Since Family Literacy Day falls on a weekend this year, Lambton County Library has organized a day full of activities and entertainment to celebrate the initiative with a free festival.
The Family Literacy Day Festival will be held at Sarnia Library on Saturday, January 27 from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.
Public Services Coordinator of Youth Programs and Outreach Vanitia Campbell said the theme for the event is "Let's Have a Family Party!"
"The point of Family Literacy Day is to draw attention to this concept of family literacy, which is not just necessarily families sitting down and reading together," she said. "It draws focus to the fact that families can engage in literacy-rich activities in a variety of different ways and that when they do this together, the literacy health of the entire family is strengthened."
Campbell said, for example, District Beta will be at the event to showcase family literacy through gaming and Lambton Public Health will discuss activities associated with physical literacy.
Other community groups such as Literacy Lambton, Lambton Learners, and the Boys and Girls Club of Sarnia-Lambton will be at the downtown library to provide information about local services and programs.
Some activities will include face painting, henna art, retro gaming, and crafts. Buzz and Honey from the Sarnia Sting will be in attendance.
Dan the Music Man, a Toronto-based songwriter and entertainer, will also perform two 30-minute shows at the Sarnia Library Theatre at 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.
Pre-registration is not required.
The Judith & Norman Alix Art Gallery will also host free family-friendly activities, beginning at 12 p.m.
Family Literacy Day is observed each year on January 27 and has been celebrated across Canada since 1999.