Saratoga Reads will launch its ninth year of community programming with a book fair featuring activities for the whole family on Sunday, Dec. 2, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Barnes & Noble, Route 50, Wilton.
The event will celebrate this year’s Saratoga Reads book of choice, Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup, a compelling account from the pre–Civil War era of the author’s harrowing abduction into slavery and long struggle to regain freedom.
The book fair will raise funds to support Saratoga Reads and its series of public events related to Twelve Years a Slave. Door prizes at the event will include a $50 Barnes & Noble gift card, as well as copies of the book.
Barnes & Noble will donate to Saratoga Reads a percentage of purchases made that day by shoppers who mention Saratoga Reads at checkout or who use the special book fair voucher. Vouchers and the book fair schedule are available here. Shoppers must use the voucher or specifically mention Saratoga Reads to have their purchases benefit the organization.
Those who shop online can also designate their purchases to support Saratoga Reads by entering the book fair ID number (10882611) upon checkout. This will apply to online purchases made from Dec. 2 through Dec. 7.
The book fair will feature a performance by the Saratoga Springs High School Fiddle Club (Solomon Northup was known as talented violinist), an Elf on the Shelf holiday story time, and an American Girl Doll tea.
From 11 a.m. through 4 p.m. the fair will also feature local students from grades K-12, who will present original readings and artwork from “Expressions of Respect,” the school district’s literary and arts journal.
For a full schedule of the day’s events visit saratogareads.org.
“Our book fair creates a festive, enjoyable atmosphere for holiday purchases. Events throughout the day provide a great combination of entertainment, conversation, and books, all in support of a local community-building organization,” said Tabitha Orthwein, chair of the Saratoga Reads board.
Saratoga Reads is a Skidmore College-Saratoga collaboration that invites all area residents to participate in conversation, events, and activities based on the shared reading of single book. In addition to the book of choice for the year, Saratoga Reads offers a list of junior companion books for young readers of all levels.