Summer is kids' time

ASHEBORO — Get “All Together Now” for summer reading fun at Randolph County libraries.

The community-themed summer initiative will feature more than 100 performances, story times, hands-on activities and other events for children in June and July at the libraries in Asheboro, Archdale, Franklinville, Liberty, Ramseur, Randleman and Seagrove.

Teens can join in, too, and adults will have opportunities to enhance their reading experiences with speakers, book clubs and more.

In addition to all the activities, children and teens can report minutes read to their local library for rewards and prizes, including cool gadgets and books, and be entered into grand prize drawings for large prizes, like Amazon Fire Kids Tablets and Leap Frogs.

Visit www.randolphlibrary.org/summer for all the details, or contact your local library.

“Library summer reading initiatives offer children and teens a no-pressure way to stay engaged with learning while they are out of school, so they are less likely to experience a ‘summer slide’ when they return in the fall,” says Samantha Martin, the library’s head of Youth Services.

Summer Reading kicks off at the Asheboro library from 10 a.m.-noon this Saturday, June 10, with an outdoor event featuring community helpers such as fire, police, the NC Zoo, animal services and more, and a performance by the 208th Army Band. 

At the Liberty library, summer gets under way with a community talent show, 6-8 p.m. this Friday, June 9. Call the library at 336-622-4605 and sign up to perform. 

Criss Cross Mangosauce will appear at each library in June with a bilingual English/Spanish musical performance featuring riddles, songs, finger games, dramatic play and storytelling. In July, storyteller Yasu Ishida will combine traditional Japanese theatre, lion dance, music, origami and magic to guide audiences at each library to the enchanting land of Japan.

Other performers include family-friendly rock ‘n’ rollers Big Bang Boom, Caleb Sigmon’s “The Fun Factory” and Shepherd Shakespeare. All will appear at various libraries over the summer. The North Carolina Zoo and Wild Tails NC will bring live animal ambassadors to several libraries, as well.

All libraries also will offer an array of story times, craft activities, STEAM events and more, and the Mobile Library will be on the move around the county.

For more information, contact the Asheboro Children’s Room at 336-318-6804, or call your local library.

Appearances by Criss Cross Mangosauce and Yasu Ishida are sponsored by the Friends of the Library with support from the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts.

—  If it’s summer, it must be time for weekly indoors fun movies for children of all ages. 

In Asheboro, there are two weekly places where parents and kids can enjoy a movie together in nice, cool temperatures. On Tuesdays, that’s Sunset Theatre in downtown Asheboro at 234 Sunset Ave. A different movie is shown each week, but at three times during the day: 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. matinees, and a 7 p.m. evening show. Cost is $5 during the day (which includes a small drink and a fun-size popcorn) and $8 at night (which includes a small drink and popcorn). For groups of 10 or more, call 336-626-1240, ext. 1.

The Sunset movies will begin June 13 and run each Tuesday through Aug. 15. 

Cinemark of Asheboro, meanwhile, has kids offerings each Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. Tickets are $1.50. Concessions include $1 off deals on kids’ snack packs and any size popcorn and drink combos during Summer Movie Clubhouse showtimes. 

Cinemark movies begin on June 21 and run through Aug. 9.  

Following is a list of showings at each venue: 

Sunset Theatre 

Tuesdays 

All movies are rated PG; no movie on Tuesday, July 4 

June 13 — Minions: The Rise of Gru (2022). Runtime: 1h 30m. 

June 20 — The Bad Guys (2022). Runtime: 1h 40m. 

June 27 — Storks: Find Your Flock (2016). Runtime: 1h 27m. 

July 11 — Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank (2022). Runtime: 1h 37m. 

July 18 — Vivo (2021). Runtime: 1h 35m. 

July 25 — The Angry Birds Mov-ie (2016). Runtime: 1h 37m. 

Aug. 1 — Hotel Transylvania: Transformania (2021). Runtime: 1h 27m.  

Aug. 8 — Rock Dog 3: Battle the Beat (2022). Runtime: 1h 30m. 

Aug. 15 — Kung Fu Panda 3 (2016). Runtime: 1h 35m.

Cinemark Theaters 

Wednesdays 

All movies are rated PG 

June 21 — Minions: The Rise of Gru (2022). Runtime: 1h 30m. 

June 28 — Sonic the Hedghog (2020). Runtime: 1h 40m. 

July 5 — Mummies (2023). Run-time: 1h 28m. 

July 12 — The Bad Guys (2022). Runtime: 1h 40m. 

July 19 — Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank (2022). Runtime: 1h 37m. 

July 26 — DC League of Super- Pets (2022). Runtime: 1h 46m. 

Aug. 2 — Lyle, Lyle Crocodile (2022). Runtime: 1h 46m. 

Aug. 9— Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022). Runtime: 1h 42m