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VIRTUAL: Your Ticket to the Best State Fair Crafts

A Friends Speaker Series Virtual Chat with the Smithsonian

2026-06-03 14:00:00 2026-06-03 15:00:00 America/New_York VIRTUAL: Your Ticket to the Best State Fair Crafts Join us for a fascinating discussion with Smithsonian Curator Mary Savig on the history and significance of craft at state fairs, from blue-ribbon quilts to sculpted butter cows, and so much more! Reading Public Library -

Wednesday, June 03
2:00pm - 3:00pm

Add to Calendar 2026-06-03 14:00:00 2026-06-03 15:00:00 America/New_York VIRTUAL: Your Ticket to the Best State Fair Crafts Join us for a fascinating discussion with Smithsonian Curator Mary Savig on the history and significance of craft at state fairs, from blue-ribbon quilts to sculpted butter cows, and so much more! Reading Public Library -

Join us for a fascinating discussion with Smithsonian Curator Mary Savig on the history and significance of craft at state fairs, from blue-ribbon quilts to sculpted butter cows, and so much more!

A Dolly Parton crop art portrait. Size-96 cowboy boots. A button quilt. State Fairs: Growing American Craft features more than 100 photos of extraordinary and unconventional crafts from state and tribal fairs, including needlework, basketry, jewelry, ceramics, crop art, butter sculpture, and saddles. The catalog highlights personal stories and regional and cultural traditions, creating a vibrant portrait of American life. Come one, come all! State Fairs has a little something for everyone.

Register now to hear about the fascinating (and often surprising) world of American state fair crafts!

About the Author:

Mary Savig is The Fleur and Charles Bresler Curator-in-Charge of the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s Renwick Gallery. She holds a PhD in American Studies from the University of Maryland, College Park.

This program is brought to you through the generosity of the Friends of the Reading Public Library. Thank you, Friends!


Check out more upcoming virtual author talks and enjoy recordings from past events by exploring our Friends Speaker Series page.

Reading Public Library

rdg@noblenet.org
Phone: 781-944-0840

Hours
We're closed Sunday June 07
Mon, Jun 01 9:00AM to 9:00PM
Tue, Jun 02 9:00AM to 9:00PM
Wed, Jun 03 9:00AM to 9:00PM
Thu, Jun 04 1:00PM to 9:00PM
Fri, Jun 05 9:00AM to 5:00PM
Sat, Jun 06 9:00AM to 5:00PM
Sun, Jun 07 Closed


About the Library

We strive to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals to engage fully. To ask questions about accessibility or request accommodations, please contact the library at rdgadmin@noblenet.org.

If the Reading Public schools are closed due to snow, all Children's programming will be canceled.

Upcoming Events

Wed, Jun 03, 12:00pm - 2:00pm
Reading Public Library - Community Room (A & B)

Wed, Jun 03, 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Reading Public Library - Conference Room
Registration is now closed

Wed, Jun 03, 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Reading Public Library - Local History Room
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Thu, Jun 04, 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Reading Public Library - Studio

Thu, Jun 04, 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Reading Public Library - Library Terrace

Fri, Jun 05, 10:00am - 11:00am
Reading Public Library - Community Room (A & B),Library Lawn

Rescheduled
Sat, Jun 06, 1:30pm - 2:30pm
New date Saturday, June 13, 10:00am - 12:00pm
Reading Public Library

Mon, Jun 08, 9:15am - 9:30am
Reading Public Library - Community Room (A & B)

Mon, Jun 08, 10:00am - 11:30am
Reading Public Library - Studio

Mon, Jun 08, 10:00am - 10:30am
Reading Public Library - Community Room (A & B)

Mon, Jun 08, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Reading Public Library - Community Room (A & B)

Mon, Jun 08, 3:00pm - 7:00pm
Reading Public Library - Teen Space

Mon, Jun 08, 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Reading Public Library - Community Room (A & B)

Tue, Jun 09, 10:00am - 11:30am
Reading Public Library - Studio

Tue, Jun 09, 3:00pm - 7:00pm
Reading Public Library - Teen Space

Tue, Jun 09, 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Reading Public Library - Community Room (A & B)

Wed, Jun 10, 12:00pm - 2:00pm
Reading Public Library - Community Room (A & B)

Wed, Jun 10, 3:00pm - 7:00pm
Reading Public Library - Teen Space

Wed, Jun 10, 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Reading Public Library - Studio

Thu, Jun 11, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Reading Public Library - Children's Program Room

Thu, Jun 11, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Reading Public Library - Community Room (A & B)

Thu, Jun 11, 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Reading Public Library - Studio

Thu, Jun 11, 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Reading Public Library - Local History Room

Fri, Jun 12, 10:00am - 10:45am
Reading Public Library - Community Room (A & B),Library Lawn

Fri, Jun 12, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Reading Public Library - Local History Room
This event is full

Fri, Jun 12, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Reading Public Library - Outdoor Patio

Fri, Jun 12, 6:30pm - 8:30pm
Reading Public Library - Studio

Sat, Jun 13, 9:30am - 10:30am
Reading Public Library - Children's Program Room

Sat, Jun 13, 10:00am - 12:00pm
Reading Public Library - Library Lawn

Cancelled
Mon, Jun 15, 9:15am - 9:30am
Reading Public Library

Mon, Jun 15, 10:00am - 10:30am
Reading Public Library - Community Room (A & B)

Mon, Jun 15, 10:00am - 11:30am
Reading Public Library - Studio

Mon, Jun 15, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Reading Public Library - Community Room (A & B)

Mon, Jun 15, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Reading Public Library - Local History Room
This event is full

Mon, Jun 15, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Reading Public Library - Conference Room

Tue, Jun 16, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Reading Public Library - Library Lawn,Library Parking Lot,Library Terrace

Tue, Jun 16, 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Reading Public Library - Conference Room

Wed, Jun 17, 12:00pm - 2:00pm
Reading Public Library - Community Room (A & B)

Wed, Jun 17, 3:30pm - 6:30pm
Reading Public Library - Community Room (A & B)

Thu, Jun 18, 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Reading Public Library - Library Terrace

Sat, Jun 20, 1:00pm - 5:00pm
Reading Town Common

Mon, Jun 22, 10:00am - 11:30am
Reading Public Library - Studio

Mon, Jun 22, 2:30pm - 3:30pm
Reading Public Library - Health Nook

Mon, Jun 22, 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Reading Public Library - Conference Room

Tue, Jun 23, 10:00am - 10:45am
Reading Public Library - Community Room (A & B)

Tue, Jun 23, 3:00pm - 4:30pm
Reading Public Library - Studio

Wed, Jun 24, 2:30pm - 4:30pm
Reading Public Library - Community Room (A & B)

Thu, Jun 25, 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Reading Public Library - Library Lawn
Registration opens Thursday, June 4 2026 at 9:00am

Fri, Jun 26, 10:30am - 11:30am
Reading Public Library - Studio

Fri, Jun 26, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Reading Public Library - Community Room (A & B)

Sat, Jun 27, 12:00pm - 3:00pm
Reading Public Library - Community Room (A & B),Library Lawn,Library Terrace

Mon, Jun 29, 10:00am - 11:30am
Reading Public Library - Studio

Tue, Jun 30, 10:00am - 11:00am
Reading Public Library - Conference Room

Tue, Jun 30, 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Reading Public Library - Community Room (A & B),Library Terrace

Wed, Jul 01, 2:30pm - 4:30pm
Reading Public Library - Community Room (A & B)

Wed, Jul 01, 6:30pm - 9:00pm
Reading Public Library - Community Room (A & B),Library Terrace