Liven up fall with a special October 11 family-friendly fundraiser that combines tasty barbecue and great book deals to benefit a children’s book fund at the Rock Island Public Library.
Presented by Eudell Watts III, Rock Island Public Library Foundation, and the Rock Island Public Library, the Old-Fashioned BBQ and Booksale takes place Saturday, October 11 in Arts Alley and The Iconic events center in Downtown Rock Island. The event includes both a library book sale from 10 am to 4 pm, and the BBQ fundraiser from noon to 4 pm. Proceeds from both events support the Lorene Evans Watts Children’s Book Fund for the Rock Island Public Library.
Admission to the book sale is free. Books and other items will be available for sale within Arts Alley. Buyers set their own price, so unless specially marked, everything is available for a voluntary donation. Cash, charge and debit are accepted. All proceeds from this special sale benefit the children’s book fund.
Advance admission to the BBQ portion of the fundraiser is $50, which includes delicious BBQ prepared by the Watts family, all the side fixings, complimentary beer and soda, and a guaranteed seat inside the Iconic Event Center. Advance RSVP also includes second helpings of BBQ and side dishes. To purchase tickets online, visit Eventbrite at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/eudells-old-fashioned-bbq-book-sale-tickets-1563548889819?aff=ebdssbdestsearch
A limited number of walk-up BBQ meals will be available for purchase while supplies last. Walk-up meals do not include refills or beverages. Seating for walk-up meal purchasers will be available outside.
Games will be available for families to play at the event, as well as a silent auction and special entertainment, including:
- Caricatures by Bill Douglas of Draw Me Bill, 10 am to 11:30 am, available for suggested donation of $10 per drawing.
- Ballet Quad Cities presents Dance Me a Story, Vampirina Ballerina, at noon.
- Local musician John Phillips plays guitar at 1 pm
- Caricatures by local artist Leo Kelly from noon to 3 pm, also available for a suggested donation of $10.
The BBQ and Booksale fundraiser joins a number of "Second Saturday on Second Avenue” activities in Downtown Rock Island, including QC Farmers' Market, “Back from the Dead” happenings, and the Quad City Arts gallery exhibit, Voces y Visiones: A Celebration of Hispanic Artists. For full details, please visit the Downtown Rock Island page.
The Rock Island Public Library Foundation is a private 501c3 foundation established in 1985 to support needs of the Rock Island Public Library that fall outside of the Library’s carefully managed tax-supported budget. Eudell Watts III established the Lorene Evans Watts Fund for Children's Materials in honor of his late mother with the Foundation in 2010. Now worth nearly $70,000, the fund supports the purchase of children’s books and materials at the Rock Island Public Library.
For questions about the BBQ fundraiser or other ways to support the library through a contribution to the Foundation, please contact Kathy Lelonek, executive director of the Rock Island Public Library Foundation, at 309-752-3014 or at riplfoundation@gmail.com. The Foundation mailing address is PO Box 4723, Rock Island, IL 61204-4723.