DAPHNE, Ala. — Are your kids a little bit country? Either way, they may want to grab a cowboy hat and mosey on down to the Daphne Public Library’s 10th Annual Spring Into Reading Festival, which is set for Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The free event will feature puppets, ventriloquists, magic, mimes and wild west shows. Children can make western-themed crafts and take part in throwing games and story times, according to Cathy Chandler, children’s librarian. There’ll also be a petting zoo on the premises all day.

There’s plenty for artists too. A poetry contest award ceremony will begin at 2 p.m. in the Daphne Recreation Center. Local teachers judged the poems last week. Winners from kindergarten through 12th grade will read their masterpieces and receive an award from Mayor Fred Small, according to Louise Youngblood, young-adult librarian.

She said attendees can look forward to, “enhanced … words with art and new words such as ‘flutterfly.’”

Over 200 poem entries rolled in this year; one winner’s response seemed to reflect the purpose of the contest, Youngblood said. She recalled a conversation with a winning boy’s mother that relayed how her son had never won anything before and how he had been on the phone all day telling his relatives.

“I just thought, ‘This has made it worth it,’” Youngblood said. “He’s won by using words.

“Someone was listening to his words and he’s only in fourth grade.”

Art contest entries will be accepted through today at 5 p.m. in age categories from pre-kindergarten through grade 12. Last year there were over 100 art submissions. Art will be displayed in the library; pieces will be judged by members of Bay Rivers Art Guild and will be awarded ribbons before the event, according to Jessica Seals, library services technician.

“They’ll find out when they come in here and there’s a ribbon on it,” she said of the surprise that awaits winning artists.

Members of the library’s Teen Advisory Board on Saturday will join the festivities in their storybook character costumes. One such princess — Snow White — will be played by the volunteer coordinator, Kassy Seale.

“That’s the kind of teens they are,” Youngblood said. “They don’t just do one thing a year; they’re on board.”

Library staff agreed that sponsors such as Friends of the Library and the Alabama State Council on the Arts and volunteer efforts from painting game stands and picture boards to judging entries help them pull off the event each year.

“We are very grateful for those people who help us promote the ideals of the library … to promote literacy and promote the love of reading in children,” Chandler said.

Young said that she helped start the event to promote the often unknown aspects of the library.

“At that time, we did it to get the kids to the library so they can see what kind of fun things we do here,” she said.

The event does just that and more, according to the staff.

“They (citizens) like it because it’s so family-oriented,” Moss said. “They enjoy watching their kids have fun and they get to be kids again.”