Your kids can’t their noses out of their books…or maybe you would just like them to start chapter one! Either way, everyone will have a great time exploring the world of literature in Los Angeles as The Music Center Presents the third annual Grand Park’s Downtown Bookfest on Saturday, March 28, 2015 from noon-5:00 p.m. This free expansive outdoor literary experience is Los Angeles’ only book festival focused exclusively on the creativity of local authors, publishers, booksellers and aspiring creators. Book lovers of all ages will find a large coalition of Los Angeles-based presses, publishers and authors, as well as many book-related experiences, including special readings, performances, sing-alongs, and book-making activities.
This year, Grand Park’s Bookfest will feature the culmination of The Music Center’s Artizen Lab, an online platform that gives people a unique opportunity to express their creative ideas to inspiring challenges. For the launch of Artizen Lab, The Music Center partnered with the Los Angeles County Library to challenge artizens, or citizen artists, to “Cite Your Source,” expressing their perspective on where LA is heading through various arts-based projects. The top ideas submitted to the challenge will be showcased during Bookfest.
Grand Park’s Downtown Bookfest guests will enjoy a broad range of activities and performances for all ages, including:
- Storytelling by Renaissance Faire Storytellers.
- Performance selections from Cornerstone Theater Company’s tour of The California Tempest, now touring the state and culminating in Grand Park in June 2015.
- Bilingual sing-along presented by the Zimmer Children’s Museum.
- Readings from Matilda by actress Kate Burton with a choral performance of music from the musical by the Colburn Children’s Choir (Matilda will be at the Ahmanson Theatre at The Music Center from May 19-June 12, 2015).
- Readings by Los Angeles Poet Laureate Luis J. Rodriguez.
- Post-English Literature of LA, readings curated by poet David Shook that feature work by Los Angeles authors in Polish, Spanish, Russian, Farsi, and Isthmus Zapotec, along with the work of some of Los Angeles’ best translators.
- An all-ages “Ask a Kid/Ask an Adult” interaction provided by 826LA, with questions by kids and adults answered by one another, and answers posted on large gallery walls.
- Bookmaking using recycled materials.
- Free copies of Into the Beautiful North by Luis Alberto Urrea, this year’s featured book in the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs “The Big Read” literacy program, along with other information about the spring 2015 initiative.
- Grand Park’s Pop-Up Bookshop featuring 30 Los Angeles-based presses and publishers.
- A children’s book swap along with a cookbook swap for cooks who want to be inspired by new recipes shared by others.
- An exhibit of the top Artizen Lab ideas.
Grand Park is located at 200 N. Grand Avenue in Los Angeles. The event is in the park between Grand Avenue and Hill Street. Visitors are encouraged to take the METRO Red or Purple Line to Civic Center/Grand Park Station or the Gold Line to Little Tokyo/Arts District Station. For more information, visit http://www.grandparkla.org/bookfest2015 or call 213-972-8080.
