INNISFAIL – Local families can ring in 2020 a little early.
The Innisfail Public Library is hosting its third annual New Year’s Party from 12 to 2 p.m. on Dec. 31.
The drop-in event offers families a chance to celebrate the new year together, said Lindsey Budd, assistant library manager.
“They had quite a few families come out, of all different ages last year,” she said. “A lot of times it's the parents going out at night, but we wanted something the whole family can come to and celebrate New Year's."
The event will have plenty of activities for the entire family, noted Budd, including several new ones.
"There's going to be all sorts of crafts and activities and it is a drop in event so if they're not there right at 12 p.m. that's OK. They can come in anytime between 12 and 2 p.m.”
Activities include making balloon confetti poppers, family time capsules with mementos of the past year, making resolutions and a mini-balloon ball drop to mark the start of the new year.
"There will be a countdown. It'll definitely be a celebration for the whole family," said Budd, noting there may be two countdowns to accommodate all visitors and families at different times that day.
"It'll be fun for everyone. That's what we're trying to focus on now is doing family events because sometimes there isn't that option in Innisfail or you have to go into Red Deer," she added.
Budd said special events like the New Year’s Party helps with awareness about library resources, events and programs and also helps bring families out to the library.
"Everybody knows a library has books but they don't always know everything else we offer. All the programs are all free including this event so we want to showcase the library, our space, what we can do and what we can offer the community."
Budd said 2020 should be an exciting year for the Innisfail Public Library and its patrons.
"We're actually doing a lot of new programming coming in (2020). We're introducing a baby program called budding bookworms for babies 0-18 months," said Budd. "We're also doing a music and movement class on Fridays which will be fun, and we're offering some new after school programming as well. We'll hopefully be doing more if it catches on," Budd concluded.
