The Service League of Natchitoches will host Reading on the River, an annual community literacy event promoting the importance and enjoyment of reading outside the classroom, on Saturday, March 4. The event will take place on the Natchitoches Riverbank from 10 am-1 pm.
The free, fun event for pre-K to 5th-grade children includes reading-related activities, games, and music for children and families. In addition, each child who attends will be able to take home at least one free new or used book. Reading on the River has distributed over 500 books to local children to promote literacy and education in past years.
“When we brought this event back four years ago, our goal was to inspire a new generation of young readers by exposing them to the wonderful world of books,” remarked Rebecca Blankenbaker, Service League President. “The Service League is proud to spearhead this opportunity for our community partners to come together and support literacy development.”
Applications are now open for vendors to participate. There is no cost for participation, and each vendor is responsible for their tent/booth space, table, chairs, and decorations. Tent and booth space are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Each vendor should select a theme of their choice, centered around a popular children’s book or organization specific. In addition, vendors should provide at least one activity for attendees, such as storytelling, a small craft activity, a game, or a coloring sheet.
This event is supported by the Cane River National Heritage Area and the Natchitoches Parish Early Childhood Network.
For organizations interested in serving as a vendor or supporting Reading on the River, please contact Jessica Mullican at jessica@canerivernha.org or 318-356-5555.
