Birthdays come only once a year, but when it comes to celebrating unbirthdays, just about any day is a good time for a party.
The Stettler Public Library played host to an Unbirthday Party on Friday, Jan. 23, welcoming a group of around 80 children and parents.
The concept of an unbirthday — that is, any day of the year that is not one’s actual birthday — comes from Lewis Carroll’s Alice books and the 1951 Disney film Alice in Wonderland.
Kim Tanner, who organized the event, said she was inspired by Alice in Wonderland and decided to turn it into a full-blown party.
“It’s not anyone’s birthday, but we’re celebrating birthdays,” she said.
The event featured several craft stations, where kids could decorate party bags or crowns, or add stickers and colours to a drawing of a birthday cake.
Library assistant manager Crystal Friars operated a photo booth, taking pictures using her iPad. Kids and their parents could dress up in a variety of costumes before having their pictures taken.
Best of all, there were cakes to decorate — both the Play-Doh variety, and the real kind, which could be topped with icing, sprinkles, chocolate chips or miniature marshmallows.
Later in the morning, Tanner set up another station with music playing, inviting the kids to dance and play musical games.
There were also lots of colourful balloons for the kids to enjoy, although they were prone to popping, interrupting the general din every so often and catching everyone by surprise.
Tanner also organizes the library’s Read and Rhyme program, held each Tuesday and Wednesday beginning at 10:30 a.m., featuring songs, crafts and rhymes targeted at kids between zero and five years of age. The program is free of charge.
Each month, the library hosts events with special themes for small children, usually held the third Friday of the month from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
The next such event will be a Teddy Bear Picnic on Feb. 20. Families interested must call the library at 403-742-2292 to register. For more information, visit spl.prl.ab.ca.