The Library in the Park event this year will feature a giveaway of 1,000 copies of the current Newbery Award-winning book, “Last Stop on Market Street.”
The event is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17, at Big Eleven Lake, 11th and State Avenue, in Kansas City, Kan. Food and entertainment is free at the event.
The author of the book, Matt de la Pena, of New York, will be at the event in person, giving a talk, answering questions and signing copies of the book, said Kim Woolery, library spokeswoman. De la Pena has written six young adult books.
About 1,000 people attended the Library in the Park event last year and this year, the library is expecting more attendance, she said.
Starting the activities at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday will be the Dash KCK, the 5K run sponsored by Donnelly College and the Downtown Shareholders. It starts at the JFK Community Center, 1310 N. 10th St. To sign up for the run, visit dashkck.org.
The library’s big annual bash also will feature the return of the Best in KCK Taco Contest, Woolery said. Five taqueries will compete for the title. Residents may taste the tacos for free and vote on the best.
Food and drink are free at the Library in the Park event, she added. Sheridan’s will give away frozen custard at the event.
Two local music groups, The People’s Liberation Big Band and AY Musik, will perform.
There will be craft programs for kids, along with the mobile library so residents may check out books or sign up for library cards, she added. There will be information tables and a few community tables.
As part of the kickoff of the Library in the Park event, this Friday, there will be a special story time on the bus, she said.
On Friday, the library has chartered a KCATA bus and De la Pena will read “Last Stop on Market Place” aloud to children from the Kansas City, Kan., Public Schools, who have been selected for this event, she said.
The book is about a boy and his grandmother who ride the bus and meet interesting characters, she added. Actors from KC Melting Pot will play the role of characters in the book.
To see more information about the event, visit libraryinthepark.org