The Friends of the Bay County Public Libraries hosted a Jane Austen Friends Fundraiser on February 1, 2026. Many participants dressed in Regency era costume ready for an afternoon worthy of Pemberley. The activities included a tea with delicious tea cakes and finger sandwiches, making shadow silhouettes, faux embroidery bookmarks, flower arranging, dancing a simple Scottish Reel country dance, listening to live music, and trying one’s hand at calligraphy. Photographer, Lou Columbus, took portraits transforming the library setting to a Georgian manor. The event concluded with a lovely raffle from Rifle Paper Company and then of the floral arrangements by Summer Garden Flower Farm.

Thank you to everyone who made this event an absolute delight including: Musicians (Cellists Don Brown and Katja Chatfield), Summer Garden Flower Farm, Suzanne Miller Calligraphy and Lettering, Public Eye, Rifle Paper Company, and Main Street Antiques.