09/23/2026
Check out this great opportunity for free books this weekend at Nesbitt Academy!!
📚 More than 30,000 FREE books are coming to WNC!
Join us for the Reading Opens the World Family Literacy Fair:
📅 Sunday, September 27
⏰ Noon–4 p.m.
📍 Martin L. Nesbitt Jr. Discovery Academy
175 Bingham Road, Asheville
Families attending Title I and Title I-eligible schools can choose free books for their home libraries, and each Title I educator and community partners (after schools, summer camps, early childhood centers) can select up to 50 books for their classroom. Books for readers from birth through high school will be available in English and Spanish.
And that’s only the beginning! Come enjoy:
🍽️ Delicious food from Shaa'bingo and Merribb’s Soul&Streetz (First 300 kids eat free!)
🎧 Music from DJ Twan
🥁 A special performance by John R. Hayes High Steppin’ Majorette & Drum Corp
🍿 Sno-cones and cotton candy by Funnel King
🎨 Face painting and fairy hair
🎲 Games and family activities
🧱 Hundreds of free LEGO brick boxes
🎃 A kids’ Halloween costume swap! Bring gently used children’s costumes and hunt for something new-to-you.
The fair falls on the second anniversary of Hurricane Helene. We’ll come together to recognize the extraordinary work of our region’s students, families, educators, schools, and community partners and support every learner along Western North Carolina’s education-recovery journey.
Books are first come, first served, so arrive early and bring bags, boxes, or a wagon!
Learn more at https://www.r2sasheville.org/blog1/30000-free-books-coming-to-asheville-for-the-reading-opens-the-world-family-literacy-fair
Presented by Read 2 Succeed in partnership with AFT, AFPENC, and First Book, with support from NC State AFL-CIO, NC APRI Asheville, Reading Opens the World, and other community partners.
