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About the Festival
​This year's Light A Candle For Literacy Parade and Children's Book Festival will take place on Saturday, June 7, 2025, from 12 to 4 p.m.
The festival is a reboot of the annual celebration that took place from 2005 to 2015 led by Mrs. Geneva Hayden, Edward Kochian, Karen Norton, and other members of the community.​ The continued purpose of this event is to increase awareness of the importance of literacy, counteract the summer reading loss in children, and help parents understand the importance of reading to their children daily.
The event will feature local children’s book authors and illustrators, free book giveaways, live performances, and a variety of engaging activities for children of all ages. Individuals, families, volunteers, businesses, organizations, churches, and schools are all invited to participate in the parade!
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Schedule of Events:
12 PM - Parade starts at Beauchamp Library (2111 S Salina St, Syracuse, NY 13205)
1 to 4 PM - Book festival at Brighton Academy Middle School (309 W Brighton Ave, Syracuse, NY 13205)
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Parade Route:
Start at Beauchamp Library. West on W. Colvin Street. Left on Cannon Street. Right on Warner Avenue. Left on Midland Avenue. Right on West Lafayette Avenue. Lineup for the parade begins at 11:00 a.m. at Beauchamp Library.
CALL FOR PARTICIPANTS:
We’re inviting authors, illustrators, performers, exhibitors, and parade marchers to join us for the Light A Candle For Literacy Parade & Children's Book Festival on Saturday, June 7, 2025!
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Authors & Illustrators: Showcase your work, connect with readers, and inspire a love for stories. Apply here to be part of this year's festival.
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Performers: Entertain and engage families with your talents—music, dance, storytelling, and more.
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Exhibitors: Share your resources, programs, or products that support literacy, education, and creativity.
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Parade Marchers: Celebrate literacy by marching with us! Dress up as your favorite book character or represent your organization.
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​Volunteer: Help make the Light A Candle For Literacy event a success by volunteering your time to assist with setup, book distribution, activities, and more!
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Let’s make this year’s event unforgettable and inspire a lifelong love of reading in our community.
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For more information or to sign up, contact us today!
