Massanutten Regional Library hosts 2026 summer reading kickoff

HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV) - Massanutten Regional Library kicked off its annual Summer Reading Program Sunday, bringing families and community partners to the Turner Pavilion for an afternoon celebrating books, learning, and local resources.

“We’re just getting all of the community together for a fun celebration of reading and community activity,” said Megan N. Medeiros, the library’s director of advancement.

The Summer Reading Challenge runs from June 1 to Aug. 2 and includes food and drink vendors, live music, children’s activities, and a resource fair featuring local organizations.

The program is open to all ages, Medeiros said, with options designed for everyone “from babies all the way to 103.”

She said, “You log your reading — or for adults, there are also activities you can log. It’s a bingo challenge. And you enter your tickets to win raffle prizes, and we also do weekly prizes. So it’s a great way to battle summer reading loss with kids and to get the community together, reading together.”

For some, the program is also a fun reason to get back into books.

“I started reading again as an adult last August and just got my library card this year,” said Brittany Dorman, a Summer Reading Challenge participant. Dorman said she used the library’s Beanstack app to join the spring reading challenge and is excited to take part again this summer — and potentially win prizes.

Dorman also attended as part of the organization’s outreach at the resource fair as the communications director for Big Brothers Big Sisters.

“Big Brothers Big Sisters is excited to be part of the resource fair for the kickoff event,” she said. “We’re here to engage families and share our resources for one-to-one mentoring for local youth.”

The kickoff event also featured live music from local musician Nick Branson and his band. Branson said the summer reading program offers a nostalgic, rewarding motivation — even for adults.

“It’s a really cool program,” Branson said. “It harkens back to when you were a little kid… and now you can do something similar as an adult. So there’s just no reason not to do it.”

Branson said he also values the library’s role as a welcoming community space.

“It means the world to be able to have such a positive effect on one of those rare third places — where you can go that’s not home or work and you’re not expected to spend money,” he said. “It’s not just the books — it’s the classes, the get-togethers, the resources.”

More information on the Summer Reading Challenge is available on the MRL website.