Homewood Library hosts Block Party

The Homewood Library Foundation held its fifth annual Block Party fundraiser in the back parking lot at Homewood Public Library on Oxmoor Road on Saturday, Aug. 11.

The event, held in the early evening, was favored with warm, sunny weather, and a large crowd of Homewood residents turned out to enjoy food, beverage, live music and other activities.

There were about a dozen food vendors, including Fresh Market, Piggly Wiggly, Dave’s Pizza, Demetri’s BBQ, Roly Poly, Nabeel’s Cafe and Market, Ashley Mac’s, Mason Dixon Bakery & Bistro, Farm Bowl + Juice Co., bartaco, Homewood Gourmet, Ruth’s Chris Steak House and Shiki Thai & Sushi.

Avondale Brewery, Red Hills Brewing Company and Rush Wines provided alcoholic beverages.

About 15 VIP tables were set up, reserved for local companies and other organizations that helped sponsor the event.

Local musicians played live.

Activities for kids included two large inflatables, a portable climbing wall and temporary tattoos.

There was a long line of kids throughout the event waiting to take their turn at the dunking booth.

They threw a softball at a target, and if they hit it, John Lowry, principal of Shades Cahaba Elementary School, dropped into the water tank.

There were numerous door prizes at the event, including haircuts, skin care and clothing items, as well as gift cards from such local businesses as Fab’rik, SOHO Social, Little Professor, Dreamcakes, Lucky Cat Rolled Creams, Magic City Sweet Ice and Valley Cleaners.

“It is just such a fun family event,” Homewood Library Foundation board member Jennifer Schmidt told The Homewood Star recently. “It is just a couple of days after school starts, too, so it is a wonderful way to kick back and relax,” she said.

Ticket sales at the event benefit the foundation, a board that helps raise money for supplemental projects at the library.

The goal this year was to raise $50,000 in order to update some of the library's meeting rooms, according to Schmidt.