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PBS Utah's 34th Annual Reading Marathon is scheduled to take place from Nov. 1-30, according to an Oct. 14 statement. This year's initiative features the theme The Power to Read to celebrate the benefits of reading for children and families.
A free Reading Marathon Kickoff Party is scheduled for Oct. 24 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Salt Lake City Main Library downtown. During this event, families can meet PBS KIDS characters such as Daniel Tiger, Super Why, and Carl the Collector. The celebration will also include face painting, trick-or-treating, and STEAM activities, as well as mini-screenings of Super Why's Comic Book Adventures at 10:30, 11:30, and 12:30 in Conference Room C.
The marathon aims to encourage preschool through sixth-grade children across Utah to read or be read to for 20 minutes a day throughout November. The goal is to reach 600 minutes of reading. Participants who complete the challenge and submit their minutes online in December can receive a 2027 PBS KIDS Utah Adventure Pass, which offers free and discounted admission to various participating museums and cultural attractions statewide.
The theme for this year's marathon aligns with the Utah Reads initiative, which is led by Gov. Spencer J. Cox and First Lady Abby Cox. PBS Utah education manager Annie Frazier stated that the marathon creates an opportunity for families to support the goals of the Utah Reads initiative through everyday literacy moments. Last year, more than 33,000 children participated in the marathon, reading a combined 26 million minutes, which represented a 74% increase over the previous five years.
PBS Utah, which is licensed to The University of Utah, serves as the sole PBS station for the state. Beyond the Wasatch Front, the organization supports mini Reading Marathons at various rural schools, libraries, and community organizations.
