River City Puppets brings free dinosaur show to McArthur library

Parents and grandparents looking for a low-cost weekday outing for younger children will have one in downtown McArthur when River City Puppets brings Lou, the Baby Dinosaur to the Herbert Wescoat Memorial Library. The free program is set for Monday, June 26 at 10:30 a.m., and it follows Lou after he is discovered in a cave by a boy named Buddy.

The show is built around puppetry, music and storytelling, the mix River City Puppets says anchors its original performances for school assemblies, library programs and community events. Founded artistic director Dylan Shelton brings more than 20 years of experience as a puppeteer and children’s entertainer, a background that should make the dinosaur adventure especially memorable for families with younger children.

The timing also makes the program practical for summer schedules. The Herbert Wescoat Memorial Library is at 120 N. Market Street in McArthur, and its posted hours are 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday. It is closed Sundays. The show is open to the community, with no admission charge, giving local families an easy option in the final week of June.

The library has also been building a reputation as more than a place to check out books. It has hosted the Columbus Rings Handbell Ensemble during Christmas in Downtown and the Country Roads Quilt Guild Quilt Show during the Vinton County Wild Turkey Festival, adding performances and exhibits to its calendar alongside regular library service.

Library directory information lists Herbert Wescoat Memorial Library as a public library affiliated with the Vinton County Public Library system and serving Vinton County residents. That role matters in McArthur, where the library continues to draw children, caregivers and other visitors downtown for programs that fit the rhythm of school breaks, holiday events and county festivals.