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Date: 4/17/2023
HOLYOKE — The Holyoke Public Library will once again be the center of mini golf and other fun on Saturday, April 29 with their annual Mini Golf & Games at the Library fundraiser event.
From 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. all ages are welcomed to participate in a round of mini golf throughout the halls of the public library for a small fee that will go toward library programming aimed for children and youth. Ages 13 and up are $5 to play, ages 5 to 12 will be charged a discounted rate of $3 and those under the age of 5 can play for free.
In its second year back after a coronavirus pandemic-related hiatus, entry to the library course can be purchased at the door on the day of. The event will also feature a lucky ticket auction where prizes include two tickets to Six Flags New England, a four-pack to the Holyoke Children’s Museum and more.
There will also be the return of the Human Foosball Tournament in the library park starting at 10:30 a.m. and going until the afternoon. This tournament will be teams of six competing for bragging rights for $30 a team. Food truck services will be at the library from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. and there will be lawn games featured throughout the library park.
Volunteers and sponsors are welcomed and can go to www.holyokelibrary.org/aboutfriendsgolf.asp to fill out the 2023 Sponsorship form or sign up to volunteer. Those interested can also reach out to Nancy Kocsmiersky at nancy@holyokelibrary.org or call 413-420-8109. Kocsmiersky added there would also be a COVID-19 vaccination clinic available at the library during the event.
Kocsmiersky said the money raised from the event targets programming and community engagement activities for the library. This includes different programs for children, and community engagement in terms of bringing activities to the community.
“We’ve done things where we’ve sent a librarian to one of the schools, we give away books a lot. None of it goes to the facility it goes back into our programming our community engagement,” Kocsmiersky said.
She also added they have used it to bring entertainment such as a magician to the library for children.
The first mini golf fundraising event hosted by the library came in April 2016 and saw people of all ages playing the 18-hole course inside the library. That event raised over $6,000 and started the yearly community event that the library calls “an annual fun raiser and fundraiser.”
Major funding comes from local businesses and donors that sponsor “holes” on the golf course and Kocsmiersky added the event would not be possible without the support of the library’s business sponsors who are all noted on their website.
Those coming for a round of mini golf and a day of overall fun are welcomed to stay for as long or as short as they want according to Kocsmiersky, there will be plenty to do for all.
Volunteers are still being accepted as well as any interested sponsors. If there is rain some activities will not be accessible outdoors but there will still be mini golf and other activities inside the library halls.