A 20-year-plus tradition continues this St. Patrick’s Day with the Brookhaven Free Library’s annual Gold Hunt, on Tuesday, March 17.
“It’s fun. We’re going to have a blast,” said Rita Banellis, head of programming and outreach, who loves to see imagination thrive without competition from technology.
The program starts at 10 a.m. with a story about mischievous leprechauns and reports that they upset books in the library and spilled gold all over the lawn.
Before kids set out in search of what glitters, Banellis said, “We’re going to make a craft—a bag that we decorate with stickers and their names, a treasure bag, as we call it.”
What’s different this year is that older kids will be in school during the hunt, so children ages 2 through preschool can freely find the gold—things like gold-wrapped chocolates, Twix, and Rolo. This treasure will “be all over” the side of the library, and if it rains, the hunt moves indoors, she said.
“We thought what a great opportunity to have the little ones have some special time with their family.”
Afterward, back in the library, children and their caregivers can sample Irish soda bread with a spot of tea (or juice) and “just mingle and dance a bit” to Irish tunes, she added.
This program is open to all Suffolk County library card holders, with registration required online, in person, or by telephone.
In the spirit of the holiday, kids in grades 4 and up can participate in Paper Quilling Shamrock, a craft workshop on Monday, March 16, from 6–7 p.m. at the library, located at 273 Beaver Dam Road. Jennifer Macioce, from Enrichment and Library Services, will demonstrate this art form.
Sign-up for both programs is underway, with details available at brookhavenfreelibrary.org.