West Fest celebrates West Rowan Library on Saturday

Published 12:00 am Friday, October 12, 2018

SALISBURY – Rowan Public Library’s West Fest will offer a full slate of activities, games and live performances from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Cleveland Town Hall, 302 E. Main St. in Cleveland.

West Fest is designed to offer a free, fun and fall-themed festival and to celebrate the library’s future West Branch.

“It’s important to us that we get feedback directly from the communities we serve,” said Melissa Oleen, deputy director of the library. “Any feedback we’re given will be considered when West Branch services and resources are planned.”

Anyone who wants to offer feedback is welcome to join a moderated community forum at 11:30 a.m. Saturday in Town Hall. The forum, like the festival, is open to the public.

Gretchen Witt, the Edith M. Clark History Room supervisor, will lead tours of the future site of West Branch — the current media center and auditorium of Cleveland Elementary School — from 11 a.m. to noon.

“While we are celebrating what’s to come, we want to remember and honor the place’s history, too,” said Oleen.

During West Fest, the Little Library — an honor-system library housed in a historic building on Town Hall property — will be open for informal tours.

Other festival features include a performance of “Alice in Wonderland” by Brightstar Theatre of Asheville at 10:30 a.m. and live music by Matthew Weaver and Clay Lunsford from noon to 2 p.m.

Nancy Gaines of Salisbury’s Center for Faith & the Arts will lead a community drum circle from 2 to 3 p.m.

Audience members are encouraged to bring their own chairs or blankets; a limited number of chairs will be provided.

The library’s Game Zone will feature games and activities for all ages, including a pumpkin ring toss and fun with bubbles for children, pumpkin tic-tac-toe for all ages, and yard game versions of Jenga, Connect Four, and Angry Birds for adults and teenagers.

Also on hand will be a face-painting booth and Patterson Farm’s mobile pumpkin patch

Food choices will include Wowza BBQ cooking on site and West Rowan High School’s occupational career students selling hot dogs.

Other booths will sell bottled beverages and baked goods.

The library will provide free popcorn, lemonade and Cheerwine while supplies last.

In addition to information booths about library programming, RPL Foundation and the West Branch Capital Campaign, outside vendors will be present. The Pedal Factory will provide an obstacle course for cyclists, with bikes provided.

The West Rowan High School Band Boosters will have a fundraising booth.

Other vendors include the Family Crisis Council of Rowan County, Genealogical Society of Rowan County, Rowan County Cooperative Extension, Rowan County Literacy Council, Rowan County Sherriff’s Office, Rowan Helping Ministries, Rowan Museum, Rufty-Holmes Senior Center, Salisbury Rowan Community Action Agency, State Employees Credit Union, Servpro, Smart Start Rowan, SoFul Yoga & Wellness of Salisbury, Trellis Support Services, Woodleaf Civitans, and Woodleaf United Methodist Church Faith Community Nurse.

West Fest will go on in the case of bad weather.

For details, call 704-216-8243.