Red Flannel Day is just around the corner on Saturday, October 6. PreK through 8th Graders, are you ready to take “The Red-Reading Challenge?” Our Community’s annual Read-to-Ride program has officially started! You have until October 5 at 6 p.m. to get your (6) hours of reading done and cashed-in at the Cedar Springs Public Library. At that time you will receive your free red ticket to ride a Carnival Ride with Elliott’s Amusements on Friday night, October 5 from 5-9 p.m. or Red Flannel Saturday until 5 p.m. You have all of September, plus five October days, to accomplish this easy-to-do goal. Hurry, there are a limited number of tickets printed each year.

Elliott’s Amusements has been Cedar Springs’ valued reading partner for 12 years now. Michele Andres, former Red Flannel President, pitched the idea to Deb Elliott and the Cedar Springs Library in 2006, and it has been an annual event ever since. We are carrying this tradition forward!  

Red-Reading Logs are available at the Library and online at cedarspringslibrary.org, cityofcedarsprings.org, redflannelfestival.org, and at solontwp.org. Our community sponsors of this year’s Read-to-Ride Program are Clint and Pam Conley, in memory of Pam’s father, Robert Medford. 

Left to right: Deb Elliott, Cedar Springs Librarian Donna Clark, and Lolita Johnson with her Read-to-Ride ticket.

The Red-Reading Challenge—the Read-to-Ride Program, got off to a great start with the beginning of the new school year and climaxed with carnival rides on Red Flannel Day. 131 students, K-8th grades, turned in their Red Reading Logs, down about half from last year due to the chilly, wet weather.

Elliott’s Amusements has been Cedar Springs’ valued reading partner for 9 years now.  The Festival pitched the idea to Deb Elliott and the Cedar Springs Library in 2006 and it has been going strong ever since. In fact, it has been such a success, that this year we are having to rethink how we can reward our Red Readers in a way that Elliott’s Amusements benefits as much as our community readers do.

Next year we have agreed to print 150 free ride tickets to be given out to the first 150 students who request one at cash in. There will also be a second choice of a snow cone or bag of popcorn for another 200 students who prefer a concession. The Reading Challenge will continue to be 6 hours.

All reading logs would be traded in at the Cedar Springs Library on or before September 30 or until the 350 tickets were claimed.

Mrs. Kate Norman’s 5th grade class

Mrs. Kate Norman’s 5th grade class walked to the Cedar Springs Library on Monday, September 8, for their back-to-school library orientation and to get their Read-to-Ride reading logs.

Students were delighted to find out that by reading only 6 hours they could earn two free tickets to ride two carnival rides on Red Flannel Day, compliments of Elliott’s  Amusements, in partnership with the Cedar Springs Library and the Red Flannel  Festival. Logs were also sent electronically to area schools, charter schools, private schools and home schooling families.

All area Red Flannel town citizens and fans, grades K-8, are invited to drop by the Library to get a log or print one from the Library’s website: cedarspringslibrary.org.

It’s a royal salute to 75 years of volunteers! Get your students to join the red reading challenge this year. Logs can be cashed in at the Cedar Springs Public Library during open hours or on Red Flannel Day between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.  at the Friends of the Library’s big book sale across the street from the Kent Theatre. Have you REaD a good book lately?

Deb Elliott of Elliott’s Amusements, Library Director Donna Clark, and an excited reader with her tickets for two free rides. Courtesy photo.

The Cedar Springs Public Library’s Read to Ride program was a big hit this year on Red Flannel Day, with 294 students turning in reading logs to earn tickets for two free carnival rides. Library Director Donna Clark was grateful to the Cedar Springs Public Schools and Creative Technologies Academy for helping to distribute the logs to students and making them aware of the program.

“It was so worthwhile and so gratifying to see the families come and pick up their tickets. I’m so delighted,” she said.

Each Red Flannel Day, the library partners with Elliots Amusements and the Red Flannel Festival on the Read to Ride program. Clark said that the program has now run for 5 years.

PreK-8th Graders can earn two tickets to ride the carnival rides during the Red Flannel Festival by reading books.

The rules are simple. Pick up a log at the Cedar Springs Public Library on the corner of Cherry and Second St. Read 3 hours and get your parent or teacher to initial and get a coupon for a free carnival ride or a bag of popcorn during Red Flannel Days. Read 6 hours and get 2 coupons.

Cash in your log during open hours at the CS Library until Red Flannel Day. Logs are redeemable on Red Flannel Day from 10am-2pm at the Friends Book Sale on Main Street across from the Kent Theatre.

Calling all K-8th graders to READ and celebrate their RED Flannel Heritage for 1-2 FREE Coupons to ride carnival rides (or get popcorn) by simply reading 3-6 hours before October 1. Reading logs available at the Red Flannel Town Library (Cedar Springs) or on the website: cedarsprings.llcoop.org. Print off a log, read, get it initialed by a parent or teacher and “cash it in” at the CS Library before Oct. 1 or at the CS Friends book sale on Red Flannel Day. Have you “RED” a good book lately?