion for reading and add to the fun.
Speaking of cosplay, the Columbus Ghostbusters will be attending, and there will be special appearances by Elephant & Piggie (11:00 – 11:30), Bluey (12:00 – 12:30), BARD the Bunny, and Hoobert.
Special storytimes are planned throughout the day.
• 10:30 AM – Elephant & Piggie: There is a bird on your head!
• 11:30 AM – Bluey: Road Trip!
• 12:30 PM – The Watermelon Seed
A writers’ workshop offering writing process tips, publishing guidance, and marketing suggestions will be held from 10:30 – 11:30 AM, featuring authors Elizabeth Garvey, Anne Chlovechok, and Greg Blair.
In the afternoon, an Authors Panel will take place from 11:30 AM to 12:15 PM with authors Angola Hone, Olivia Matthews, and John Furek. The panel will be moderated by MCLS Director Stacey Russell.
65 Total vendors will be set up at the festival, with 20 of those being authors. Leaping Lizards, Fetch Remedy Dogs, The Wilds, The Animal Shelter, and the Genesis Hospice Clowns are among the partners who are expected to attend.
“A huge part of what makes this festival so successful, we understand that the more we partner with people in our community, the more people invest in us and want to show up and be a part of things, and so this is definitely a strength of ours, because we work towards it. We recognize the power and importance of our partners,” explained Fennell.
“We expect that a lot of our vendors are going to be bringing little activities, little ways to engage with the people that are coming. Which we always encourage them to do,” added McPeek.
The bookmobile will also be parked outside the entrance, offering another opportunity for those who have not had a chance to see it to take a look at one of the ways MCLS makes the library accessible to all.
“An important part of our mission is connecting people with information, ideas, and each other, and I can’t think of an event that better embodies that specific part of our mission,” said Fennell.
For further information, visit muskingumlibrary.org or facebook.com/MuskingumLib.
