Free books, celebrity readers, therapy dogs at Manassas Reads on May 2

The Community Reading Festival-Manassas Reads is this Saturday, May 2, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Harris Pavilion in Manassas. The family event is free and sponsored by the Prince William County Public Library System, the City of Manassas and Manassas City Schools. Books and reading are the main features of the event.

There will be free books for everyone from infants to adults, along with 12 authors with books to sell.

The event will also include local guest readers from the community, including Ronald McDonald. Prince William County

Library Spokeswoman Mary Tompkins said he is one of the highlights for children who attend the festival. “He’s coming to read and pass out goodies to the kids. He’s so good with the kids and he loves reading. We’ve had rave reviews from all of the librarians about him.”

Other readers who will be at the festival include authors from “Write by the Rails,” a local writers’ group, readers from the Prince William and Manassas public school systems, along with some elected officials.

“We have a good slate of people,” Tompkins said of those who will be at the festival to read to children.

Those who attend the event will also be treated a visit with the Manassas Therapy Dogs.

According to Tompkins, a young girl who visited last year’s festival said she loved it, and she wanted to attend more of them because “there’s nothing better than dogs and books.”

Tompkins said the festival is the best deal readers will get all year. “It is an opportunity to get free reading material, to network with your community, to just have a good time reading and talking and listening to people who have written books.”

More information about the Community Reading Festival-Manassas Reads can be found on the Prince William County Library website at http://www.pwcgov.org/library