The third annual Books and Bunnies event will take place at the Monogram Smith River Sports Complex Amphitheater on Saturday, March 23, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. In case of inclement weather, the rain date is scheduled for March 30.
When announcing the event, the Harvest Youth Board noted it will be building on the success of last year’s event, which attracted more than 700 people and more than 400 books distributed. The Harvest Youth Board eagerly anticipates welcoming community members once again for this free event.
Youngsters aged 12 and younger are invited to the event that not only celebrates the joy of reading but also provides an opportunity for families to engage with various local youth-serving organizations and resources. Every child attending receives a free age-appropriate book. Face painting, inflatables, pictures with the Easter Bunny, and balloon animals are a few of the fun activities planned for the day. Food trucks will also be on-site.
“The (Harvest Youth) Board wanted to create an initiative that would combine literacy and fun. Books and Bunnies is an opportunity to show that reading is fun by providing free books coupled with other engaging activities like egg hunts and face painting,” said Nayti Patel, chairman of the Harvest Youth Board.
Two egg hunts are scheduled, one commencing at 11:30 a.m. and the other at 1 p.m., during which 26,000 eggs will be distributed. Magic “Harvest Eggs” will be hidden during each race. The children who discover these green sparkly eggs will be awarded a special basket filled with a book and other goodies.
This event can only be made possible with exceptional volunteers. Each year, approximately 45 individuals, mostly under the age of 18, volunteer with the Harvest Youth Board to make the event happen. Volunteer tasks include setting up the egg hunts, distributing books, and monitoring event activities.
“The Harvest Youth Board organizes Books and Bunnies to shed light on youth-serving organizations within the community and to spread awareness about the importance of reading and early learning,” said Ava Grant, Harvest Youth Board vice-chair and special events committee chairman. “Books and Bunnies continues to grow every year. We cannot wait to see the smiling faces of local children during the event!”
To find out more about the Harvest Youth Board, visit https://www.harvestyouthboard.org.
