Fun on the Green

Families spread blankets and children danced barefoot on the Town Hall green Tuesday kicking off the Swampscott Public Library's  summer programs.

About 125 people celebrated the arts, crafts, fairs, movies and exploration to be offered at the library over five weeks starting July 5.

On  Tuesday, as the sun dipped to the horizon, Mr. DJ spun music, the songs inciting a dancin' good time. 

The breeze smelled of grass and ocean.

In a corner of the lawn by Burrill Street, a line of moms, dads and children looked forward to their place at the front.

There a team from Treadwell's in Peabody scooped ice cream, splashed hot fudge and strawberries, sprinkled jimmies and sprayed whipped cream.

Closer to the library helpers painted butterflies and pressed tattoos on kids.

Nearby on the lawn Barbara Carone of Swampscott smiled as she held her 2-year-old grandson Joe Blood in her arms.

"He's my favorite beautiful boy," she said.

Children's Librarian Izzi Abrams scanned the lawn looking toward Monument Avenue and saw an upbeat and content crowd.

"A lot of dancing, moving, talking, eating — just a great time," she said.

The event was called Family Night.

It goes back about a dozen years, though it fell into hibernation for a few of them before being restored in recent years, she said.

Mom Inga Shpolberg and her son, Gregory Ninitsker, 8, ate ice cream and listened to music at Family Night.

Inga said her son is a regular at the library.

He reads a lot of books and takes home movies," she said.

He'll have a chance for more of the same this summer, a summer of messy Monday crafts, pizza days, costumes and stories at the library.

For more information on these program and others visit swa@noblenet.org or call 781-596-8867.

Tuesday night ice cream sundaes