CHANTILLY, VIRGINIA — Fairfax Library Foundation held the second of its two inaugural Children’s Summer Reading Festivals on Sunday, August 13, at Chantilly Regional Library to joyous reviews. An estimated 1,600 attendees enjoyed free activities such as games and crafts, live storybook characters, two bounce houses, a mini zoo, snacks, facepainters, a live deejay, caricature artists, and a photobooth.
The event was specifically designed to encourage young readers to continue their school-year enthusiasm for reading straight into summer vacation. More than 1,000 festival tote bags were distributed with sponsor materials inside.
The WNBA’s Washington Mystics, along with other community partners such as Fair Oaks Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company, Aetna Health, and Fairfax County Department of Public Safety were also on hand to interact with attendees. Food trucks from Pakos Fresh Mex, Chardeats, and Lavish Ice Cream were standing by to satisfy the inevitable hungry tummies.
The festival was made possible with the generous support of 13 sponsors, including Bookmark- and Storytime-Level Sponsors Cox Communications, Friends of Pohick Regional Library, the Friends of the Burke Centre Library, Friends of Richard Byrd Library, Friends of the Kingstowne Library, Friends of the Centreville Regional Library, and the Friends of the City of Fairfax Regional Library. More than two dozen library staff, teen volunteers, and Foundation board members and staff ensured everything went smoothly, even with the huge turnout.
Next year’s Children’s Summer Reading Festival promises only to be bigger. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor of this incredible event benefitting local youth, please contact our Director of Development, at 703-324-8300 or events@fairfaxlibraryfoundation.org.
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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