Kansas City, Kan., Public Library will hold its second annual Library in the Park, and outdoor festival full of free, family fun featuring live music, food, and activities on Sept. 17.
This year, Library in the Park will feature Newbery Medal winning author Matt de la Peña.
Library in the Park 2016 will take place at Big Eleven Lake, near 11th and State Avenue, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 17 in Kansas City, Kan. Library in the Park is completely free and will include activities for all ages. The downtown festivities begin at 9:30 a.m. with DashKCK, a 5K run-walk sponsored by the Downtown Shareholders and Donnelly College.
The featured event of Library in the Park 2016 is a visit from Newbery Medal winning author Matt de la Peña. The visit will include a reading by de la Peña followed by a question and answer session.
The library will be giving away 1000 free signed copies of his 2016 Newbery Medal winning picture book “Last Stop on Market Street” to those who attend.
Matt de la Peña is the New York Times bestselling, award-winning author of six young adult novels: “Ball Don’t Lie,” “Mexican WhiteBoy,” “We Were Here,” “I Will Save You,” “The Living” and “The Hunted.” He’s also the author of the critically-acclaimed picture books “A Nation’s Hope: The Story of Boxing Legend Joe Louis” (illustrated by Kadir Nelson) and “Last Stop on Market Street” (illustrated by Christian Robinson).
He received his MFA in creative writing from San Diego State University and his BA from the University of the Pacific where he attended school on a full basketball scholarship. He currently lives in Brooklyn, N.Y. He teaches creative writing and visits high schools and colleges throughout the country.
There will be performances from local musicians The People’s Liberation Big Band and AY Musik. Activities will include face painting, crafts, demonstrations of library digital collections, book recommendations, and more. Attendees will also get to visit the Mobile Library to sign up for a card and check out items.
Library in the Park will also include a return of the taco competition with local KCK taquerias Carniceria la Siete, Ninfa’s, Don Antonio’s, Indios Carbonsitos, and Ortuno Catering. Attendees will get a chance to sample tacos from all five locations and vote on which taco is the best. Sheridan’s also will return to provide delicious frozen custard.
For more information on Library in the Park, visit libraryinthepark.org. Those interested in participating in DashKCK can learn more and register at dashkck.com.