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The Dripping Springs Community Library (DSCL) has teamed up with Fitzhugh Brewing to throw a free back-to-school bash for the community on Saturday, Aug. 23, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
“This is a partnership with Fitzhugh in which we’re bringing authors, we’re focusing on reading, and we’re focusing on what the library does for the community,” said Jessica Sigur, DSCL programs manager.
The event will be held at Fitzhugh Brewing. Sigur said that Fitzhugh has offered to donate part of their proceeds for the day back to the library for its capital campaign.
DSCL is also partnering with RED Arena for the event. They will be bringing their miniature horses to Fitzhugh from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. RED Arena has a program where kids can read to the horses, so that’s what inspired the library to choose a western “Back in the Saddle” theme for the celebration.
The Hill Country Sisters will be onsite to offer backpack “branding” for kids, where they can choose different patches to customize their backpacks or lunch boxes. And Southern Sweets Candy Shop will have a booth where attendees can make candy kabobs.
“All of this is free,” Sigur said. “There will be face painting, there will be a balloon artist, and it’s just going to be a fun day.”
From 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., the event will feature local author spotlights and book signings. Authors in attendance will include Candy Wellins, Vanessa Roeder, Sean Woolford, Christina Grushkin and Matt Marchant.
Then, starting around 12:45, there will be a Principal Story Time. Kellie Raymond of Dripping Springs Elementary, Maureen Jamail of Walnut Springs Elementary, Amber Daige of Cypress Springs Elementary and Steve Novikas of Wildwood Springs Elementary will all join together to read a story to the audience.
“It’s just a way for kids to be able to connect what’s happening in the community back to their schools,” Sigur said.
The event includes live music from Jillian Hudson at 1:30 p.m., and from Blaise Wier at 4 p.m.
Sigur said another purpose of the event is to highlight the after school activities that the library offers. For example, the library has a math tutoring program with a high school mentor, a chess club, a science lab led by a local teacher, and a dance class, also led by a local teacher.
“We have this really tight knit community between the schools and the library,” Sigur said. “We’re going to be promoting all of our programming that’s happening in those after school hours,” Sigur said.
