Lambertville Public Library to host block party July 19

The Lambertville Public Library is throwing a block party on Thursday, July 19, from 5 to 8:30 p.m., with music, food, games and of course, books.

Lilly Street (the small street adjacent to the library bordering  Valparaiso’s plaza) will be blocked off during these hours to provide additional space.

To keep with the nationwide Collaborative Summer Learning Program‘s theme, “Libraries Rock,” the main focus will be music.

According to co-organizer and Children’s Services Librarian Jennifer Sirak, the approximate band schedule is as follows:

• 5:15 – 5:45 p.m. – Bronwyn Bird & Justin Nawn (The Birdhouse), with music geared to younger children
• 6  – 6:30 p.m. – Harold Dunn, (the library’s own director) and his Irish band, the Celtic Fiddles
• 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. – Russell Norkevich, a well-known local keyboard player
• 7:45 – 8:30 p.m. – Flynch, a five-piece rock band consisting of South Hunterdon High School students

In addition to the music, food will be for sale. Giuseppe’s Ristorante will host a water ice cart, and the Union Fire Company will set up a grill and cook up hamburgers, hot dogs, pork roll and other foods offered at their Friday Night Firehouse Grills. They will also be showcasing one of their fire trucks for children to interact with and explore.

Folks are welcome to bring their own food and chairs, but the library will have chairs and tables provided courtesy of Centenary United Methodist Church.

There will also be a variety of community tables, including Friends of the Library, Lambertville Goes Wild, Pet Valu of New Hope, and the library will have a table with a survey of museum passes to help measure which hot tickets residents would like the library to purchase. Currently, the library has passes available to Grounds of Sculpture, but are looking to augment their offerings.

The event will also feature an “instrument petting zoo,” with 20 different instruments that people can touch, feel and interact with, including everything from an electric guitar to a didgeridoo, with local musicians available to guide people through the collection.

Additionally,  a “spray paint art demonstration” will be held featuring Zach Eldrige, a South Hunterdon student and spray paint art hobbyist, as well as kids’ crafts and activities like rock painting for the “libraries rock” theme, make your own fiddle instrument, and coloring for all ages.

Free books will be given to children if they answer a question or challenge at the library’s community tent.

In case of rain, the event will relocate to the Lambertville Elks Lodge. Follow the Library’s Facebook event page for updates, or call the library at (609) 397-0275 for more information.