Good News: LitUp Festival for Teens June 4th

     Mid-Continent Public Library will host its fifth-annual LitUp Festival, a free literature and arts festival created by teens for teens, on Saturday, June 4, at its North Independence Branch (317 W. 24 Hwy., Independence, MO 64050) from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. This year’s festival will feature keynote presentations by New York Times bestselling authors Christina Hammonds Reed and Neal Shusterman, as well as presentations and workshops led by a variety of other writers and creators.
     “LitUp is all about fostering creativity and building community among teens,” said MCPL Special Events Coordinator Sara Peterson-Davis. “This annual event gives kids the opportunity to gain inspiration from some of their favorite writers and creators and also learn how they can hone their own skills. Plus, they can spend time with new and old friends and enjoy free food and prizes!”
     The day-long event will offer attendees the opportunity to participate in creative activities, enjoy free snacks and lunch (while supplies last), and score some free books to take home. Plus, the first 200 attendees to register will receive a free, limited-edition LitUp swag bag! More information about LitUp and registration is available at mymcpl.org/LitUp.
 
2022 LitUp Schedule of Events:

• 8:00-8:30 a.m.
  • Registration
• 8:30-9:00 a.m.
  • Welcome/LitUp Creative Contest Winner Recognition
    • Participants of the LitUp Creative Contest submitted works of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, or art earlier this year. A panel of judges selected winners in each category, and the winning teens will receive prizes and recognition during the LitUp festival.
• 9:00-10:00 a.m.
  • Keynote: Christina Hammonds Reed, author of The Black Kids
• 10:00-10:30 a.m.
  • Book Signing with Christina Hammonds Reed
• 10:30-11:30 a.m.
  • Author Talk – Trung Le Nguyen, cartoonist and author of The Magic Fish
  • Author Talk – Shay Alexi, poet and author of Diary of a Ghost Girl
  • Fiction/Critique Workshop – Megan Bannen and Amanda Sellet
  • Nonfiction/Publication Workshop – Pembroke Hill Social Justice Club
• 11:30-12:45 p.m.
  • Free Lunch (while supplies last)
• 1:00-2:00 p.m.
  • Author Talk – Julie Berry, author of Lovely War
  • Author Talk – Susan Vollenweider & Beckett Graham, hosts of The History Chicks podcast
  • Poetry/Hip-Hop Workshop – Royce “Sauce” Handy, Kansas City-based activist and rapper
  • Graphic Arts/Illustration Workshop – James Rumfelt, illustrator of The Spectra Chronicles
• 2:00-3:00 p.m.
  • Creative Break featuring ScrapsKC/Ice Cream Time
• 3:00-4:00 p.m. 
  • Virtual Live Keynote: Neal Shusterman, author of Scythe and Thunderhead

 
    More information about LitUp, including program descriptions, presenter information, and registration is available at mymcpl.org/LitUp.
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