Celebrating The Season, READING AND THE REID FAMILY’S LEGACY
The Reid House Kids Book Fair is a community wide exploration of energized empowerment, historical enrichment, and creativity. Organizers and sponsors aim to uplift Black stories and storytellers. The festival will be held Saturday, April 4, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the historic Leonard Reid House, 2529 N. Orange Avenue in conjunction with Newtown’s Spring Fling. Children and parents fill Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way to watch the Easter parade, a longstanding tradition.
The celebration honors the sacrifice of Christ and features live entertainment, spoken word artists, storytelling, face painting, vendors, bounce houses, an Easter Egg Hunt, a mix and mingle with Newtown authors, book and prize giveaways, and more. Students will leave with free books and holiday treats. The event is family friendly and best of all, free.
The entertainment line-up includes Mr. Stevey, Whit The Poet, Frankie Brown, Syesha, A’rayia Davis, Amillia, Mya Barber, Sammy Waite, Amel Hunter, Jahkori, Trinity Teen and Youth Choir, Potter School Drumline, the Lockhart Twins, and Alpha and Omega Incorporated Sorority.
Meet authors Whit the Poet, Dr. Sharon Jefferson, Betty Johnson, Helen R. James, Rosa Thomas, Xtavia Bailey, Vickie Oldham, Enid Marshall, Jahkori Dopwell-Hall, Jeannie Wooten, Andrea “Chocolate Butterfly” Williams in the “village.”
Kona Ice, Bat City Comic Professionals, Nhouse Taste of Soul, Jahko Designs, Angels Food with Soul, Suncoast Remake Learning, Filet of Soul, The Lady with Nuts, Betty Jean Johnson North Sarasota Library, Stitching Bluez and Aloe Thought Media are confirmed vendors.
The festival honors Leonard and Eddye Reid, Overtown pioneers whose legacy of literacy and community care continues to inspire. Their home was a “library” where free books were given away to neighborhood.
Greatness Beyond Measure and the Sarasota African American Cultural Coalition (SAACC) are executive producers. Major sponsors include Alpha Phi Alpha Foundation of Manasota, the Xi Psi Lambda Chapter, the Johnson Singer Foundation, the Barbershop Men of Prayer and First Watch. For more information: (941) 7447314, mygbm411@gmail.com or aaccsrq@gmail.com. Book donations accepted.
