Events for all Ages

Rob Dunlavey

Natick artist and children’s book illustrator Rob Dunlavey will be showing landscape drawings and paintings at the BFL from June 16 – September 28.  Join us for an opening reception. It’s free and open to the public.

Rob’s lyrical and expressionistic drawings of the South Natick dam capture the plant and animal life seen over the past dozen years of his daily artistic practice. Rob is also an award-winning children’s book illustrator. His published books can be found in many libraries. His next book, Whale Fall, written by Melissa Stewart, will be published by Random House in Spring 2023.

Children’s Programs

Every Monday @ 10 am outside, behind the library: Monday Morning Stories & Songs

Join us for a high-energy story time!  We’ll mix things up with a combination of stories for listening and songs for dancing.  

This program will be held outside on the library lawn.  Bring a towel or blanket for stretching.  Look for us around back!  If there is rainy weather, the story time will be moved indoors.

Every Tuesday @ 10 am outside, behind the library: Outdoor Story Time

Come and join us for in-person, outdoor story time on the beautiful grounds behind the library.  Be sure to bring a blanket or chairs to get comfy.

If there is rainy weather, the story time will be moved indoors.

Weds, July 13 @ 6 pm outside at the library:  Elijah T. Grasshopper & Friends

Join us on the lawn of the library for a musical show! 

Elijah T. Grasshopper & Friends are a children’s music group featuring Emma “Go-Go Green” Bean and their puppet pals, Willa the Worm and Weatherbee Frog.  

This program is best suited for children ages 2 through 8, but can be enjoyed by all ages.  Elijah T. Grasshopper and Friends have received multiple grants through the Mass Cultural Council in the past few years and are excited to bring their music to local communities. Join Elijah & Friends for some super-duper interactive kids’ music and a hopping good time!

You can learn more about us at www.ElijahTGrasshopper.com 

This show is sponsored in part by a grant from the Natick Cultural Council and by the Friends of the Bacon Free Library.

Friday, July 15 @ 10 am outside at the library: Puppet Story Time

Through Me To You Puppetry invites you to join Newton and the gang for some story time fun! Newton and his puppet friends take turns reading stories and singing songs with the kids.  At the end of the show, the kids are invited to say hi to Newton & even play with some of his puppets!

Through Me To You Puppetry’s mission is to support anyone and everyone who believes in themselves and follows their dreams — and does not let doubt or fear stop them. We are committed to exploring themes of love, courage, and compassion through the wonderful and wonder-filled world of puppets.

This program will be held on the library lawn, please bring a blanket or chair. 

Weds, July 20 @ 10 am outside at the library: Container Gardens

Attention kids in grades 1-5: would you like to start your own portable garden?   Join us on the grounds of the Bacon Free Library for this interactive program.  You’ll learn what plants need to survive, decorate a terracotta pot, plant a container garden crop, and start a growing journal.  All materials are provided.

This program is presented by Tower Hill Botanic Gardens and sponsored by the Friends of the Bacon Free Library.

Space is limited and registration is required (registration will open 2 weeks before the program).

 Weds, July 27 @ 6 pm outside at the library: Henry Lappen: Juggler

Henry the Juggler (alias Henry Lappen) is considered armed (and legged) and dangerous.

He is known to cause spontaneous outbursts of laughter.

He speaks little, but says a great deal through his expression and body language (and road signs!).

He has in his possession BALLS, CLUBS, RINGS, TORCHES and other apparatus of his trade.

He is capable of walking on a thin wire high above the ground. He is known to change his height through the use of stilts.

WARNING: Henry involves innocent bystanders in his act.

Henry the Juggler is a professional. He has been seen by tens of thousands up and down the East coast, appearing at theaters, schools, libraries, festivals, scout troops, and business districts. Henry has been performing and teaching juggling for over 30 years. 

This program is supported in part by a grant from the Natick Cultural Council, a local agency that is supported by the Mass Cultural council, a state agency and by the Friends of the Bacon Free Library.

Adult Programs

Monday, July 11 @ 7 pm on Zoom: Fragrance in the Garden

Perhaps you have smelled the lovely fragrance of a peony and were immediately transported back to a time long ago in your grandmother’s garden. Have you ever wondered why that is? Joanne Pearson is back to enlighten us about the power of aroma and its importance in the garden.

In this program, we’ll look at the amazing things that scent does for a plant (botanically, that is, the scent is not there for our pleasure!). We will discuss specific plants, shrubs, and trees with fragrant flowers and foliage that can be grown in New England and where to place them in the landscape to maximize our enjoyment of their fragrance throughout the garden.

This program will be held over Zoom. Please register to receive the meeting link.