Library hosts holiday event for children, adults
The Butler Area Public Library got back into the holiday spirit Saturday by hosting activities for children and adults and a visit by some feathered friends during its first “Flannel Forest Fest.”
The library was bustling during the daylong festival as visitors voted for their favorite Christmas trees, played games, participated in a beard contest, and enjoyed live music, hot chocolate and popcorn.
“This is our first big public event since the pandemic started,” said Lori Hinderliter, executive director of the library.Activities included a story walk through the courtyard, where 18 Christmas trees decorated by local organizations and businesses were on display. Visitors could vote for their favorite trees, and the winning organization won a prize. The trees will be displayed in the courtyard until Jan. 7A variety of games, including pin the glasses on the lumberjack for children and a scavenger hunt for adults, were held and visitors could take home craft kits to make bird feeders, ornaments and smores.A beard contest was not limited to male contestants as some woman entered with fake beards.The day ended with a ceremony to light the library's Christmas tree in the courtyard.“It's wonderful to visit with our patrons and visitors. It's our staff's favorite event of the year,” Hinderliter said.Sisters Anela Shanafelt, 18, and Ava Rouse, 8, of Butler came to look at the trees and enjoy the activities.Ava liked the popcorn and said she was “definitely” ready for Christmas.
Holly Bowman and her daughters Lily, 7, and Daisy, 4, were thankful that the library held a holiday event.“We always come to the library's events. We always enjoy the library's holiday activities,” Bowman said.Also getting a lot of attention was Kele, a barred owl that serves as the ambassador for Wildbird Recovery in Middlesex Township.Wildbird Recovery set up a booth in the parking lot to educate people about Kele and its mission of rehabilitating injured or sick wild birds.Kele is 13 years old and was admitted after a fall from its nest resulted in injuries to its beak and shoulder, leaving it unable to catch prey in the wild, said Melissa McMaster-Brown of Wildbird Recovery.“He has been through the rehabilitation system and deemed nonreleasable,” McMaster-Brown said. “He's helped educate thousands of people.”She said the organization takes in injured or orphaned birds of prey and song birds, and strives to release them back into the wild.
