GREAT BAY--Stichting Biblionef Netherlands, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, the Library of St. Maarten, the Help Our Children Foundation and the University of St. Martin (USM), will host the Third Reading Festival: St. Maarten Edition on September 25 and 26, 2026.
The two-day festival is designed to encourage a love of reading among children, parents and educators through storytelling, workshops, interactive games and visits from local and international authors.
The event is made possible with support from the Dutch Foundation for Literature and local sponsorship facilitated through the Help Our Children Foundation.
The festival will begin on Friday, September 25, with a special program for Form 1 and Form 2 students from participating secondary schools. Activities will take place both at the schools and at USM.
Students will participate in author visits, reading activities, workshops and educational games. Form 1 students will take part in activities at USM, while Form 2 students will remain at their respective schools. Transportation will be provided for Form 1 students attending the USM program.
On Saturday, September 26, the Reading Festival will open to the general public from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at USM. Families will be able to enjoy author readings, creative workshops and a range of literacy-focused activities throughout the day.
Parents and guardians are asked to accompany children aged 12 and under.
A major component of this year's festival will be the distribution of more than 2,500 new books, educational materials and language games to schools and children across St. Maarten. Festival participants will also have opportunities to win prizes during the activities.
Following the festival, books and materials used during the event will remain available through the Library of St. Maarten, extending the festival's impact beyond the two-day program.
The Third Reading Festival brings together organizations involved in education, literacy and youth development, with activities structured to engage students as well as families and educators.
For additional information, interested persons can contact Stichting Biblionef Netherlands atinfo@biblionef.org. Updates are also available through Reading Festivals and on Facebook and Instagram at@readingfestivals.
