Milton council approves plans for Children’s Book Festival

Milton Memorial Park will host this year’s Sussex Children’s Book Festival after Milton Town Council approved plans for the event Jan. 5.

The festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, May 2. 

Lisa Petrecca, Milton Public Library director, said the event will use the park and the gazebo, and include children’s performances, vendors and a petting zoo, with appeal for children from birth to middle school.

“It’s a literacy event. Delaware literacy is very low, and we as libraries try to promote and encourage reading and learning, especially at a young age,” Petrecca said.

Petrecca came before council to request town support for the event, suggesting ideas like fee waivers or having police and fire department officials present in some capacity, and possibly closing off Chandler Street near the park as a safety precaution. Mayor John Collier encouraged Petrecca to work with town staff to hash out those details. 

Councilman Robert Gray said he very much supports the event but wanted to make sure that residents that live near the park on Chandler Street will have access to leave their homes if they want.

Petrecca said volunteers at the scene can ensure residents are able to leave, with the closure just to make sure Chandler Street is not used as a thoroughfare with lots of children in the area.

Council agreed to allow the library to use the park and also agreed to sponsor the event up to $1,200.  

“We’re just going to pray for nice weather and kids coming and families enjoying a special day in Milton,” Petrecca said. 

This will be the fourth edition of the Children’s Book Festival, which started in Milton in 2019. The last two editions have been held in Georgetown with the last festival held in 2024.