This year, the St. Louis Park Summer Reading Festival takes place August 8-14, 2026!
The St. Louis Park Summer Reading Festival is a week-long series of free, public events designed to grow literacy and spread the joy of reading beyond the classroom. This series brings the love of reading into the heart of our community.
- WHO: Everyone is welcome to join each of these family-friendly events
- WHAT: Storytimes, performances, creative activities, games, and much more — plus, there are free children’s books given away at every event!
- WHEN: Saturday, August 8 through Friday, August 14, 2026
- WHERE: Various parks, libraries, and public spaces across the St. Louis Park community
Join us as we turn the page on summer, one joyful story at a time!
Click here to download and print the 2026 Summer Reading Festival flyer seen above
Passport Bookmark Prize Giveaway – New for 2026!
Qualify to win free gift baskets designed to celebrate reading! Coordinated by Children First, event participants who attend multiple Summer Reading Festival events over the course of the week have a chance to bring home even more free books!
How to Enter:
1) Pick up your Passport Bookmark at the Children First table at select Summer Reading Festival events
2) Get your Passport Bookmark marked at the Children First table at each Summer Reading Festival event you attend
3) After visiting three or more Summer Reading Festival events, submit your completed bookmark at the Children First table at your final event, or send a photo of your completed bookmark to ryan@children-first.org by August 14, 2026.
See full giveaway rules and entry information
Bookmarks can be picked up at any Summer Reading Festival event at the Children First table. Whenever attending a Summer Reading Festival event, stop by the Children First table with your bookmark to receive a punch on your bookmark. After three or more punches have been accumulated, completed bookmarks can be submitted in two ways: (1) turn it in at the Children First table at any Summer Reading Festival event, or (2) send a photo of your bookmark to ryan@children-first.org. Completed bookmarks or photos must be submitted by August 14, 2026 at 11:59 PM CT to be eligible for the prize drawing.
Passport Bookmarks and bookmark punching will not be available at the following Summer Reading Festival events:
- ArtWalk in the Park
- Little Free Library Tour
- A Garden Knight Adventure
No purchase necessary. Limit one drawing entry per person. Each winner will be drawn at random from all eligible entries submitted by August 14, 2026 at 11:59 PM CT. Children age 17 and under are eligible to enter and win, but must provide contact information for a consenting parent/guardian. Each winner will be contacted via email by a representative of Children First on or about August 24, 2026 to arrange prize pickup.
Event Lineup & Schedule:
ArtWalk in the Park
Saturday, August 8 – Friday, August 14
Dawn to dusk
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! Location details coming soon.
Books and Fun for the Young!
Saturday, August 8
10:00 – 11:30 AM
Aquila Elementary School/Playground
8500 W 31st Street, St. Louis Park MN 55426
St. Louis Park Public Schools and St. Louis Park Community Education are hosting a morning of fun, music, and literacy! Join them at the Aquila Elementary School playground; in the event of rain, this event will move indoors into the school.
Children First Ice Cream Social
Saturday, August 8
11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
St. Louis Park Recreation Outdoor Center – ROC
3700 Monterey Drive, St. Louis Park MN 55416
Join us at this free, family-focused event for book giveaways, kids’ activities and games, and informative tables from several local organizations and groups.
Free ice cream will be available to all, featuring ice cream from Sebastian Joe’s and Kosher ice cream courtesy of Lunds & Byerlys (while supplies last)!
Come enjoy a cool treat while taking part in the Summer Reading Festival!
Little Free Library Tour
Sunday, August 9
Self-Guided Tour
Map of Little Free Library locations coming soon!
Take a self-guided tour of St. Louis Park’s Little Free Libraries, hosted in front of residences and businesses throughout St. Louis Park and featuring a variety of free books for readers of all ages. Pick up a map of Little Free Library sites at the Children First Ice Cream Social to guide your reading adventure!
Little Free Library® and its logo are registered trademarks of Little Free Library, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and are used with its permission.
Storybook Trail Adventure
Monday, August 10
3:30 – 4:30 PM
Westwood Hills Nature Center
8300 W Franklin Avenue, St. Louis Park MN 55426
Join Westwood Hills interpretive naturalists for a nature-themed story, then explore the trails for a scavenger hunt!
Everyone Has a Story
Tuesday, August 11
5:30 – 7:30 PM
Rise Early Learning Center
8119 MN-7, St. Louis Park MN 55426
Join Rise Early Learning Center for Everyone Has a Story, a celebration of reading and storytelling. Local authors Sarah Warren, Jean Mountain, and Mike Huber will read from their books. There will also be wandering puppets from Heart of the Beast, family-friendly activities, and food trucks.
Paws and Pages
Wednesday, August 12
9:00 – 10:30 AM
Wolfe Park – West Picnic Shelter
3700 Monterey Drive, St. Louis Park MN 55416
Groves is excited to be part of the St. Louis Park Summer Reading Festival for the fourth year in a row! This special event invites kids and their families to curl up with a book and read aloud to therapy animals from NorthStar Therapy Animals—a fun and calming way to build confidence and a love of reading. Free books, bubbles and breakfast snacks will be shared with families during the event to help spark a lasting love of reading.
Come for the stories, stay for the snuggles! 🐶📖
Summer Kids Concert: Teddy Bear Band
Wednesday, August 12
10:00 – 11:00 AM
Wolfe Park – Veterans’ Memorial Amphitheater
3700 Monterey Drive, St. Louis Park MN 55416
Join the 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!
St. Louis Park Annual Community Talent Show
Wednesday, August 12
7:00 – 8:00 PM
Wolfe Park – Veterans’ Memorial Amphitheater
3700 Monterey Drive, St. Louis Park MN 55416
Watch your neighbors show off their talents in this annual event presented by The Park Theater Company! While you watch the performances, receive a free children’s book when you stop by the Summer Reading Festival table.
A Garden Knight Adventure
Thursday, August 13
6:00 – 7:00 PM
Benilde – St. Margaret’s
2501 MN-100, St. Louis Park MN 55416
Become a Garden Knight and help bring the royal garden to life! Journey through a story walk, decorate a pot, plant a seed, and discover what plants need to grow. This interactive adventure is perfect for young gardeners and imaginative explorers.
Basketball in the Park
Thursday, August 13
6:00 – 8:00 PM
Ainsworth Park
7700 W 28th Street, St. Louis Park MN 55426
Basketball in the Park is BACK! Connect with members of the St. Louis Park Police Department over a friendly game of basketball! Grab a free book, get a bite to eat, and enjoy the game!
Community Stories-a-Thon
Friday, August 14
9:30 AM – 4:30 PM
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! Full schedule of storytime partners coming soon.
Would you like to volunteer to help make the Summer Reading Festival a wonderful experience for all? Sign up on our Volunteer Interest Form or email us at ryan@children-first.org.
Children First is currently looking for partners to table at Summer Reading Festival events. If interested, please register using our Table Host Sign Up Form or email us at ryan@children-first.org.
English