The City of Santa Clarita and the Santa Clarita Valley Education Foundation invite the community to the Literacy & Arts Festival on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Old Town Newhall Library, located at 24500 Main Street.

The popular event will showcase theater groups, authors and creative activities promoting the importance of literacy and arts for residents of all ages.  A book swap will also be available for guests who bring a gently used book to the festival.

“The Literacy and Arts Festival is a day full of entertainment, education and activities highlighting the important role literacy and the performing arts play in enriching our community,” said Mayor Frank Ferry.  “This is the perfect event for families and residents looking for a fun and educational afternoon.”

A variety of free programming will be available at the Festival, including:

* Greater Understanding of the Fine Arts – The Festival will include several activities designed to help foster an understanding of and appreciation for fine arts, including workshops like “Read a Painting,” “Shadow Boxes,” “Instrumental Petting Zoo,” and “Music in Motion,” which incorporate  arts education with lessons in energy and music.

* “Journalist for a Day” Workshop – This hands-on activity is ideal for aspiring journalists, providing participants with the opportunity to report and write news stories about the events, programs and people at the 2012 Literacy & Arts Festival.  Interested participants should arrive between 10:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. to pick up their assignment from Saugus High journalism students.  Once given the assignment and a press pass, journalists in training will be sent out to capture the news by conducting interviews with people at the festival.  Stories must be typed and emailed to citydesk@the-signal.com and select stories will be chosen by Signal editors to be published.

* Live Performances – The Festival will include a variety of live performances, including a rendition of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by Placerita Junior High School’s Drama Department.  This year, the festival will also host two new exciting guests, Pierre Cruzatte who will perform “Musical Journey of Lewis Clark” and Nathalia Palis, who will present bilingual songs.

* School Participation – Local schools will participate by providing a variety of hands-on activities to promote the fine arts, mathematics and music.  Live Oak, Arroyo Seco Jr. High, Cedarcreek, Saugus High, Placerita Jr. High and College of the Canyons are sponsoring art displays, Poetry Off the Page, Wish Birds, a giant shadow box, and more.

* Professional Artists Get Involved – Professional artists will be on hand at the Festival demonstrating a variety of drawing and musical styles and instruments, digital animation, and other art activities.  Specialists in art, music and literature will also be available to provide parents with resources and educational advice.

In preparation for the festival, the City and the Education Foundation are hosting art and writing contests in four different grade divisions within local schools.  The Festival will spotlight some of these students and their submissions, which reflect the 2012 Festival theme “Art in Santa Clarita.”

For more information about the Literacy & Arts Festival, please contact City Community Service Coordinator Donna Avila at (661) 250-3785 or visit scveducationfoundation.org.