Hundreds gathered in Victoria Park today for reading, music and family fun.

The Bermuda Alumnae Chapter of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated organised the 26th Children’s Reading Festival which took place from 11am until 4pm.

Members of the Cabinet, including Crystal Caesar, the Minister of Education, Alexa Lightbourne, the home affairs minister, and Owen Darrell, the Minister of Tourism, Transport, Culture and Sport, read different stories to the children during the festival which was themed “The Next Chapter”.

Children also enjoyed reading, games, dogs, bubbles and making artwork while their parents chatted to local authors and representatives from Solstice, The Office of Youth Affairs, Ageing and Disability Services and several other organisations.

Maxine Herbert-Watson, one of the organisers, said: “I’m happy to see children reading and learning, we even have a super sensory station and a sign language interpreter so they could learn a lot of new skills.”

Speaking to the theme, she explained: “We chose ‘The Next Chapter’ because last year was our 25th anniversary and now we’re looking at what the next chapter will be for us.”

She said she hopes to increase the number of activities for children with learning and reading challenges in years to come.

Attendees even got to meet and play with five dogs from the Bark Club Bda, a pet daycare and training service.

Theresa Moore, owner of the service, said the dogs are trained in manners and work with people of all ages.

Ms Herbert-Watson has helped organise about five reading festivals and both she and Ms Moore are alumnae of the sorority.

Ms Herbert-Watson highlighted some of the association’s other events throughout the year, such as the monthly Delta pantry food bank and a netball tournament for girls.

For more information, visit the chapter’s Facebook Page.

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