By Councilwoman Marsha McLean
Are you a teen? Are you looking for something fun? Well, we are providing a place where you can spend time with friends, explore your interests and simply feel welcome. Our Santa Clarita Public Library provides those spaces every day, offering much more than books and study resources. Our Library Branches are places to learn, create, connect and discover something new. That spirit will be on full display when Teen FanFest returns to the Canyon Country Jo Anne Darcy Library Branch (18601 Soledad Canyon Road, 91351) on Friday, October 9, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. This free, annual event is designed especially for teens, giving them an opportunity to celebrate their interests, meet others and enjoy an afternoon filled with activities created just for them.
This year, Teen FanFest is pressing “START” on a theme that I know will appeal to many of our young residents: “Game On!” Video games have changed tremendously over the years. What once may have meant sitting in front of an arcade cabinet or playing a simple game on a home console has grown into an incredibly creative world filled with storytelling, competition, problem-solving and opportunities to build and design. Whether teens enjoy competing against friends, creating their own worlds or simply appreciating their favorite characters and games, Teen FanFest will offer plenty of ways to participate.
From 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., the Teen Section of the Library will become a hub of gaming-inspired fun. Teens can put their skills to the test during a video game tournament or slow things down and create something they can take home. Fans of Minecraft can make colorful Minecraft Perler bead creations, bringing the familiar pixelated style of the game into the real world, one bead at a time. There will also be button making, giving teens another opportunity to create something that reflects their favorite games, characters or personal style. The Children’s Section will also feature Giant Jenga and Giant Connect Four, offering a low-tech but equally entertaining challenge for friends to enjoy together. For those who want to transform themselves into a character straight out of a game, face painting and glow-in-the-dark makeup will add another creative element to the afternoon.
Of course, no gaming session is complete without snacks. Outside on the patio, attendees can refuel with pizza and “Chug Jugs,” adding a fun nod to the colorful health drinks familiar to many video game fans. Teens will also have the opportunity to make their own mini pies, starting with prepared crusts and adding ready-made pie fillings, chips and other toppings to create their own combination. It is simple, hands-on and, most importantly, something they can enjoy when they are finished. The patio will also host a special performance from approximately 4:15 to 4:45 p.m., giving attendees a chance to take a break from the games and activities and enjoy another part of the afternoon together.
Between school, extracurricular activities, family responsibilities and the pressures that come with growing up, young people benefit from having safe and welcoming places where they can relax and be themselves. That is one of the many ways our Santa Clarita Public Library serves our community. Libraries have always been places of discovery, but today that discovery can take many forms. Sometimes it means finding a new book, learning a skill, working on a creative project, participating in a program or meeting another person who shares the same interests. By offering programs specifically designed for teens, our Library helps young residents understand that this public space belongs to them, too.
A shared interest in Minecraft, gaming, art or competition can be the beginning of a conversation and, sometimes, a new friendship. Those small connections help create the kind of welcoming and connected community we work hard to maintain in Santa Clarita. I encourage local teens to gather their friends and join us for Teen FanFest on Friday, October 9, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the Canyon Country Jo Anne Darcy Library Branch. Whether you come ready to compete in the video game tournament, design your own board game, challenge a friend to Giant Jenga or simply enjoy some pizza and spend time with friends, there will be something waiting for you.
Come ready to play, create and connect. I hope to see you there!
For more information about programs and events at the Santa Clarita Public Library, visit Library.SantaClarita.gov.
Councilwoman Marsha McLean is a member of the Santa Clarita City Council and can be reached at mmclean@santaclarita.gov.
