Pictured are some of the activities that were part of the 2023 Prendergast Library Community Block Party.

The Prendergast Library will host its third annual Community Block Party on Saturday, June 29, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

There will be music, food, games, arts and crafts, an artisan marketplace and outdoor makerspace activities for all ages. Cherry Street at Fifth Street will be blocked off to traffic; however, the library’s parking lot will still be accessible from Sixth Street. This year’s Block Party sponsor is Lind Funeral Home. The event is free and open to the public.

New this year is an artisan marketplace, with 20 artisan vendor booths on the library’s first floor. Examples of items for sale include photography, fiber arts, jewelry, vintage upcycled products, baked goods and skincare products.

In addition to the artisan vendors, the day will feature twenty nonprofit organizations who will provide information on community programs, services, and events. The nonprofit tabling will occur outside on Cherry Street in front of the library.

The event features a one-day special book sale with new bestsellers, unique finds, vintage books, children’s books, and puzzles. The special book sale will be located at the front of the library on the first floor. During the Block Party, the daily booksale in the back of the library will feature a bag sale – fill a bag of books for $5. Items from the special book sale are not included in the bag sale.

On the patio, guests can listen to music from Infinity Visual & Performing Arts students and instructors, browse an art tent with collaborative activities for all ages, a makerspace tent with hands-on STEM activities, and a library fundraising and information tent. Guests can also purchase food from Best of Buffalo and Off the Stick Ice Cream Company food trucks.

Around the library, guests can play lawn games, such as cornhole, giant Jenga, and horseshoes, and explore the library’s gardens. At the garden tent there will be seedlings and information on native plants, and poems submitted by local students celebrating nature.

June 29 is also the first day of the library’s summer reading program, which runs through Aug. 24. Participants can sign up at the block party, or any time during the summer. The Block Party Summer Reading Tent will have everything needed to participate in the Summer Reading Celebration, and there will be scratch-off prizes for everyone who signs up during the event. New this year will be a summer reading treasure map activity – complete it during the Block Party for a prize.

The day’s events include:

The library will be open for regular services; however, the library will be busy and much noisier than usual during the Block Party.

For more information about the Block Party, call the library’s Front Desk at 716-484-7135, ext. 233, email info@prendergastlibrary.org, or visit www.prendergastlibrary.org/community-block-party.

The Prendergast Library is located at 509 Cherry St., Jamestown.