Thank you for your Support During Midnight Magic

The Friends of the Library had an amazing turnout this year for the Midnight Magic auction, raffle and bake sale. The auction grossed about $3,010, the bake sale about $400, and the raffle about $400. For a total of about $3,800!

Thank you to the Friends of the Library, all of the volunteers, and everyone that bid on or purchased items. It is this kind of support that makes the library an ever better place.

Also, a huge thank you to all of the businesses and individuals in Mukwonago that contributed the wonderful prizes. We are fortunate to live in such a generous and supportive community.

Midnight Magic Library Events

Come see the magic start coming to life at the Mukwonago Community Library with the events and donations leading up to Midnight Magic! This year the Friends of the Library are once again participating by having a silent auction, raffle, and bake sale on Saturday, December 4th.

The silent auction and raffle have already started at the library with signup sheets and items on display in the library lobby and on top of the large print shelves. Come in anytime the library is open and place your bid on the signup sheets for the silent auction or purchase tickets for the raffle. Tickets are $1.00 each or 6 for $5.00. The final drawing is December 4th at 6:00 pm.

Some of the great prizes include rounds of golf, tickets to local events, gift certificates to local retailers, and a large variation of other products. This year the auction and raffle are featuring beautiful handmade items created by talented residents of our community. Below is a picture of just some of the wonderful items we have available. Come see what we have to offer and good luck winning your favorite item. Thank you to everyone that is donating items or volunteering time for this event.

If you have any donations for the silent auction or raffle, please drop them off at the library. We are particularly looking for crafters to donate their hand-made items. Also, if you like to bake for the sale, contact Laura Frisch at 262-363-6411 for more information. All proceeds of the event will go towards the library.

For more information about the magic that is happening in the rest of the community this season check out the Mukwonago Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Center website.

Midnight Magic Wrap Up

The weather was cold and windy, but that didn't stop everyone from having a great time this past weekend at Mukwonago's annual Midnight Magic festivities. We are fortunate at the Library to have the parade route end practically at our front door, making us a popular viewing and warming up location.

And, honestly now, what says Happy Holidays and Welcome to Winter more than... giant sausages in the snow?!

Inside, the Friends of the Library were busy with their annual bake sale. Thank you to all those that baked for this event and also to all who bought the yummy treats-- all of the proceeds will be used to benefit the Library.

In the Library's community room, folks could get a cup of coffee, hot chocolate or hot chai tea to warm up. Thanks to Katie and the great people at Espresso Love for the beverages. In addition, several local authors were available to our patrons, and many folks took advantage to get a signed Christmas present.

The silent auction and raffle ended at 7 pm, and there was a flurry of activity shortly before the deadline as folks jockeyed for the items they really desired:










In the end, everyone had a great time. Particularly these happy raffle winners:


It was my first Midnight Magic experience and it was a very good one. I'm already looking forward to next year's festivities-- I hope you will all join us!

A Very Good Night

Last night was the kickoff to Mukwonago's annual Midnight Magic celebration. Most of the festivities occur this Saturday, Dec. 6, but at 6:30 last night the Library was privileged and honored to play host to Santa. He magically lit the beautiful tree near the front of the Library:

Nearly fifty hearty souls braved the fresh snow and chilly temperatures to come out and see the beautiful tree. The tree had been prepared earlier this week by John Bronk and Peter Weinenger, and after it was lit, the crowd joined in singing a few carols. Then, it was into the Library's community room to warm up.

Inside, the kids gathered towards the front to hear Tracy Hein, principal at Prairie View Elementary School, read Clement Moore's classic poem, A Visit From Saint Nicholas, better known as The Night Before Christmas. Written in 1823, the delightful poem recalling a Christmas Eve visit from "a right jolly old elf" is still as engaging today as it was nearly 180 years ago.


After the reading, Santa answered the children's questions-- 'Santa, are you magic?', 'How do you get into houses with no chimney?'-- and then invited them all up to give him their preliminary Christmas wish lists. While they were waiting, the kids stopped over to the craft table and made their own ornaments-- with the help of their parents a few Library elves.

Overall, it was a truly magical night. A wonderful way to kick off Midnight Magic and the holiday season. The Library was honored to be a part of it, and I hope everybody had as much fun as we did. Hopefully, we see you all this Saturday for the main Midnight Magic festivities. It should be a great day, just as yesterday was a great night.

One final note-- the Friends of the Library silent auction and raffle is still going on, so stop in today, tomorrow or Saturday and place you bid or enter the raffle. There are some great prizes available and the money all goes to support the Library and its services.

Silent Auction Items of the Day: #16 and #18

Item #16 is two general admission tickets to the Milwaukee Art Museum, while item #18 is two tickets to the Milwaukee Public Museum. Bid on item #16 and spend a day in Milwaukee, soaking in the marvelous art collections of the MAM, set in the lovely Calatrava designed building. The art museum is currently featuring a first of its kind interactive art display, where you help create the art! If you wait until next year, you can view the museum's upcoming "SENSORY OVERLOAD: Light, Motion, Sound, and the Optical in Art Since 1945.

Or rediscover the Milwaukee Public Museum and visit the butterflies, the Streets of Old Milwaukee, and the T-Rex. The Titanic exhibit will be running at the MPM through next May, and though there is an additional entry fee for it, the exhibit has received rave reviews. Item #18, valued at $22, currently has a bid of $10, less than the price of one ticket.

Stop in and bid on either or both!

Silent Auction Item of the Day: #36

Over the coming weeks, we'll be highlighting the many and varied items up for bid and raffle in the annual Midnight Magic Silent Auction and Raffle. All proceed benefit the library and bidding will remain open until the evening of Dec. 6.

Item #36:
Participate in a murder and the subsequent investigation! Well, not an actual murder, of course, but item #36 is a murder mystery dinner hosted by longtime Mukwonago residents Pat and Renee Hitt. The prize will be awarded to the top 8 bidders, with a minimum bid of $300 (for all 8 slots) or $38 per individual slot.

Here's the back story:

It is August, 1959, in the small town of Mukwonago. The local high school class of 1954 has scheduled its five year reunion to coincide with the return of Rockford "Rock 'N Roley", the nationally famous rock 'n roll star. Rock, a member of the '54 graduation class, has agreed to begin the festivities with a concert. A group of Rock's high school friends have planned to meet with the star after the show to talk about old times. Excitement is running high until the recollection of a high school prank leads to the discovery of murder. The friends must dig into the past to determine who amongst them has committed the crime.

Don't just go to a play, be a part of it! Who knows, maybe you'll even discover that you are a murderer!