Bit of bubbly on a warm day? Olathe library draws Kansas City-area kids with foam fun

Two bubble cannons made for a lot of clean, soapy fun for a group of kids at Olathe’s Indian Creek Library July 13. It’s the first time the library has held a foam party.

“Our theme for this year that we’re sharing with many libraries around the country is ‘adventure begins at your library.’ So, we really wanted to push ourselves to bring some new things to the public and have some new activities that children do not usually get to do,” said Tommy Govert, children program specialist at the library.

Govert said the idea to have the foam party came from Indian Creek Library manager Bob Miller, who saw a foam party while on the road last fall. Working with Foam Party KC, the library staff members were able to make it happen in a small section of the library’s parking lot.

“This is a great opportunity for our younger patrons to make new friends,” Govert said. “Bubble cannons might not be exactly what people traditionally think about at library events, but we’re always trying to bring new and free things to the public where people make great memories.”

The event was open to kids ages 6 and up. Govert estimated that about 100 people turned up to enjoy the bubbles.

Olathe resident Jessica Quiason loves all the different kids’ programs at the library.

“This is one we’ve been looking forward to,” Quiason said. “The kids are definitely having a blast. My daughter is super shy and hung back, but the fun is contagious, and she couldn’t help jumping in.”

She liked that it was a free opportunity to take part in a foam party, since hosting one can get expensive, she said.

“Libraries are more than just books,” Quiason said.

For Olathe resident Mauree Riley, it was a great way to kick off the weekend.

“It’s Saturday morning, and we had no plans. It’s summertime, and it’s a nice way to be outside,” she said.

Olathe resident Mary Spain brought her granddaughter, 9-year-old Mia Parkhurst, to the foam party.

“She was a little leery at first, but she’s having fun. It’s cool. The kids seem to love it,” she said.

Bubbles were definitely an attraction for Mia.

“There are bubble shooters, and it keeps getting higher and higher. You could probably bury yourself in bubbles,” Mia said. “You can throw the bubbles, and they disappear.”

Mayank Singh of Overland Park, who came with his child, said there should be more programs like the foam party.

The library incorporated the bubble theme into a story time later in the week to keep the fun going.

“We have so many fantastic bubble books just here at our library,” Govert said. “All of our bubble books are really fun and silly, and we like being fun and silly, too.”

Although most library events are inside, there have been a few exceptions in the past. In addition to the foam party, previous outdoor events have included the summer reading kickoff party and adult goat yoga.