The Spence-Penn Center is gearing up for a large-scale event – the MHC is For Book Lovers Festival – set for September 21. The event features both local and non-local authors and has a plethora of family-friendly events.
“We will have over 20 authors who are going to fill Alumni Hall,” said the Centre’s executive director Susan Sabin. An author panel hosted by Lindsey of the Based on a Book podcast will be on tap, and “you can come in and ask authors questions and chat with them,” said Sabin.
Authors will include Allie Marie, Amber Joi Scoot, Betsy Ashton, Beverly Belcher Woody, Cindy Ray Hale, Debbie Youngman, Donnie Stevens, Gale Buck, Heather Weidner, Joyce Graham, Katelyn Beck, Les Epstein, Melodie Parrish, Michael Rigg, Miski Harris, ML Nystorm, Nancy Naigle, Pam Cobler, Robert Bailey, Rose Cushing, Samson Ray, Stephen Mark Rainey.
“The reason I started this to begin with was for the authors,” said one of the event planners Kimberly Scott, who said she worked hard to ensure more authors could come to the event. “I’m so excited to do more with them with the author panel; we rearranged the room to fit more of them in there.”
Sabin is thankful for the opportunity to bring big-name authors like Naigel to the area.
“Nancy has books that have been turned into movies, it’s just really cool to see our community receive attention from the folks,” Sabin said, and added the old Spencer Fair that went away with COVID-19 also will be revived.
“We’ve got Brunswick Stew that’s being served. You have not been able to sit with stew since before COVID,” she said, adding craft vendors also will be on-site
Tammy’s Grill, Mountain Valley Brewing, and Daring Wine and Cider Company will attend; music and entertainment also will be featured, with other offerings that include a Barnival, a Revolutionary War reenactment presented by ValleyStar Credit Union, and the Pumpkin Runner Family Run/Walk.
Sabin said the run is $5 per person and it encourages young readers, with “little signs with pages to read as” runners “go about. The first 20 families will get a book to take home,” Sabin said, adding there also will be a special activity at the end of the run/walk.
In addition to music, weavers will provide demonstrations, the museum will be open, and the school’s former principal, Sally Rodgers, will give tours.
On the night before the MHC is For Book Lovers Festival there will be
A game night will be held the night before the festival, and visitors have the option of playing games with some of the authors, including Naigel, Harris, and Marie.
“I’m excited for our third event, and I’m hoping more people come out this year to check everything out,” Scott said. “Have fun, come hungry, we have tons of food vendors, shop, meet our authors, and listen to music. We really just want this to be a fun family event for everybody!”
