On June 3, Dan Nicholas Park hosts Rowan Public Library’s Summer Reading Kick-off. It includes a festival in the sports field from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., and a concert featuring the Billy Jonas Band in the Outdoor Stanback Theatre at 1:30 p.m. Both festival and concert are free, open to the public, and all ages are welcome.

A summer reading registration booth will be available throughout the festival. There are no fees. The 2017 theme, “Build a Better World,” encourages people to seek knowledge and to explore new ways to make a positive difference in the world.

Summer reading categories are organized by age: Children (newborns to rising fifth-graders), Teen (rising sixth-graders to rising 12th-graders), and Adult (all people over 18 years of age). In June and July, there will be programs designed for specific age groups, as well as programs the whole family can attend.

The festival features a children’s craft activity and numerous vendors. Touch a Butterfly will allow children to observe and feed live Monarch butterflies, while learning about the butterflies’ anatomy.

A bicycle rodeo, hosted by The Pedal Factory, is also planned. Bring your own bikes. Pedal Factory staff will help with small adjustments before going through the obstacle course.

The first 500 attendees get free ice cream sandwiches, courtesy of Food Lion 381 of Rockwell. Other food may be bought from Dan Nicholas Park’s concession stands, or participants may bring a picnic.

The grand finale of the Summer Reading Kick-off is a performance by the Billy Jonas Band. Anyone may attend the concert, even if they didn’t visit the festival attractions.

The band, which performed at the 2010 White House Easter Egg Roll, is known for industrial re-percussion, which involves making instruments from found, foraged and recyclable objects.

The band’s members — Billy Jonas, Ashley Jo Farmer, Sherman Hooer, and Juan Holladay — successfully inject their work with a unique brand of energy and whimsy. Farmer is a well-known figure in the community. A Salisbury native, she also leads The Ashley Jo Farmer Band (AJFB).

For more information and links to past performances, visit www.billyjonas.com.

To learn more about RPL’s Summer Reading Kick-off and programs, please call 704-216-8234 or visit www.rowanpubliclibrary.org.