Novel Night, the Sedona Public Library in the Village’s annual series of book-themed costume dinner parties, is returning this fall and tickets will be on sale beginning Friday, July 28. They can be purchased online at sedonalibrary.org, or a ticket form can be picked up at either the West Sedona or VOC library branches. Tickets for the fundraiser are anticipated to sell out quickly.
Last year’s event raised $16,000, and SPL is looking to exceed that this year with more party selections at Village of Oak Creek homes and businesses on Saturday, Sept. 30. Tickets are $125 and include dinner, entry to one of the themed parties and — new this year — the Prologue Party.
“The Prologue Party is going to be at the Poco Diablo Resort. It’s the happy hour before the event,” SPL Development Director Anne Marie Mackler said. “There will be champagne with appetizers, a costume contest with cash prizes, a photo booth, raffles and a book and wine pull. That is from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and then we send everyone off to their respective dinner parties.”
The individually-themed dinners begin at 6 p.m. with no set end time. Party selection is by ranked-choice voting. Ticket purchasers list their top three choices and will be matched with a party depending on available space.
“Part of the fun of this [and] the intrigue is that you don’t know which party you’re going to get until you get your tickets in the mail, and you don’t know who your host is or where the party is located until a week before, [when] we send the party locations to all the ticket holders,” Mackler said. “It’s at that point that everything is revealed.”
This year’s themed parties will be:
“The Princess Bride” by William Goldman. This authentic menu will include Twue Wuv Twuffles, Screeching Eel Salad and beverages that may or may not contain iocane powder, followed by a private screening of the 1987 movie.
“Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” by J.K. Rowling. Welcome to Hogwarts: The School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where you’ll feast on crown pork rib roast, shepherd’s pie, English sausages and more. There will be champagne, butterbeer and live Celtic music.
“Cowboy Up” by H. Alan Day. This is the chance of a lifetime. Learn how to rope and listen to Lazy-B Ranch stories told by the author himself. Enjoy cowboy caviar, smoked brisket, ranch beans and margaritas.
“The Body in the Library” by Agatha Christie. Put on your amateur sleuth thinking caps as you enter the Majestic Hotel. Become one of the many characters questioning, committing — or investigating — the double murder and enjoy truly British 1940s food and libations.
“Arabian Nights” bySir Richard Burton. The air will be full of exotic spices, the food rich and delicious, the belly dancers dazzling. The hosts promise plenty of parking for your magic carpets and request that you bring your favorite genie.
“Alice Through the Looking Glass” by Lewis Carroll. Humpty Dumpty eggs, White Knight salad, Tweedle sprouts, looking glass plum cake and a drink from an open bar will get you ready to compete in the Jabberwocky recital contest.
“The Great Santini” by Pat Conroy. Eat a meal of mystery meat and aerodynamic rolls in the “Dirty Shirt Wardroom.” Dessert will be cake fresh from the drier and drinks will include bug juice. “Top Gun” will keep you in a military mood.
“Lessons In Chemistry” by Bonnie Garmus. Details to be announced.
“Star Trek.” Calling all Trekkies — the true feast of this party will be a visual one. Enter an authentic starship and let the story unfold as you snack on pizza, popcorn and candy, sip on margaritas, and meet, or re-meet, all your favorite officers and crew members.
“We have community members who have volunteered to host, and they’re paying for themed dinner parties in their homes or businesses,” Mackler said. “All we ask is that they provide fun, a meal and drinks and entertainment, and ideally, decor that is based on the book they’ve chosen.”
Returning this year is a book and wine pull that gives participants the chance to purchase a $20 raffle ticket and receive a random book or bottle of wine that has been donated to SPL.
“Last time we did a wine pull, we had wine valued from $25 to $400,” Mackler said. “We’re in the process of collecting wine and books, hoping that we get some fun signed books or rare books. [But] you’ll at least get your money’s worth … We’ve had a lot of cash sponsorships, we’re still collecting raffle prizes.”
The fundraiser is needed to help pay for the rent of the VOC library as well as maintenance and utilities.
“Part of why we do it is to bring people together who they might not know and discover that they are also invested or dedicated to a great nonprofit in the community, the library, ”Mackler said. “People always love to meet other readers. As the event coordinator, I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many smiling faces and heard so much laughter and people just having fun than I have at Novel Night.”
Novel Night 2023 sponsors include 72SOLD/ Hague Partners, Arcadia Management Group, Lyra Duet, Poco Diablo Resort and Seven Canyons Golf Club. SPL needs additional sponsors and interested individuals or businesses may contact Mackler to discuss potential involvement at amackler@sedonalibrary.org or (928) 282-7714 ext. 8125
