Article Text
Fairfax County Public Library is launching its summer reading season with a free children’s festival after participation in the program reached a record high last year.
The fourth annual Children’s Summer Reading Festival will take place Saturday, June 13, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway. Last year’s event was held at Sherwood Regional Library.
Organized by the nonprofit Fairfax Library Foundation, the festival will feature books, games, crafts, bounce houses, face painting, food trucks, live entertainment, a photo booth and a DJ. The event is intended to encourage preschool- and school-age children to keep reading and avoid learning loss during summer break.
Advance registration is not required. However, attendees who reserve a place through Eventbrite can receive a free tote bag while supplies last.
More than 8,000 children and family members have attended the festival since it began in 2023. Summer reading registrations rose 60% to a record 23,611 participants in 2025.
Summer challenge starts June 17
This year’s dinosaur- and archaeology-themed Summer Reading Adventure, called “Unearth a Story,” will run from Wednesday, June 17, through Aug. 19.
Children and adults can register online now. Paper logs will become available at local library branches when the program begins.
Anyone who registers through Beanstack before June 17 will be entered into a drawing for one of 80 electronic gift cards worth $25 each from Scrawl Books, an independent bookstore at Reston Town Center and a program sponsor.
Participants earn badges by reading or listening to books and completing activities such as attending library programs or borrowing items from the system’s expanding Library of Things. Requirements and the number of badges needed vary by age group.
Completed logs can be submitted at any of Fairfax County’s 22 currently open library branches in exchange for sponsor-provided coupons.
Youth rewards include a surprise gift from the Children’s Science Center; a ticket to a George Mason men’s or women’s home basketball game during the 2026-27 season; a comic book or up to $4.99 in merchandise credit from Victory Comics; 100 free Dave & Buster’s tokens with the purchase of 100 tokens; and 40% off an All-Adventure Passport at Climb Upton. Readers ages 6 to 18 can also receive a free small bucket of golf balls at the Burke Lake or Oakmont golf centers.
Rewards available to both youths and adults include free admission to George Washington’s Mount Vernon; a Fairfax County Park Authority recreation center guest pass and carousel ride; and a free cup of Rita’s Italian Ice for people registered through the company’s mobile app.
Other offers include $2 off purchases at Friends of the Library book sales; a free book priced at up to $10 or a $10 purchase discount at Scrawl Books; 10% off and a free sticker from Old Town Books; and a free cookie at Potbelly locations in Fair City Mall, Fairfax Corner and Reston.
Participants can also receive a free mini chocolate bar at River Sea Chocolate Factory locations in Chantilly or Reston and a free small Frosty from Wendy’s.
Every child who completes the challenge will be entered into a drawing for a NOVA Wild season pass for a family of four. Teen participants can also win passes to Escape Room Herndon. Winners will be notified by email by Aug. 31.