Our reading festival takes place August 9-16!
The Children First Summer Reading Festival is a week-long series of free, public events designed to grow literacy and bring the joy of reading beyond the classroom and into the heart of our community. Hosted in parks, libraries, and public spaces across the St. Louis Park community, the festival features storytimes, performances, creative activities and free books at every event.
With a focus on reaching groups who may benefit from additional literacy opportunities, this festival is about more than books. It’s about celebrating lifelong learning, strengthening community ties, and building wellness and resilience for both youth and adults.
Join us as we turn the page on summer, one joyful story at a time.
Event Lineup & Schedule:
ArtWalk in the Park
Saturday, August 9 – Saturday, August 16
Dawn to dusk
Dakota Park Dog Park
2643 Dakota Ave S, St. Louis Park, MN 55426
Artwalk in the Park is an asynchronous, on-your-own event where community members can share their own vision for how they see St. Louis Park in the future!
Books and Fun for the Young!
Saturday, August 9
10:00 – 11:30am
Peter Hobart Elementary School
6500 W 26th St, St. Louis Park, MN 55426
St. Louis Park Schools and St. Louis Park Community Ed are hosting a morning of fun, music, and literacy! Join them on Saturday, August 9, from 10-11:30am, at the Peter Hobart Elementary School playground. In the event of rain, this event will move into the Peter Hobart school.
Children First Ice Cream Social
Sunday, August 10
2:00 – 5:00pm
St. Louis Park Rec Center – ROC
3700 Monterey Drive, St. Louis Park, MN 55416
It’s that time of the year again! Stop by the ROC for an afternoon of family fun on day 2 of the Summer Reading Festival! Free ice cream, entertainment, interactive exhibits, and activities will be provided! The event will take place RAIN or SHINE!
Zap the Gap! Music-Making for Families and Young Children
Sunday, August 10
2:00 – 5:00pm
St. Louis Park Rec Center – Banquet Room
3700 Monterey Drive, St. Louis Park, MN 55416
Come sing and make music with three performing groups: one in English, one in Spanish, and one in Somali. Young children who sing regularly and have basic music skills will be better readers, while those who cannot pat a steady beat are likely to struggle with reading. Every family will receive a Music Kit to take home. Let’s zap the gap between children who learn to read easily and those who do not. Sing today, read forever!
Puppet StoryTime
Monday, August 11
4:00 – 5:00pm
UPDATE – This event is FULL and there is now a waitlist. If there is an opening, you will receive an email from the Civic Rec system with a link to register.
Westwood Hills Nature Center – Interpretive Center
8300 W Franklin Ave, St. Louis Park, MN 55426
Laugh out loud as the Westwood puppets share a book in their animated comical style. Begin with open play and exploration, then enjoy naturalist-led activities to highlight the story and create memories for you and your youngest family members. We will end with an optional hike with a naturalist.
KnightTime Adventure
Monday, August 11
6:00 – 7:30pm
Benilde – St. Margaret’s High School
2501 MN-100, St. Louis Park, MN 55416
Join us on an adventure where books come to life! Explore the BSM hallways and discover Dancers, Chefs, Artists, Engineers, and maybe a friendly monster or two. Adventures will start every 15 minutes at 6:00, 6:15, 6:30, 6:45 and 7:00.
Paws and Pages
Wednesday, August 13
8:30 – 10:00am
Wolfe Park
3700 Monterey Drive, St. Louis Park, MN 55416
Join Groves Learning Organization’s Paws and Pages where NorthStar Therapy Animals will be present for kids/families to read to them. Enjoy free books and crafts as well juice boxes and some light breakfast snacks. Afterwards, head on over to the Teddy Bear concert at 10am.
Teddy Bear Concert
Wednesday, August 13
10:00 – 11:00am
Wolfe Park Amphitheater
3700 Monterey Drive, St. Louis Park, MN 55416
Join St. Louis Park Parks and Recreation Department in welcoming the fabulous Teddy Bear Band once again! This family-friendly morning concert is a staple of the Summer Reading Festival! We hope you enjoy a fun morning filled with music and free books!
Rising Readers at Rise Early
Wednesday, August 13
5:00 – 7:00pm
Rise Early Learning Center
8119 MN-7, St Louis Park, MN 55426
Join us for an evening of giggles, stories, and hands-on fun at Rising Readers at Rise Early! Designed for children ages 0–5 and their families, this playful event features bubbles from A Touch Of Magic, engaging read-alouds, creative make & take activities, and a sweet cool-down treat from the Kurbside Ice Company’s shaved ice truck.
It’s the perfect mix of imagination, learning, and summertime fun—don’t miss it!
The Monterey Drive Concert
Wednesday, August 13
7:00 – 8:30pm
Wolfe Park Amphitheater
3700 Monterey Drive, St. Louis Park, MN 55416
Music is the language of the soul! Enjoy an evening of music and free book giveaways!
Basketball in the Park
Thursday, August 14
6:00 – 8:00pm
Ainsworth Park
7700 W 28th St, St. Louis Park, MN 55426
Basketball in the Park is BACK! Connect with members of the SLP Police Department over a friendly game of basketball on Thursday, August 14! Grab a free book, get a bite to eat and enjoy the game!
Community Stories-a-Thon
Friday, August 15
9:30am – 4:30pm
St. Louis Park Library
3240 Library Lane, St. Louis Park, MN 55426
The Community Stories-A-Thon is back by popular demand! Experience a full day of stories, activities, and free books!
Stories brought to you by:
9:30 -10:30am – SLP Youth Librarian, Dana Strahnson
10:30 – 11:30am – SLP Early Learning
11:30 – 12:30pm – Way to Grow
12:30 – 1:30pm – Rise Early Learning Center
1:30 – 2:30pm – SLP Solid Waste
2:30 – 3:30pm – Westwood Hills Nature Center
3:30 – 4:30pm – SLP Natural Resources
Banned Book Brunch: A Family Friendly Storytime hosted by the SLP Human Rights Commission
Saturday, August 16
10:00am – 12:00pm
Punch Bowl Social
1691 Park Place Blvd, St. Louis Park, MN 55416
The St. Louis Park Human Rights Commission believes education and literacy are fundamental human rights. Defending these rights includes protecting authors’, illustrators’, and artists’ right to free speech.
With a resurgence of book banning, particularly children’s books, in our culture today, we feel that Banned Book Brunch, a family-friendly storytime created to read banned books, is an important, if not essential, event within a city-wide reading festival.
Children First is currently looking for partners to host an event, table at events, or volunteer. If interested, please register at: https://forms.gle/1LjvAtCMg4Cs4aEQA.
English