SALISBURY — Music echoed through the hallway of New Trent Gym on Livingstone’s campus Saturday. It was not a pep rally, but plenty of cheer was present.

Packed inside out of consideration for possible inclement weather, the annual Children’s Book Festival created a fostering environment for area children aged three to 12 to explore the magic of reading.

Deborah Johnson is Livingstone College’s UNCF director and has been in charge of the program for nearly two decades.

“The book festival was designed to instill a love and appreciation for reading,” Johnson said of the event.

Alongside Communities in Schools Rowan, Livingstone brings the event to fruition every year, keeping that early vision alive.

“We invited students from the community and the schools to all come,” Johnson said. “(Communities in Schools Director) James (Davis) has been instrumental … We have partnered about three years now and are trying to bring more students. I think there is something about children and having a book of their own.”

Speaking from experience, Johnson mentioned how impactful the event can be for a young mind.

“Working with this for a long time, I can remember seeing some people who said, ‘Oh I can remember going to get a book at the Children’s Book Festival,’” Johnson said. “We want the kids to come and have a great time.”

Johnson indicated that the event’s lineup can vary from year to year. Initial plans to feature a bounce house did not pan out this time because of fears of rain on Saturday. What has remained constant is the opportunity for families to have a day off while focusing on the significance of reading.

“Everything is free to the children, the food and to their parents,” Johnson said. “We just want them to come and realize that it is important. Reading is important. It is a must. We want to be a part of that education.”

Johnson said that children normally get to take two free books, but with so many books this year and a lower than normal turnout, children at Livingstone got to take home three on Saturday.

Davis called the collaboration a natural partnership given their like-minded mission.

“When we started partnering, we began thinking about how to re-engage our students,” Davis said. “We put a big focus on literacy at our schools, so what we try our best to do is help promote it, working with our schools and working with parents at our events to let them know that these festivals are coming.”

Added entertainment like the Lurnsters, Tyca the Clown and DJ Neak contribute to making the event memorable.

“We bring in other partners, who want to help promote these things for us and foster our literacy, to come in and donate their time and effort to try to be sure we make it an exciting event,” Davis said.

As for Tyca the Clown, Johnson said he has been there for the past six years.

“He is great at what he does and the kids love him,” Johnson said. “Sometimes, when it is over, the line is still long and he stays as long as he needs to.

“He is very good with children and they love what he does.”

Additionally, the event offers a unique educational experience for many of the children who attend.

“Livingstone, being a college in the community, gives them that experience to say that they have been on a college campus at a young age,” Johnson said.

No matter what the lineup features, the mission remains the same,

“That is the whole part of making it interactive,” Davis said. “A lot of kids like reading when they realize it can be fun and not just a task. We figure by doing things like this where we engage them and get them excited about reading, this year, it’s the clown and the Lurnsters, but it is always something different so that when the kids come it is unique and interactive for them and their family.”