Palmdale City Library and Legacy Commons for Active Seniors will host on May 7 a book festival and ARTown Fusion, a celebration of literacy and artistic culture for all ages. The event will take place from noon to 4 p.m. at Legacy Commons and Legacy Park, 930 E. Ave. Q-9 in Palmdale.
The book festival will include signings from local authors, an art show featuring the works of local artists, a Friends of the Library book sale, story time for children as well as balloons and face painting. The library’s Techmobile will also be stationed at the festival, and there will be a variety of crafts for children and adults. The comedy group, High-D Boys, will perform at Legacy Park.
“The ARTown Fusion exhibit will be on display inside Legacy Commons, while most of the crafts and activities will be held on the lawn at Legacy Park,” said Thomas Vose, library director. “One of the coolest events of the day will be ‘Do-It-Yourself Shakespeare’ where people will perform their favorite Shakespearian scenes for all to see and enjoy.”
Among the local authors scheduled to showcase their works are Itibari Zulu “Journal of Pan African Studies,” Rich Samuels “Alexander Adventures,” Dr. Lance Fogan “DINGS,” Stacey Nembhard “The Jamaican Linguist: I Remember When,” E. Katherine Kottaras “How to Be Brave,” and L. Denet Stephens “The Search for Sunshine.”
Additional authors scheduled to attend include Mildred Dumas “Christmas Blessings: A Novel,” Laura Emery “Disposition of Remains,” Mark Sears and Michael Picarella “Everything Ever After: Confessions of a Family Man,” Lee Souleles “Avalon,” Deen Ferrell the “Cryptic Spaces” series, Chris Alexander “Star Wars Origami,” Lock Marie “The Tip Book,” Rebekah R. Ganiere “Dead Awakenings” and “The Fairelle Series,” and members of the Antelope Valley Writers Association which has produced a series of compilation books.
More local artists scheduled to participate in the event will be announced at the end of this month. Interested artists must complete an application (available at www.cityofpalmdale.org) and either mail or deliver it personally to the Legacy Commons facility. You must apply by Monday, April 25 and all artists will be contacted to confirm that they have been selected to participate. At that time, selected artists will be provided with specific details regarding what time they are required to arrive to set up their art exhibition.
The High-D Boys consist of a guitar, bango and a wash tub bass. Add in four-part harmony and audiences have said they’re the best musical-comedy group west of the Mississippi River. Somewhat similar to the Hudson Brothers, the High-D Boys began as a jazz duo with Patrick Summers and Javier Alcontrar-Rojas on ukulele. Later Daniel Reyes joined on guitar, and Phil Clevigner performed on washtub bass. The group’s style ranges from Latin music, honky tonk, ballads and even swing music.
For more details about the book and art festival, call (661) 267-5600 or visit www.cityofpalmdale.org/library.
