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Date: 9/5/2022
MONSON – For the fourth year, the Monson Free Library will host their annual “Party on the Patio.”
On Sept. 16 from 4:30 to 9 p.m., the community is welcome to visit the library at 2 High St., for a night full of entertainment.
Hope Bodwell, library director, said “The Beer Guy” will be present, serving 14 taps, along with the North Elm Butcher Block food truck, offering barbecued goods.
At 5 p.m., “The Willies” will take the stage, performing hits from the 50s to 70s. Bodwell said the band, made up of five members, recently played at the library’s “Music Tuesdays” on the patio. “People loved them,” she added.
The “Party on the Patio” will also have raffles to benefit the library. Some of the raffles from previous years have included wine and food baskets, local restaurant gift cards, golf baskets and more, shared Bodwell. In 2021, she recalled having over 30 baskets.
Bodwell expressed her gratitude toward the community for donating to the raffle. She noted that the raffles pay for the band. “The Beer Guy” and the food truck donate their services for free, but keep what they make, explained Bodwell.
The family-friendly party is free to attend. “It’s a great community event,” she said.
Bodwell went on to explain that the event began because of the library’s parking lot renovation in 2015 and 2016. Once the patio was put in, she said they wanted to use it for community events and “introduce people to the library” who have not been before.
She described the first “Party on the Patio” as “so much fun,” leading to the creation of this annual event.
At its height, Bodwell said the party has brought in about 200 people, coming and going.
Last year, the event was hosted on a Saturday afternoon. While it did not attract nearly as many people, Bodwell shared that it was “still an excellent crowd.” In hopes of bringing in more residents, they decided to go back to hosting it in the evening.