Each summer, The W.H. Stark House hosts a festival celebrating reading featuring hands-on activities throughout the grounds.
The festival was inspired by the house matriarch, Miriam Lutcher Stark, who was an avid collector of rare books and loved to encourage reading. From her many trips throughout the country and overseas, Miriam accumulated one of the finest private collections of romantic literature and classic works. She shared her love of reading with her community through numerous book clubs, by creating the Stark Reading Contest in 1904 and donating over 8,000 books.
A book title and theme for the Summer Reading Festival is chosen each year based off of one of the books in Miriam’s extensive library. Each registrant ages 0-18 at the event receives an age-appropriate copy of the book chosen.
The Summer Reading Festival is free and open to the public. Advance registration is required and space is limited.
Stay tuned for details on the next Summer Reading Festival!
Summer Reading Festival 2023:
Miriam presents, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
Saturday, June 10
10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
FREE of charge!
Advance registration required. All adults and children must register.
Join us in our 4th Annual Summer Reading Festival as we explore the mysterious world of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Adventures of Sherlock Holmes! Register to attend this FREE, interactive event for children ages 0-18 and their grown-ups. Registrants will meet characters from the Sherlockian world, visit activity stations, solve a murder mystery, and leave with their own age-appropriate Sherlock retelling or original stories!