A Celebration of Books, Community, and Joy
This past Sunday, January 12, Book Harvest hosted our 14th Annual Dream Big Book Drive & Community Celebration at the Golden Belt Campus in Durham—and what a celebration it was! More than 1,000 people gathered on a cold but beautiful winter day to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a joyful party filled with books, family-friendly activities, and warm community spirit.
The energy was electric from the moment the doors opened. B3 Coffee kept guests cozy by serving up over 800 cups of hot chocolate, warming hands and hearts as families explored the vibrant activities around them. Inside, children and parents marveled at the incredible face painter, whose artistry brought smiles to countless little faces adorned with butterflies, superheroes, and other imaginative creations. The always amazing Bouncing Bulldogs wowed the crowd with their world-class jump rope performance, inspiring cheers and awe from young and old alike.
Our wonderful partners made the day even more special with engaging activities for attendees of all ages. From a Paperhand Puppet parade to poems written by a fox, there was something to delight everyone. Even though snow lingered on the lawn outside, the atmosphere inside was filled with warmth, laughter, and the joy of community.
One of the day’s most heartwarming sights was the mountain of books donated by generous attendees—thousands of new and gently used children’s books were collected, ensuring that even more kids will have access to books of their own. And the giving doesn’t stop here! The Dream Big Book Drive continues through January 31. Every book donated between December 1 and January 31 counts toward our final total, so there’s still plenty of time to host a book drive or clean off your own shelves to contribute to this year’s tally.
This annual event is a reflection of our biggest dreams: a world where every child can grow up in a home rich with books and where our entire community comes together to celebrate the power of literacy. We are filled with gratitude for everyone who helped make this year’s Dream Big event a success—our volunteers, partners, performers, Book Harvest Durham Sponsors, and of course, every single person who came out to celebrate with us.
As we wrap up another spectacular Dream Big season, we’re already looking forward to next year! Thank you for dreaming big with us—we’ll see you in 2026!
Ready to keep the momentum going? Host a book drive or donate today to help us reach our goal! Learn more and get involved here!
Thank you to our partners: Mad Popper, Bouncing Bulldogs, B3 Coffee, Kathi's Klowns (face painting), Museum of Life and Science, Gift of Knowledge Academy, Durham's Partnership For Children, City of Durham- Neighborhood Improvement Services, You Can Vote, The Wonder Lab, The Poetry Fox, The Bull City Woodshop, Two Men and a Truck, Carolina Complete Health, Durham County Library, and Reimaging of Historic Durham Bulls Park!
And thank you to our Book Harvest Durham Sponsors for supporting Dream Big and our work in Durham all year long!
