Parkway Lakes Families Can Read Five Books and Earn a Free Ringling Bros. Kids Ticket
For families looking to keep children reading during the final stretch of summer, a library card and five books could lead to an afternoon or evening at the circus.
Fort Bend County Libraries is partnering with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey for the 2026 Reading with Ringling Program, which rewards children ages 2 through 12 with a free reserved-seat ticket to The Greatest Show On Earth after they read five books. The offer requires the purchase of one full-priced adult ticket and is available while seats remain.
For parents in Parkway Lakes, the program offers a practical way to pair summer reading with a family experience—while giving children an extra reason to finish the next book on their list.
How the Reading with Ringling Program Works
Families can visit any participating Fort Bend County Libraries branch and ask for a Reading with Ringling Program Card, also described by the library system as a voucher.
Each time a child completes a book, a librarian must stamp the card. After the child reads five books and receives all five stamps, the completed card may be exchanged for one free reserved-seat children’s ticket when the parent or legal guardian purchases one full-priced adult ticket.
Participation is limited to children ages 2 through 12, and a parent or legal guardian must supervise the child and redeem the voucher.
The program card is valid through Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026, and must be exchanged in person at the NRG Stadium Box Office at One NRG Park in Houston. Families are encouraged to redeem completed cards well before their preferred performance because tickets and seating are subject to availability.
Fort Bend County Library Locations Participating
Eleven Fort Bend County Libraries branches are taking part, giving families across the county several places to begin the challenge:
Albert George Branch Library
9230 Gene St., Needville, TX 77461
Cinco Ranch Branch Library
2620 Commercial Center Blvd., Katy, TX 77494
First Colony Branch Library
2121 Austin Parkway, Sugar Land, TX 77479
Fulshear Branch Library
6350 GM Library Road, Fulshear, TX 77441
George Memorial Library
1001 Golfview Drive, Richmond, TX 77469
Mamie George Branch Library
320 Dulles Ave., Stafford, TX 77477
Mission Bend Branch Library
8421 Addicks Clodine Road, Houston, TX 77083
Missouri City Branch Library
1530 Texas Parkway, Missouri City, TX 77489
Sienna Branch Library
8411 Sienna Springs Blvd., Missouri City, TX 77459
Sugar Land Branch Library
550 Eldridge Road, Sugar Land, TX 77478
University Branch Library
14010 University Blvd., Sugar Land, TX 77479
The wide selection of participating locations makes the challenge accessible to readers in communities stretching from Katy and Fulshear to Richmond, Sugar Land, Stafford, Missouri City and Needville.
Ringling Bros. Returns to Houston Aug. 6–9
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey will bring its latest production of The Greatest Show On Earth to NRG Stadium from Thursday, Aug. 6, through Sunday, Aug. 9.
The reimagined circus is presented as a high-energy, music-driven production featuring international performers, athletes, aerial acts and other displays of human skill. Ringling describes the Houston show as a spectacle of “superhuman feats” created for families and audiences across generations.
The 148th edition of the touring production combines new acts with the high-flying entertainment long associated with the Ringling name. The show also includes music, audience participation and a preshow celebration led by the Ringling Hype Crew beginning 30 minutes before each performance. The preshow is included with admission.
The Houston engagement will also feature a live collaboration between Ringling performers and rising country artist Maddox Batson, according to the event listing.
Eligible Houston Ringling Bros. Showtimes
Completed Reading with Ringling vouchers may be redeemed for the following NRG Stadium performances:
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Thursday, Aug. 6 at 7 p.m.
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Friday, Aug. 7 at 11 a.m., 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.
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Saturday, Aug. 8 at 11 a.m., 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.
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Sunday, Aug. 9 at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.
All guests age 2 and older need a ticket to enter the show.
Important Voucher Rules for Parents
Each completed voucher is good for one free reserved-seat children’s ticket when one full-priced adult ticket is purchased. Families may redeem up to one free children’s voucher for each qualifying adult ticket purchased.
The free-ticket offer excludes premium seating and cannot be combined with another promotion. Vouchers have no cash value, cannot be sold and are subject to ticket availability. Additional charges may apply.
Because the vouchers can only be exchanged at the NRG Stadium Box Office—not at a Fort Bend County library—families should plan for the trip to Houston and allow enough time to secure seats before their chosen performance.
For Parkway Lakes families, the Reading with Ringling Program is more than a ticket promotion. It gives children a reachable summer goal, brings families into their local libraries and turns time spent reading into a shared memory beyond the final page.
Families should contact their preferred library branch directly with questions about obtaining or stamping a Reading with Ringling card.
Stay tuned to My Neighborhood News for more family activities, library programs and community events taking place across Fort Bend County.
Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.
