The Massanutten Regional Library is pleased to announce their 2025 Big Read Kickoff Celebration to be held on the 3rd floor of the Explore More Discovery Museum on Friday, February 28 from 12-2pm.
Enjoy live music provided by Nick Branson and listen to a summary of MRL's chosen book for Big Read, Yaa Gyasi’s Homegoing, as well as passage readings by Sofia Samatar, Tynisha Williams, Gbenga Adesina, and Chaz Haywood. They will also be revealing the winning artist for MRL’s Big Read Mural Contest. Delicious food and drinks will be provided by FLOCS and Beyond and MRL. Attendees will also be able to pick up a free copy (one book per person, must be present) of Homegoing or their choice from a selection of children’s books. Attendees may also choose to create a Story Quilt square as part of our community quilt. This event is for all ages and is free and open to the public.
The NEA Big Read is a national, community-focused movement striving to broaden understandings of ourselves and our neighbors through a shared reading experience, sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest. This year’s theme, “Where We Live,” invites communities to think about and celebrate the uniquity that makes their community home. We invite everyone to join us in reading Homegoing with its resonate themes of honoring culture, identity, connections, heritage, and family history as a community for Big Read 2025.
"We are so honored and excited to bring the community together to celebrate ‘Where We Live,’ through this shared reading experience,” Director of Advancement Megan Medeiros said. “And I can’t think of a better way to celebrate this incredible community than through a gathering and sharing of all the wonderful people, services, and cultures it has to offer.”
For more information on MRL’s 2025 Big Read and a full programming schedule, please visit mrlib.org/events/big-read/.
The 2025 Big Read celebration, programming, and mural competition are supported by Arts Council of the Valley, National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), Massanutten Regional Library, JMU Libraries, Larson Wealth Management, and other sponsors.