CALF Children's Art + Literacy Festival in Storybook Capital of America

09/18/2026

Come for a visit. Stay for the stories. 📚❤️

We love seeing the Adamson-Spalding Storybook Garden welcoming visitors to downtown Abilene! And now, visitors can explore the Hundred Acre Wood at the Clear Fork Bank Storybook Garden, just behind the DoubleTree. 🌳📖

09/10/2026

If you haven’t spent time in the Hundred Acre Wood inside the NCCIL…don’t dilly dally! This is your last chance—and you do NOT want to miss it.

09/08/2026

🩺📚 Seymour is getting a little TLC around town!

A HUGE thank you to our very own “Seymour Surgeon,” Robert Wiggins, who’s been busy patching up our Seymours and getting them ready for their next adventures! ❤️

And the timing is perfect—updated Seymour Passports are coming later this month! 👀🎉

Help us give our Seymour Surgeon a BIG round of applause—drop some 👏👏👏 in the comments for Dr. Robert!

The Grace Museum National Center for Children’s Illustrated Literature Abilene Heritage Square Abilene Zoo Frontier Texas Center For Contemporary Arts Dr. Robert Wiggins

09/06/2026

Happy National Read a Book Day! 📚❤️ Your story could be part of the Storybook Garden! 📖❤️ Paving stone orders are officially OPEN!

09/06/2026

It’s National Read a Book Day—and we can’t think of a better day to add a few more stories to the Garden. 📖❤️

Personalized paving stone orders for the Clear Fork Bank Storybook Garden are officially OPEN!

Want to put your family name, a love note, a tribute or a few meaningful words right into the Garden? Watch this quick video for a few things to know before you order.

Then, start writing your story. ❤️

👉 Order your paving stone here:
https://www.abilenecac.org/paving-stones

09/05/2026

A very important question from the Storybook Capital of America®… 🍦

If you could only eat ONE ice cream flavor for the rest of your life, what are you choosing?

No “two scoops, two flavors.” You get ONE. ☝️😜

🍦 Drop your forever flavor in the comments!

09/05/2026

Some stories are worth writing somewhere permanent. ❤️

For someone you love. Someone you admire. Someone you’ll always remember. Or simply a few words that mean something special to you.

✨What will your story say?✨

Personalized paving stone orders for the Clear Fork Bank Storybook Garden open THIS SUNDAY, Sept. 6. 📖

09/04/2026

Thanks for sharing one of our favorite four-legged friends, Downtown ABI!! Y’all come see him under the canopy lights some night. 🧡 He’s terrific!

✨ Downtown Sculpture of the Month

Meet Mr. Tiger! 🐯

Created by sculptor Steve Neves and installed in 2019, this Storybook Garden sculpture is inspired by Peter Brown’s Mr. Tiger Goes Wild, a story about breaking free, being yourself and discovering that adventures are even better with friends.

As the Storybook Capital of America, Downtown Abilene is home to sculptures that bring beloved children’s books to life. 📚✨

📍 Find Mr. Tiger at the Adamson-Spalding Storybook Garden at the Abilene Convention Center.

✨ Stay tuned for next month’s Downtown Sculpture of the Month!

09/02/2026

What would YOUR stone say? ❤️

A family name. A love note. A favorite saying. A tribute to a teacher, friend or community leader. A thank-you to someone who made a difference.

No two paving stones in the Clear Fork Bank Storybook Garden tell quite the same story.

What would you write on yours?

Personalized paving stone orders open Sunday, Sept. 6. 📖
Abilene Cultural Affairs

09/01/2026

A new day, a new month! Here we go, September! 🍂🐢

“Turtle walk. Nice and slow. Here we go.”
-TURTLE WALK by Matt Phelan

What are you looking forward to this month?