SANTA MONICA—On Saturday, April 30, Virginia Avenue Park and the Pico Branch Library will be hosting the Art and Literacy Festival for children and families, according to a release by the City of Santa Monica. This free event is “where books come to life!”
This festival promotes the Santa Monica Cradle to Career Building Blocks to Kindergarten Campaign, a project that works to help children start kindergarten ready to learn and thrive. According to the Cradle to Career Campaign, the festival will include developmentally appropriate workshops, arts and crafts, storytelling booths, music performances and games.
There will be several interactive activities for both children and adults. In Storyville visitors can meet and interview beloved book characters. People can get active in the “Active Zone” with both the Santa Monica Police Department and the Santa Monica Fire Department. The Santa Monica Farmer’s Market will be giving cooking demonstrations and holding a Vegetable Treasure Hunt. At the reDiscover Center books can be swapped, made or written. Lastly, the Santa Monica Unified School District will be there to teach how to promote children’s health and development.
Performances include Rhythm Child, Blackstreet USA Puppet Theater and Baila Baila. Rhythm Child promoted the event on their Facebook page letting followers know they will be drumming at 2:00 p.m outside, if weather permits.
Guests are invited to pack a picnic, bring refillable water bottles and blankets or chairs. The Santa Monica Filling Stations will be serving free, fresh and cool water.
The location of the festival is at the Virginia Avenue Park Campus at 2201 Pico Boulevard. Walking and biking are encouraged, and Virginia Avenue Park is served by Big Blue Bus line number 7. There is limited additional parking at the Venice Family Clinic on 2509 Pico Boulevard. The park is wheelchair accessible and welcomes persons of all abilities. For special accommodations, contact 310.458.8688 or TTY 310.917.6626.
