A celebratory final fundraiser for the Picton Library Expansion has been announced for May 2023 and the event promises to be a swinging good time.

Get …”In the Mood”, put on your dance shoes, learn the Lindy Hop, practice your updo, get ready to smile for the camera in front of a 1940’s Cadillac, and put yourself in the setting
of the Sergeant’s Mess Hall at Base31.

On Saturday May 13th, 2023, the inaugural event at the Sergeants Mess Hall at Base31 will come alive as a 1942 fancy dress cocktail party.

The evening starts at 7pm in the Dance Hall with Swing Music provided by the County’s own Brian Barlow and a guest crooner.

Professional dance couples will demonstrate and encourage others to join in the dancing fun… so fill in your Dance Card. Elegant canapés and a dessert bar will be provided by some of the County’s best Chefs, along with sparkling wine by Huff Estates.

The musical entertainment does not stop in the Dance Hall. The Bar Lounge will host the Hannah Burge Trio and classic cocktails will be prepared at the original red leather bar.

“The Sergeants Mess Hall has always been a place for gathering, and we are excited to bring it back to life. We’re thrilled to have the Library Fundraising Gala as the inaugural event in the renovated space, which will be paying homage to the era of the original Camp Picton,” explained Base31’s Tim Jones.

To participate in this once in a lifetime evening, you can purchase your tickets for SWING INTO THE FUTURE directly via the Picton Library at peclibrary.org/gala.

Tickets went on sale Thursday October 27th, 2022, at 11 a.m. The cost of a ticket is $200 per person (plus HST and handling charge) and a tax receipt will be issued.

Your ticket covers the food, a glass of sparkling wine, incredible entertainment, and a night of dancing. A cash bar will also be available.

“The Library and Base31 are both spaces which have played an important role in the history of our community. Both are being reimagined to be cultural and community hubs into the future. They serve as wonderful examples of urban renewal and the power of collaboration. It will be a Grand Celebration – a wonderful way to celebrate our past while looking to the future,” added Alexandra Bake, Chair of the Library Fundraising Committee.

-Staff