The free Petting Zoo in the Park will bring farm animals from Miller’s Petting Zoo to Rock Island’s Longview Park, 1300 17^th Street, from 10 am to 2 pm on Saturday, July 26. The event is free and open to anyone, and is generously supported by a grant from Rock Island Township. 

The “barnyard book bash” includes a children’s book giveaway, opportunities to check out books from the Rock Island Library2Go bookmobile, and enjoy fresh popcorn from the Rock Island Parks and Recreation Department. The first 200 kids can also get a free small cup of animal feed to share with the animals. Animal feed may also be purchased for $1 from Miller’s Petting Zoo. The event is free. No purchase is required to enter the animal enclosure.

Billed as “the greatest farm animal show in the Midwest,” Miller’s Petting Zoo is a mobile-only zoo that brings the farm to the city. Event guests can meet and interact with 25 to 35 friendly and free-roaming animals of all types and sizes. Miller’s Petting Zoo has been entertaining families for over 25 years. Guests 8 years and younger must have an adult with them to enter the pen.

Rock Island Library and Parks & Recreation staff worked together to present the event to provide free family entertainment and community connections. It's just one of 150 free events offered this summer by the Rock Island Public Library as part of the Level Up at Your Library Summer Reading activities. The all-ages reading event offers rewards for reading by minutes and completing library activities, including attending program. There's still time to sign up and participate online at the library's Beanstack app, or by picking up a paper log at the library. Level Up at Your Library summer reading challenge runs through July 31. To date, Rock Island Library patrons have read 476,051 minutes towards the 500,000-minute summer goal! 

For more free events and services at your Rock Island Library this summer, visit the library website, call 309-732-READ, or follow Rock Island Library on Facebook and Instagram.