Thousands of Santa Clarita residents gathered at Old Town Newhall Library for the ninth annual Family Literacy Festival.

The festival featured interactive events from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., including face painting, bottle rockets and live storytelling.

“Every year we do this festival to celebrate children learning,” said Chris Baker, senior children’s librarian at Old Town Newhall Library.

“This year our theme is “Full STEAM Ahead”. STEAM is an acronym for science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics.”

Families at the event were able to participant at different stations that demonstrated STEAM activities.

Some of these learning activities were designing towers made out of rocks and playing on a giant-sized chess board.

Parent Will Smith said his family loves the events put on by the library employees.

“So far my kids have loved the book reading,” Smith said.

“They also saw that the Placerita Nature Center was here with different displays. They really liked being able to touch the animal pelts.”

The Family Literacy Festival also partnered with local schools to create more hands-on stations.

“Hart High is doing an anatomy station,” Baker said.

“We also have our teach group inside teaching kids about the science of sound.”

Children were able to create their own instruments at the science of sound booth using plastic cups and beads.

Baker said she hopes children will walk away from this event with a love for learning.