NORTHFIELD — Nine-year-old Sadie MacDonald whirled a coconut across the carpet in the Dickinson Memorial Library. In an instant, the coconut collided with a series of plastic bottles, knocking them all to the floor.
Coconut bowling was Sadie’s favorite station at the Tropical Island Party, held Friday from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the library.
“I basically won,” Sadie exclaimed. She also successfully pinned the Canary Islands on a map, blind-folded.
Programming Librarian Matt Atwood hoped the event would “bring a little sunshine to the lingering winter” while filling the library with families and residents of all ages.
“Although the calendar says it’s spring, the warm weather has been coming a little slow to us,” Atwood said. Growing tired of the cold, Atwood decided to bring the beach to the library.
The party included simulated surfing, limboing, volcano eruptions, hula hooping and dancing, coconut bowling, tropical-themed coloring, “Pin the Island on the World” and tropical snacks.
Attendees also did crafts, making their own leis and grass skirts, and learned how to play the ukulele from Julie Stepanek.
The fun drew dozens of children and parents.
“The library is definitely the hub of Northfield,” Sadie’s mother, Ann Linge, said.
“He said ‘I have to go to the library,’” Jennifer Chabott said of her 9-year-old son Chris. “A lot of the same kids come too.”
Jennifer Chabott and fellow Northfield resident Amy Grover agreed they enjoyed seeing Northfield Elementary School sixth-graders oversee the event.
“I think it’s fun to see the sixth-graders helping out, to have that autonomy,” Jennifer Chabott said, noting that they set an example for younger children.
The different stations all drew attention, with 8-year-old Sara Tatro’s favorite part being coloring toucans, turtles, fish and hibiscus flowers.
“I love to color,” she said.
Still, out of all the stations, simulated surfing — using a board balancing on a cylinder — was overwhelmingly popular.
“The surfing was very realistic,” Sadie said.
“It’s really challenging because it’s hard to balance,” Chris Chabott added.
You can reach Shelby Ashline at: sashline@recorder.com
413-772-026,1 ext. 257