Holiday Night at the library draws big crowd

Sing-along, crafts and learning about other cultures across globe highlight annual event.Holiday Night at the Library on Tuesday brought in a crowd of some 150 children and parents for an evening of fun and games -- and a little bit of education.

To kick off the event, kids were treated to a multicultural performance by Georgette Baker, a professional entertainer who spoke and sang, in five different languages, of the ways people celebrate around the world.

With guitar in hand, Baker moved in and out of costumes as freely as she moved between cultures.

From the Islamic holiday of Ramadan, where people fast and wait for the crescent moon, to Mexico, where children play Joseph and Mary in Nativity scenes, the audience caught glimpses of life around the world.

A group sing-along to “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” capped off Baker’s show. The crowd, sporting red stickers on their noses, jingled bells as they sang.

The evening progressed into an arts and crafts session focusing on holiday-themed basket-weaving, tree ornaments, reindeer caps and gift bags.

With newly made holiday crafts in hand, the children waited to have their faces painted.

The evening would not have been complete without a visit from Santa Claus.

With jolly old St. Nick arriving at 7 p.m., the kids eagerly presented him with their wish lists and took photos.

“The library is very important for people to come and connect to; we want kids to remember their library on holidays,” Porter said.

“This is a place to socialize as well as learn.”20051223irvwynncDON LEACH / COASTLINE PILOT(LA)A cartoon reindeer decorates the face of a youngster at the Laguna Beach Library’s Holiday Night.