Imagination Library Event will Celebrate Dolly Parton’s 80th Birthday

JOLIET – The Imagination Library of Will County will be hosting an 80th Birthday Party honoring global icon Dolly Parton at the Hollywood Casino in Joliet on January 22, 2026. All proceeds will support free, monthly books for Will County children through the Imagination Library, the early literacy program founded by Parton.

The celebration will feature Singo Bingo and the chance to compete for prizes donated by local businesses. Doors open at 6 PM, with a birthday cake celebration at 6:30 PM and Singo Bingo starting at 6:45 PM. Tickets cost $20 and can be purchased in advance at: willcountyillinois.org/dolly-partons-80th-birthday-party/.

The event will also spotlight the first six months of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library being available to Will County families. The program mails free, high-quality, age-appropriate books to local children from birth to age five.

“Expanding access to books and promoting literacy has been a driving mission of Dolly Parton over the decades, and we’re proud to be celebrating the positive impact of the Imagination Library in our local communities,” said Will County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant. “Thanks to the Dollywood Foundation and the generous support of local partners, we’ve been able to give the gift of reading to thousands of Will County children.”

The Imagination Library of Will County was launched in the summer of 2025 through a partnership between the Will County Executive Office, Will County Economic Development Foundation, and the Dollywood Foundation. Since launching, the literacy program has signed up 5,500 Will County children and over 20,000 books have been mailed. The program is entirely funded by local donors and partners.

“Early literacy is a cornerstone of educational success and long-term development, helping children build the skills they need to thrive in school, the workforce, and our community,” said Will County Center for Economic Development President & CEO Doug Pryor. “Every dollar raised stays local, helping us continue gifting books to children and investing in Will County’s future.”

For more information about Imagination Library of Will County, visit www.WillCountyImaginationLibrary.org.