Phoenix Comic Fest is only a week away and we are really excited around here! Check out our schedule of activities below, so you will know how you can support Kids Need to Read while having a great time at the convention!
(Scroll down to go straight to the schedule.)
Author/Illustrator Steven Riley and Howler, mascot of the Arizona Coyotes, are back to entertain the children! Plus we have new buttons, merchandise and a fun new game, Fest Watcher Bingo, that the entire family can enjoy while roaming around Comic Fest. As always, kids get free Highlights magazines and other goodies at our booth, plus we will be hosting two programs for kids: the energetic Build-a-Book program with Steven Riley and the super sweet Youth Fashion Show. We thank the Arizona Coyotes for sponsoring the Build-a-Book program again this year, where participating children will receive a free Howling for Books backpack filled with a free book, Highlights magazine, and other Yotes/KNTR goodies! Howler is scheduled to make a special appearance during the Saturday 12:00 noon Build-a-Book program!
KNTR will also be hosting Drinks with Creators (18+), where you can mingle among attending authors and other creators. It’s a great opportunity to meet some of your favorite creators in a fun and relaxed atmosphere, and goof around with the photo setup. The raffles and auction at this event support KNTR. We really appreciate all of the authors and creators who come out in support of KNTR during this event, including emcee Angela Fox and auctioneer Myke Cole!
Lots of kind and generous folks will be hosting fantastic fundraisers for KNTR in partnership with Phoenix Comic Fest, each benefiting KNTR in full! Blue Ribbon Army will once again present the big Saturday night dance, Rocket’s Rad 80s Party (18+). An eighties party, folks, not to mention that the Blue Ribbon Army really knows how to put on a good time! Lupine Entertainment will bring their annual, professionally run Kids Need to Read Charity Poker Tournament alive yet again (18+). This is a great event with tons of cool raffle prizes, as well as a live art demonstration throughout the evening that is auctioned off after it is completed! 501st Legion, Dune Sea Garrison will host Blast-a-Trooper, their fun and highly popular family Star Wars game presented each year for KNTR. The kids love this game … and so do the adults! New this year will be a raffle of the Throne of Wakanda during the Wakanda Welcoming Reception on Thursday. We cannot wait to see that! Everyone works extremely hard to put on these terrific fundraisers in support of Kids Need to Read’s mission to ensure children have the literacy resources they need to succeed. We are so grateful to these kindhearted folks for all they do to help the kids!
Thanks so much to everyone who volunteers time or donates their creations to help make the convention such a huge success for Kids Need to Read year after year, most especially our wonderful, generous partners at Phoenix Comic Fest! Together we work to bring the joy of reading and the power of a literate mind to children throughout our nation.
Kids Need to Read Schedule of Activities
Phoenix Comic Fest May 24–27, 2018
KNTR Booth 979
Free Highlights magazines, buttons and other goodies for kids! Don’t miss our great raffles and charity bracelets!
3:00 PM–8:00 PM Thursday
10:00 AM–7:00 PM Friday–Saturday
10:00 AM–5:00 PM Sunday
Exhibitor Hall
Thursday, May 24
KNTR Fest Watcher Bingo Game
Family friendly and geeky fun! Pick up your playing card, player button and pen for $5 donation at the KNTR booth. Players will be entered in raffles each day they donate.
3:00 PM–7:00 PM (Player Raffle at 7:00 PM)
Kids Need to Read Booth 979
Wakanda Welcoming Reception
Throne of Wakanda raffle benefits KNTR.
8:00 PM–11:30 PM
North 120CD
Friday, May 25
KNTR Fest Watcher Bingo Game
Family friendly and geeky fun! Pick up your playing card, player button and pen for $5 donation at the KNTR booth. Players will be entered in raffles each day they donate.
10:00 AM–6:00 PM (Player Raffle at 6:00 PM)
Kids Need to Read Booth 979
Star Wars Blast-A-Trooper, Presented by 501st Legion, Dune Sea Garrison
Donations to play benefit KNTR in full.
1:00 PM–3:00 PM
North H901
KNTR Build-a-Book Program, Sponsored by Arizona Coyotes
Story creation entertainment for children (goodie backpacks for each participating child)
4:30 PM—5:30 PM
West 101 ABC Event Area
Kids Need to Read Charity Poker Tournament, Presented by Lupine Entertainment (18+)
Donations to play benefit KNTR in full.
7:00 PM Registration, 8:00 PM Game Begins
West 211AB
Drinks with Creators, Hosted by Kids Need to Read (18+)
Raffles and auction benefit KNTR.
8:00 PM–11:30 PM
North 120CD
Saturday, May 26
KNTR Fest Watcher Bingo Game
Family friendly and geeky fun! Pick up your playing card, player button and pen for $5 donation at the KNTR booth. Players will be entered in raffles each day they donate.
10:00 AM–6:00 PM (Player Raffle at 6:00 PM)
Kids Need to Read Booth 979
KNTR Build-a-Book Program, Sponsored by Arizona Coyotes
Story creation entertainment for children (goodie backpacks for each participating child)
12:00 Noon–1:00 PM (Special appearance by Coyotes mascot “Howler”)
4:30 PM–5:30 PM
West 101 ABC Event Area
Star Wars Blast-A-Trooper, Presented by 501st Legion, Dune Sea Garrison
Donations to play benefit KNTR in full.
1:00 PM–3:00 PM
North H901
Rocket’s Rad 80s Party, Presented by Blue Ribbon Army (18+)
Entrance donations benefit KNTR in full.
9:00 PM–1:00 AM
North 120CD
Sunday, May 27
KNTR Fest Watcher Bingo Game
Family friendly and geeky fun! Pick up your playing card, player button and pen for $5 donation at the KNTR booth. Players will be entered in raffles each day they donate.
10:00 AM–4:00 PM (Player Raffle at 4:00 PM)
Kids Need to Read Booth 979
KNTR Build-a-Book Program, Sponsored by Arizona Coyotes
Story creation entertainment for children (goodie backpacks for each participating child)
12:00 Noon–1:00 PM
West 101 ABC Event Area
Star Wars Blast-A-Trooper, Presented by 501st Legion, Dune Sea Garrison
Donations to play benefit KNTR in full.
1:00 PM–3:00 PM
North H901
Youth Fashion Show
Non-competitive costume fashion show for children (goodie backpacks for each participating child)
1:30 PM–2:30 PM
West 106ABC
