The Book Fest is a free annual event that offers book-centered fun to community familes. The Family Reading Partnership organizes the event and partners with individuals, organizations, and businesses throughout the area to bring parents and children together around the excitement of children's books.

Another Bookfest is over and it was tremendous in every way.  There was a nice crowd, many precious children with their caring parents and grandparents plus wonderful volunteers who made the day both possible and fantastic. This year it was hosted by Fassett Elementary School on March 27 with the one day of activities based on the theme "Creepy Crawley Critters." Prior to the day, two hundred copies of the theme book, Inch By Inch by Leo Lionni were distributed to teachers of pre-K through first grades across the Chemung Valley. Reading of this children’s classic in the class room helped to set the theme and promote Bookfest. A grant from Chemung County Youth Bureau helped to subsidize the purchase of the books. Volunteers from Delta Kappa Gamma Alpha Rho Chapter, CCLD Bookmobile, C.I.D.S. Healthy Families, Southern Tier Reading Council, CCLD, Elmira College Science Department students, E.O.P. Head Start School Readiness Project, New Day Afterschool Program and Elmira College Students of the Department of Education provided creative projects and entertainment based on reading and storytelling. Bookfest is like a circus, a family reunion and a quiet time with a book thrown together.