WENATCHEE — Live theater, science programs, a magician and ventriloquist, folk dancing and a well-dressed medieval knight will be among the programs at local libraries this summer. The annual summer reading program, sponsored by the North Central Regional Library, begins next week. The first special events are scheduled for the week of June 18.

“Libraries Rock” is the theme for 2018. There are separate programs for children, teens and adults. Each library has a weekly program in addition to the special events, and children are eligible for prizes. There’s even a prize for the adult summer reading program.

The special events also are different for different libraries. Most are during the day. A complete schedule is available at each local library or at the NRCL website.

Eric Slyter of the Ellensburg-based Knights of Veritas will demonstrate what medieval armor really looked like, and how knights really lived, at the Moses Lake, George, Royal City and Warden libraries. The Grant County PUD will provide a demonstration of the power of hydropower and electricity in Moses Lake, Ephrata, George, Mattawa, Royal City and Warden.

The NCRL puppeteers will make multiple appearances at libraries throughout the system, including every library in Grant County. The “Science of Sound” also come to all Grant County libraries, bringing demonstrations of the science behind sound, and how sound can be seen and touched as well as heard.

The Book-It Repertory Theater will present “Inside Out and Back Again” in Quincy and Mattawa. The Seattle-based company brings its own costumes and props and performs plays based on children’s books. Magician and ventriloquist Steve Taylor will perform to Moses Lake and Quincy.

Poet Kenn Nesbitt, who mixes fun and comedy with his poetry, will read poetry and help kids write their own poems in Mattawa and Royal City. Susan Wickett-Ford will teach kids about folk dances around the world; she will present programs in Ephrata and Quincy.

Children’s author, poet and musician Eric Ode will be in Soap Lake, Warden, Ephrata and Moses Lake. The Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, Seattle, brings its “Burkemobile” to Moses Lake, Quincy and Ephrata. Museum employees will bring a selection of its exhibits and set them up in the library for a two-hour display.

Singer-songwriter Deborah McVay has been part of the summer reading program for more than a decade, and she will visit all libraries in Grant County this summer.