The Lancaster County Council of the Arts will present the 2nd Annual Lancaster County Literary Arts Festival on April 26 – 27, 2025. The programming will include a community read featuring South Carolina author Kasie Whitener, as well as other free and engaging activities. SC Humanities supported this program with a Fast Track Literary Grant.
The festival will kick off with the installation of a StoryWalk on Lancaster’s Main Street featuring the book The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson and Rafael Lopez. A StoryWalk is is a fun, educational activity that places a children’s story (literally a book taken apart) along a popular walking route in a community. Storywalk® was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, VT and developed in collaboration with the Kellogg-Hubbard Library. StoryWalks promote literacy, reading, health, exercise, movement, and family bonding.
On Saturday, April 26, the programming will include “art at the library” from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., a public program with celebrated South Carolina author Kasie Whitener at 11:00 a.m., a book fair of local authors from 12 – 1:30 p.m., and a panel discussion with authors and publishers at 2:00 p.m. On Sunday, there will be a poetry reading and open mic event at the Daily Grind Coffee Shop.
Lancaster County Council of the Arts Executive Director Eric Grace said, “These activities not only nurture the local literary culture but also address the need for accessible, inclusive events, catering to varied interests and ages, thereby promoting broader participation in the humanities. Additionally, the festival supports local talent, with initiatives like the Main Street Storywalk bolstering the cultural economy and fostering a supportive literary community.”
To learn more about the Lancaster County Literary Arts Festival, visit the Lancaster County Council of the Arts website here: https://www.artslancaster.com/upcoming-events/lancaster-county-literary-arts-festival.
The mission of the Lancaster County Council of the Arts is to enrich the quality of life in Lancaster County by building vibrant and inclusive communities connecting arts, culture, education, and economic vitality.
The mission of SC Humanities is to enrich the cultural and intellectual lives of all South Carolinians. Established in 1973, this 501(c)3 organization is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors comprised of community leaders from throughout the state. It presents and supports literary initiatives, lectures, exhibits, festivals, publications, oral history projects, videos, and other humanities-based experiences that directly or indirectly reach more than 250,000 citizens annually. South Carolina Humanities receives funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities as well as corporate, foundation and individual donors. The National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy demands wisdom.
