Children’s Book Festival

The Warwick Children’s Book Festival was first held in September 2005 at Stanley-Deming Park in Warwick, NY.  So well-received, it was clear the Festival would have to become a Warwick tradition. After a six-year hiatus during which Albert Wisner Public Library designed, built and relocated to a beautiful new building, the Festival resumed in 2011.  Planned and organized by the Library, the Festival is sponsored by Library benefactors Glenn P. and Susan D. Dickes, the Village of Warwick and others.  Best Book Fairs, LLC is the bookseller.  A portion of the proceeds benefits the Albert Wisner Public Library Foundation, which funds enhancements to the programs and services of the Library.

The 2022 Warwick Children’s Book Festival will be held on Saturday, October 8 from 11am-4pm at Stanley-Deming Park at the intersection of South Street and Parkway.  Admission is free and the Festival is open to all the young at heart.  Join fellow readers to celebrate children’s literacy, share a love of the written word, discover new books, talk with those who create them, and have your book purchases autographed.  Nearly 2,000 visitors attended the Festival in 2021.  The Festival will again bring the community and visitors together in the heart of the Village of Warwick, near charming shops, galleries, and family-friendly cafes, and close to apple orchards and family farms. 

We are delighted to welcome back the beloved Uncle Brothers Band.  Singer-songwriter Tom Gardner and colleagues will perform a lively, interactive concert for children in the bandstand at 12:00pm.  Preview the Uncle Brothers here and invite a friend to the concert!  Feel free to bring a blanket, towel or lawn chair.

The Festival, its participants and guests will comply with any State and local public health safety requirements then in effect.

By bus from Port Authority:  consult New Jersey Transit bus schedules. The last stop of the bus route into Warwick is 1 block from Railroad Avenue.  (The bus departs back to Port Authority from this same stop.)  

Driving from Manhattan, Brooklyn or Long Island:

• George Washington Bridge (I-95 South) to Palisades Interstate Parkway (PIP) North.  Take the upper level of the bridge and stay in the far right-hand lane for easy access to the PIP.  The entrance ramp is on the far right exiting the bridge.
• Exit 18 off PIP onto Long Mountain Parkway / Route 6.  This is a left exit.
• Follow signs for Route 17 West and proceed on 17W for almost 10 miles.
• Exit 126 (Chester) off 17W.  Take a left at end of exit ramp onto Route 94 West.
• Continue on 94W 4 miles toward the village of Florida, taking a left at the 4-way intersection in Florida (landmark:  Dunkin Donuts) and proceeding on 94W into Warwick, another 7 miles.
• About 1/10 mile after first set of traffic lights in Warwick (by Key Bank) take a slight (diagonal) left onto South Street (landmark:  Queen Village Cleaners).  Proceed down South St. to 3rd St. and you will see Stanley-Deming Park.
• Parking:   We recommend the Chase Bank parking lot on South Street (4-hr limit) or the parking lot directly across the street from the Chase Bank lot (3-hr limit.)  Street parking is also available in the surrounding neighborhood.

Driving From Passaic County, NJ:

Follow route 94 North into Warwick, past the intersection with route 17A (landmark:  Warwick Valley Country Club on your left) and then look for Third Street on your right.

• Take a right onto Third Street, proceed 1 block and you will see the park directly ahead to your right.
• Parking:   We recommend the Chase Bank parking lot on South Street (4-hr limit) or the parking lot directly across the street from the Chase Bank lot (3-hr limit.)  Then walk up South Street 3 blocks to Stanley-Deming Park.  Street parking is also available in the surrounding neighborhood.

Driving from Bergen County, NJ:  2 options:

• Either take Route 17 North -> NYS Thruway (87 North) to exit 16 (Harriman tolls/17 West) and follow instructions from Manhattan (above), OR:
• Route 17 North -> NY 87 North to exit 15A. Take a left off the exit ramp and follow Route 17 North through Sloatsburg and Tuxedo.  About 1.5 miles past the Tuxedo train station, bear left onto 17A, proceeding through Sterling Forest and Greenwood Lake and following signs into Warwick. Take a right onto South Street and proceed 3 blocks.  You will see the park on your right.
• Parking:   We recommend the Chase Bank parking lot on South Street (4-hr limit) or the parking lot directly across the street from the Chase Bank lot (3-hr limit.)  Then walk up South Street 3 blocks to Stanley-Deming Park.  Street parking is also available in the surrounding neighborhood.

Driving from Westchester County, NY:  2 options:

• • Either take Tappan Zee Bridge/NYS Thruway (87 North) to exit 16 (Harriman tolls/17 West) and follow instructions from Manhattan (above), OR:

Take Tappan Zee Bridge/NYS Thruway (87 North) to exit 13 (Palisades Interstate Parkway North).  Follow PIP to exit 18, a left exit, onto Route 6 / Long Mountain Parkway.  Proceed over the mountain and onto 17 West, then follow instructions from Manhattan (above).

Driving from Ulster County, NY;  Albany, NY area:

• Take I-87 South to exit 16 – Harriman tolls.
• Follow signs for Route 17 West and proceed on 17W for almost 10 miles.
• Exit 126 (Chester) off 17W.  Take a left at end of exit ramp onto Route 94 West.
  Continue on 94W 4 miles toward the village of Florida, taking a left at the 4-way intersection in Florida (landmark:  Dunkin Donuts) and proceeding on 94W into Warwick, another 7 miles.
• About 1/10 mile after first set of traffic lights in Warwick (by Key Bank) take a slight (diagonal) left onto South Street (landmark:  Queen Village Cleaners).  Proceed down South St. about 2 blocks.  Park in the lot on the left side of South Street, behind the small red brick Chase Bank.  Then walk up South Street 3 blocks to Stanley-Deming Park.
• Parking:   We recommend the Chase Bank parking lot on South Street (4-hr limit) or the parking lot directly across the street from the Chase Bank lot (3-hr limit.)  Then walk up South Street 3 blocks to Stanley-Deming Park.  Street parking is also available in the surrounding neighborhood.

Driving from Connecticut/Massachusetts:

• From Massachusetts, depending on your point of origin, take either 90 West or 91 South to its intersection with I-84.
• Take 84 West to exit 4E (Middletown) onto Route 17E toward NYC.
• Take exit 124 off 17E and at the end of the exit ramp, a left onto 17A / 94W.  Proceed about 12 miles, through the village of Florida and into the village of Warwick.
• About 1/10 mile after first set of traffic lights in Warwick (by Key Bank) take a slight (diagonal) left onto South Street (landmark:  Queen Village Cleaners).  Proceed about 1/4 mile to 3rd St.  The park will be directly ahead of you.
• Parking:   We recommend the Chase Bank parking lot on South Street (4-hr limit) or the parking lot directly across the street from the Chase Bank lot (3-hr limit.)  Then walk up South Street 3 blocks to Stanley-Deming Park.  Street parking is also available in the surrounding neighborhood.