SummerQuest Kickoff Festival ☀️🎉

DIG IN—SummerQuest 2026 starts with a roar! 🦖✨

Unearth adventure throughout the library as prehistoric play, hands-on discovery, and community fun take over every corner. Dig for fossils, build giant dinosaur skeletons, craft your own ancient treasures, and plant something new to take home. Special dinosaur activities and demos with the Kentucky Science Center await inside the Science in Play2Go exhibit, along with giveaways, games, themed selfie rooms, and more surprises waiting to be uncovered throughout the building.

Outside, meet friendly animals at the petting zoo, chase giant bubbles, and play retro favorites at the Back to the Arcade mobile arcade. Plus, kids can hop aboard the Dream Bus to choose a free book while supplies last!

Featured guests & activities include:

• 📷 America 250 Selfie Rooms | Community Study Rooms
  Step into themed photo adventures inspired by places across the country. Visit Area 51 in New Mexico, relax on a Florida beach, explore Yellowstone camping scenes, or snap a photo with the Chicago skyline and Windy City props.
   
• 🕹️ Back to the Arcade | Front Parking Lot
  Take a trip back in time with 10+ retro arcade games—all in one exciting mobile experience.
   
• 🫧 Bubble Bug | Fire Garden Lawn
  Run, dance, and play in a swirling world of giant bubbles.
   
• 📲 Cultural Pass Information | Community Wing Greeting Desk
  Learn all about the Cultural Pass app and the exciting cultural, heritage, and nature adventures awaiting your family this summer.
   
• 🦖Dinosaur Fun Facts Walk | Conference Room 1
  Meet prehistoric giants and discover fascinating dinosaur facts.
   
• 🦕 Discovery Zone | Meeting Rooms 1 & 2
  Travel back in time with hands-on activities hosted by each BCPL location. Create mini dinosaur fossils with Mt. Washington, try a hands-on archaeology dig with Lebanon Junction, plant a flower to take home with Nichols, and test your luck at Hillview’s dinosaur-themed duck pond filled with fun prizes.
  
  ➕PLUS: Dig into more activities and giveaways with community partners including Bernheim Arboretum & Research Forest, Bullitt County 4-H, Bullitt County Historical Society, Bullitt County Public Schools, Billy's Bees, KYnectors, and more.
     
• 🚌 Dream Express Book Bus | Front Parking Lot
  Climb aboard the magical book bus where kids can pick out a free book (or two) while supplies last.
   
• 🎨 Face Painting | Water Garden Alley 
  Transform into a dinosaur, butterfly, superhero, or anything your imagination dreams up.
   
• ♟️ Giant Chess | Library of Things Area
  Challenge a friend and enjoy the classic game on a giant scale!
   
• 🎲 Giant Games | Conference Room 3
  Play big with classic oversized games! From jumbo Jenga to massive Connect Four, it's your chance to take your favorite games to the next level.
   
• 🎲 Games & LEGO Zone | Conference Room 2
  Build, stack, and play with LEGOs and dinosaur-themed games.
    
• 🎭 Mascot Meet-and-Greets | Throughout the Festival
  Keep an eye out for special visitor and photo ops with local mascots popping up around the library.
   
• 🐷Petting Zoo | Side Lawn
  Meet our adorable animal friends from Farmer Steve's mobile petting zoo! Pet chicks, ducks, bunnies, goats, sheep, pigs, a pony, and more—there’s no shortage of cuddly creatures to make new friends with!
   
• 🛋️ Quiet Rooms | Children's Study Rooms
  Need a break from the excitement? Step into a calm space to relax and recharge.
    
• 🧪 Science in Play2Go | Children’s Area
  Explore the Science in Play2Go exhibit on its final day—with special additions from the Kentucky Science Center just for kickoff! Investigate the brain of a T-Rex and how it compares to other dinosaurs and humans, examine dinosaur teeth, explore the sounds dinosaurs may have made, and get up close with fossils and meteorites. Don’t miss a live Mentos and cola science demonstration outside at 2:00 PM!
   
• 📖 StoryWalk® | Start at the front of the building!
  Our StoryWalk® at Central Library is always open. But Kickoff day is great time to follow our latest story and see where your adventure takes you! (You might even meet some animal friends along your journey.)
   
• 🎨 Teen Lounge Activities | Teen Area
  Games, crafts, and creative fun just for teens.
   
• 🕶️ Virtual Reality Zones | Teen Study Rooms
  Step into new worlds! Explore exciting VR experiences that will transport you to amazing places and adventures. 
   
• 👋 Welcome Station with Tara | Front Awning
  Say "hi" to the library director and grab a fun giveaway. Our Friends of the Library group will be providing complimentary popcorn, too!

***

Concessions will be available from the following vendors:

• 🍧 Ice Ice Shavy | Front Parking Lot 
• 🥔 JB's Mac-N-Cheese & Spuds | Front Parking Lot
• 🍔 Just Piggin' Out | Front Parking Lot
• 🍨 The Sweet Shoppe | Front Parking Lot

For all ages. Just drop in!
Space and activities will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Questions? Call Angel at 543-7576 ext. 2556 or e-mail angel@bcplib.org.