Children's Festival of Reading

photo of crowd at a festival

We're looking forward to the 2023 Children’s Festival of Reading on Saturday, May 20 at World's Fair Park from 10 am–3 pm. Our wonderful sponsors, community organizations, artists, and performers are working hard to create a memorable festival! 

This event will mark the official kickoff of our summer library club, Feel the Beat.

We're pleased to celebrate music, literacy, unity, and harmony with authors, illustrators, storytellers, arts and crafts, food, children's performances, toddler town, and more. 

Complete lineup and schedule coming soon!

2023 Featured Artists & Performers

photo of people walking in a parade
Highlights from the 2022 Festival

Join us!

Our Festival is made possible by you! Registration is now open for volunteers and community organizations for the 2023 Festival. 

We're accepting registrations for community groups, businesses, food trucks, and more!

Volunteer
Register (vendors)

FAQs

Thanks to the University of Tennessee, free and convenient parking will be available at the 11th Street Parking Garage. Free parking is also available at the Blackstock lot on Grand Avenue, Locust Street Garage, the Market Street Garage, and on the street. This map of the parking options will help you plan.

Rain or shine, the Festival will go on! We'll still be having a great time, so throw on some galoshes and come on down, barring any extreme weather events. Many activities, booths, and stages are under tents, and there are places to seek shelter (and enjoy a show), such as the Amphitheater.

Yes, public restrooms are located near the stairs at the Clinch Ave. bridge. A family care/nursing tent will also be available.

Yes. Food vendors will have a variety of options available for purchase. 

Yes. All activities and performances hosted by the Library and its community partners are free. Some vendors will have merchandise or food for sale. The nearest ATM is located in Maker Exchange in the bottom level of the Marriott.

Accessibility

The Children's Festival of Reading is committed to making our event accessible to everyone, in accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Please contact Jennifer Harrell (jharrell@knoxlib.org or (865) 215-8713) if you require special accommodations to make your visit to the Festival the best it can be.

Kick off Summer Library Club

Summer Library Club rewards kids, teens, and adults for reading (or listening) during the summer. Be sure to visit the All Together Now Tent to register. When you’ve met and logged your reading goal (36 hours), return to any Library location by August 20 to receive a prize and reward book full of free treats and adventures.

Children’s Festival is made possible by:

National Endowment for the Arts

Tennessee Arts Commission

Humanities Tennessee

ORNL Federal Credit Union

East Tennessee Pediatric Dentistry

Xfinity

Friends of the Knox County Public Library