Community Reading Festival Saturday at Harris Pavilion in Manassas

Provided, Prince William County Government:

The Prince William Public Library System is hosting the first inaugural Community Reading Festival on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Loy E. Harris Pavilion on Center Street in Old Town Manassas. One of the goals of the organizers is to give away as many free books as they can in hopes of encouraging people to read.

“We want people to read just to celebrate the joy of reading. It’s an adventure. It’s an experience that can take you anywhere you want to be in the world depending on which book you pick up,” said Prince William County Public Library System spokeswoman Mary Tompkins.

Tompkins said in addition to free books for all ages, the festival will include a live musical performance by Weems Elementary School students, visits by local authors, presentations by the Manassas Museum and guest readings. Children who attend the festival will also be able to read to the dogs of Manassas Therapy Dogs.

Dan Verner, a local historic fiction writer, will be reading from his books about a WWII bomber pilot. Verner, who is a member of Write By The Rails, the Prince William Chapter of the Virginia Writers Club, said he hopes he can encourage children who attend the event to read. He said reading provides a “positive attitude” toward learning that lasts a lifetime. “It’s primarily to encourage children to read, and that’s such a key to learning all one’s life.”

Tompkins said she expects the event, sponsored by Costco, Pepsi-Cola, Scholastic, Barnes & Noble and Friends of the Library, will be a hit. “This is the first, but I don’t think it will be the last community reading festival.”

The event is co-hosted by the City of Manassas and the Manassas City Public Schools.

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