A vibrant partnership of John Brown Lives!, Lake Placid Public Library, The Bookstore Plus and several other community organizations, sponsors and volunteers, the festival brings children’s and Young Adult authors and illustrators together with readers of all ages.

The festival promotes reading, writing, storytelling and community, and it attracts the rock stars of the children’s and YA literary scene, including the North Country’s own Kate Messner, Amy Guglielmo, Maxwell Eaton III and Loree Griffin Burns.

They will be joined by award-winners Jason Chin, Brian Floca, Rajani LaRocca, Kekla Magoon, Sharee Miller, Kayla Miller, Ral the Third, Meredith Ireland, Kelly Starling Lyons, Jasmine Warga, Lauren Tarshis and Cynthia Leitich Smith.

“Thanks to our amazing volunteers and our generous and loyal funders, including Assemblyman Billy Jones, who shared some wonderful news with us this week, the Adirondack Family Book Festival is free and open to everyone,” said Martha Swan, executive director of John Brown Lives! “All children who attend will be given a keepsake notebook.”

With arts activities, interactive workshops and author presentations in the beautiful setting of the John Brown Farm, the festival offers something for everyone. Communication boards will help children and other individuals who are non-verbal, minimally verbal or have other difficulties with communication fully participate in the festival.

“I am happy to have secured funding to support the Adirondack Family Book Festival this year and again next year,” Assemblyman Jones said. “The funding will not only allow organizers a head start in planning, but it’ll also allow them the opportunity to make this free community event better than ever. Any chance to bring families together while also promoting reading at a young age is a win-win.

“As a father, I believe reading at a young age is crucial, and we need to encourage more families to read together and make reading fun. I couldn’t be more proud to support the Adirondack Family Book Festival this year and in the future. Thank you to everyone involved, from the organizers to volunteers, who help make is great event possible.”

The festival will be held outdoors, under tents, at the John Brown Farm, 115 John Brown Road in Lake Placid. In case of inclement weather, the fest will be moved indoors to the Lake Placid Middle/High School. If necessary, a change of location will be posted by Saturday morning on adirondackfamilybookfestival.com.

Regardless of venue, everyone is encouraged to pack in/pack out their own food and drinks. There will be no food or beverages available for the public at either site.

For further information about the festival, email info@johnbrownlives.org or text 518-744-7112.