Summer Reading & Learning Celebration

SATURDAY MAY 17TH | 10AM-2PM | JUMP LAWN | ALL AGES | FREE

Summer Reading & Learning Celebration

Join Boise Public Library & Ada Community Library, along with our wonderful partners Rediscovered Books & Boise Rock School, to celebrate reading and learning opportunities for youth this summer. Explore the possibilities for your child and register them for programs in our local community - like Summer Reading. Visit with over 20 different exhibitors offering educational and fun options for kids and families this summer and year-round. Enjoy storytime, music, food, pictures with mascots and more!

Exhibitors: 

10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. - Visit with exhibitors who will be sharing their summer programming information, resources, and hosting activities. We're excited to be joined by: 

• Ballet Folklorico Mexico Lindo

• Boise City Department of Arts & History

• Boise National Forest

• Boise State Onramp

• Boise Urban Garden School

• Caldwell Public Library

• City of Boise

• Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge

• Eagle Public Library

• Eagle Public Library Foundation

• FRC team 5461 V.E.R.N./Open Lab Idaho

• Friends of Children and Families (Head Start)

• Friends of the Ada Community South Branches

• Friends of the Boise Public Library

• Garden City Public Library

• Girl Scouts of Silver Sage

• Idaho Battle of the Books

• Idaho Humane Society

• Idaho Public Television

• Kuna Library

• Lee Pesky Learning Center

• Nampa Public Library Bookmobile

• Peace Valley Charter School

• The Boise WaterShed

• The Wassmuth Center for Human Rights

Event Schedule: 

• 10 AM-2 PM | Listen to Boise Rock School student band performances in the JUMP Lobby & Amphitheater. Since its inception in 2008, Boise Rock School has been led by the belief that the best way to get individuals excited about learning music is to have them play in a group. They believe the band setting, coupled with a strong curriculum and student-chosen songs, achieves better results than any other teaching method.

• 10 AM-2 PM | Stop in at the Story Tent any time during the day. Books will be available to read and at 11:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., and 1:00 p.m. 

• 10:00-10:30 AM | See the talented dancers from Ballet Folklorico Mexico Lindo perform in the JUMP Amphitheater. Ballet Folklorico Mexico Lindo was established in 2003 in Nampa, Idaho. Since then, the group has been committed to providing authentic Mexican folkloric dance education while sharing their time and talents through dance in Idaho.

• 11:00 AM-11:30 AM | We're excited to welcome the Starbelly Dancers and the Starbelly Student Troupe for a performance this year. The Starbelly Dancers are a nationally recognized belly dance company from Boise, Idaho, under the artistic direction of Cecilia Rinn. They specialize in traditional, modern, fusion, and theatrical belly dance and have performed at events such as Boise Music Week, Treefort Music Festival, and even on Telemundo.

  • The Starbelly Student Troupe is a diverse ensemble of dedicated dancers who bring an electrifying blend of traditional, modern, and fusion Middle Eastern, North African, and Turkish belly dance to audiences across Idaho. As the premier student troupe in Boise, they proudly represent the top students of the StarBelly School of Dance and perform at local events, festivals, and community celebrations, wearing conservative traditional costumes suitable for all ages.

• 12:00-12:30 PM | Enjoy a performance by The Boise Traditional Chinese Dance Group in the JUMP Amphitheater. Though now a separate entity, The Boise Traditional Chinese Dance Group was started in 2004 as a cultural enrichment after-school program for the Boise Modern Chinese School. Over the years, the program has grown from one dance class to four dance classes and a performance group including both adult and children dancers.

• 1:00-1:30 PM | Idaho's longest running Irish Dance school Irish Dance Idaho continues its mission to create performing experiences, not only for the IDI dancers, but for the many audiences that follow them. Under the direction of Rebecca Ingram and Instructors Heidi Grigg, and Spencer Ingram, dancers are taught and drilled on correct, difficult technique required for traditional and Show-style Irish Step, specifically in the Munster tradition. The talented IDI dancers continue to delight audiences throughout the Northwest with their rhythmic high energy performances. 

Food: Coming Soon