Middle Gate Elementary School celebrated the season with a fall-themed Book Fair Family Night on Wednesday, September 30.

This marked the Middle Gate PTA's third annual Family Night, a night which invites students and their families to come together and enjoy reading-related activities after school.

The event coincides with the school's Scholastic Book Fair Week. Much like last year, PTA members lined Middle Gate Room 1 with tables and shelves for the special occasion. Attendees could fill their shopping bags with picture books and graphic novels or other items such as journals, pens, and plushies.

There was a raffle every 20 minutes, where kids could win items such as a journal, a poster, and a $5 book.

Family Night has a different theme every year; two years ago it was Pajama and Stuffie Night, where everyone was encouraged to wear their pajamas, while last year's theme was Wild About Books, focused around animals.

Middle Gate PTA member and Book Fair Lead Nerlande Foote said she and the others picked "Falling Into Books" as this year's theme. To that end, everything from the table covers to the triangle signs dangling from the ceiling featured oranges, browns, and reds.

Down the hall was a fall-themed photo booth area, with a wooden bench, stacks of books, and small plush scarecrow decoration for people to take photos with. There was also a hot chocolate station, where people could pour their own toasty cup of hot chocolate and top it off with whipped cream or chocolate syrup.

Several kids, along with their parents and guardians, wore pajamas or brought blankets, eye masks, and pillows to be extra cozy. They got to put these items to good use during story times throughout the evening in the library. Volunteers would read a children's book to students and their parents or caretakers while they quietly drank their hot chocolate or laid under their blanket.

Middle Gate PTA members also had local businesses and restaurants donate gift cards for the school's teachers. Foote said each teacher had two tickets in their mailbox, so whoever's name was pulled at the end of the book fair received a prize.

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Reporter Jenna Visca can be reached at jenna@thebee.com.