Alfred Dickey Library plans free Fantasy Faire for families in Jamestown

Families heading downtown for the holiday weekend found a free, hands-on outing at The Lodge, where Alfred Dickey Library staged its Fantasy Faire on Saturday, May 30. The afternoon event ran from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at 104 3rd St. SE, directly across from Alfred Dickey Library, and it was open to all ages.

The draw was not a passive program or a sit-down performance. The library said the faire included games, a quest, raffles, costume contests for prizes, crafts and snacks, giving children and parents a reason to stay, move around and take part. Attendees were also encouraged to dress in themed attire, which fit the event’s fantasy setting and gave the afternoon a more festive, costume-friendly feel.

That combination turned the library’s programming into something bigger than an in-building activity. By placing the event at The Lodge, the library tied the faire to downtown Jamestown and added foot traffic to a part of the city that benefits when families have a reason to linger. The setup linked one of the community’s core public institutions with a nearby gathering space and made the outing feel rooted in the center of town rather than tucked away from it.

The event also fit into a larger pattern at James River Valley Library System, which has been building family programming around the same time with toddler playtime, LEGO Club, family game night and summer reading kickoff events. Fantasy Faire stood out because it blended that regular schedule with something more immersive, giving kids a chance to chase quests and win prizes while giving adults a free local activity that did not require leaving Jamestown.

That kind of public programming reflects a long institutional history. James River Valley Library System was formed in 2009 after Alfred Dickey Public Library and Stutsman County Library legally combined following a successful unification vote in 2008. Its roots stretch back to January 1901, when Alfred Dickey called a meeting to establish a free reading room in Jamestown, and the Alfred E. Dickey Free Library building opened in 1919. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the library remains a visible civic anchor downtown, and events like Fantasy Faire keep that role active in the present.