LAURINBURG – Eating one’s words will take on a whole new meaning Tuesday when the Scotland County Literacy Council holds its second annual Edible Book Festival.
The event takes place from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Storytelling Arts Center at 131 S Main St.
Literacy Council Director Janie Adams had such a good time last year that she is excited to see what people come up with next week.
“It’s so fun to watch people get excited and see their ideas start to flow; everybody was so creative,” Adams said. “I loved Carolyn’s [McNeil]; she put a bunch of candy bars on one side of hers and put a Dove bar by itself for ‘Lonesome Dove.”
McNeil is the council’s outreach director.
Participants can register up to the morning of the event. Entries can be made by teams or individuals who make an edible creation representing a book or book title.
Submissions will be judged in six categories: best in show, puniest, people’s choice, best children’s, best fiction, and best nonfiction.
After the exhibits have been viewed and voted on, the works will be ready for tasting. Adams requested that exhibitors provide a list of ingredients for those who may have food allergies.
Participants can enter up to three displays: One entry is $10, two is $14 and three are $15.
General admission is $8 for adults and $4 for children.
There is already one entrant to the children’s category.
Five-year-old Kayden Easterling and her tutor Sandra Leonard will set up a display representing the children’s book, “If You Give a Cat a Cupcake.”
“Kayden’s grandma made her outfit, and she is so excited,” said Leonard “You can’t help but get excited when you see a cute little five year old excited.”
Adams and McNeil are also trying hard to come up with ideas for this year’s entries.
“I’m thinking on it; I’ve got a couple of ideas for this year. Last year I did ‘Lonesome Dove,” McNeil said adding that she won a prize for her depiction of Larry McMurtry’s novel.
There will also be a silent auction during the evening.
Proceeds from this year’s benefit will be put toward paying off the mortgage on the council’s office space and tutoring software.
“We’re trying to get the Sanford House paid off so we can have funds for program expenses,” Adams said. “We trying to purchase programs for the adult basic literacy to make it more independent and to update test material.”
