Shopping Fun for Kids and Holiday Fun for the Family Await at Holiday Store and Open House Events Dec. 2
An annual family tradition returns to the Library on Saturday, Dec. 2. It’s the Holiday Store for Kids, and it will be chock full of gift items at five library branches this year.
Moms, dads and grandparents hustle in to the libraries each year with kids in tow, telling us how many years the library shopping event has been part of their post-Thanksgiving holiday tradition.
It’s special, because it’s the one place children from preschool to age 18 get to choose and buy holiday gifts for family, friends, teachers – even pets – at kid-friendly prices of 25 cents to $6. Staff of the Between Friends Gift Shop assemble the stores inside the branches. Items include jewelry, lotions, mugs, toys, stuffed animals, holiday ornaments, keychains and lots of items for guys and gals, children and grown-ups. Proceeds from the Holiday Store support Library programs.
Library volunteers are on hand to walk through the aisles with the youngest children and help them, within a budget, select gifts for everyone on their list. Volunteers also help with checkout and wrapping. (Parents or siblings are welcome to help, too!)
While you’re shopping at the Holiday Store, drop by the Holiday Open House: Winter Wonderland from 10 a.m.-noon at the same branches. Staff will have winter books, crafts, games and activities for all ages.
Here’s the Holiday Store for Kids schedule:
- The Library Center is the only one with extended hours and days: 10 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2; Monday-Friday, Dec. 4-Dec. 8, 2:30-7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 9, 10 a.m.-7:30 p.m.; and Sundays Dec. 3 and Dec. 10, 1-4:30 p.m.
- The Library Station, Midtown Carnegie, Republic and Schweitzer Brentwood branch Holiday Stores are 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2; Midtown Carnegie features a visit from Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus from 10:30-11:30 a.m.
The Ash Grove Branch pairs its open house with the Ash Grove Christmas Parade on Saturday, Dec. 9. All ages are invited from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., and you can watch the parade from the warmth of the library.
Find this article at