The elves were out at the Mount Airy Public Library last night when preschoolers and their families joined together to enjoy “Elfcapades.”

The Elfcapades program from 6 to 7 p.m. featured music, a puppet show, reading, crafts, and refreshments.

It began with sing-along Christmas music led by Jacki Spector, literacy outreach coordinator for the library. Preschoolers and their families sang Christmas favorites together such as “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” and “Jingle Bells.”

Next, Spector narrated for a puppet show production of “The Elves and the Shoemaker.” Several children who have attended story time in years past came to participate in the puppet show.

Spector told the crowd that “The Elves and the Shoemaker” teaches about giving. She said, “It will reinforce for you the true meaning of the Christmas season.”

She taught the children a song about the elves making shoes and got them to participate by using hand motions as they sang.

After the puppet show, Spector played the guitar and led the crowd in singing “We Wish You A Merry Christmas.” Decked out in an elf costume, Tommie Smith, assistant librarian, next read the children a book titled “The Little Red Elf.” Afterward, the children could enjoy cookies and milk and make stockings to take home with them.

“We wanted to create a wonderful start of the season for families,” explained Smith.

Spector said, “We’re always interested in bringing families and kids to the library.”

Around 35 children attended Elfcapades, which the library staff members were pleased with. They were also pleased with the responses they got from the children.

“They did very well,” said Smith.

Sally Reece brought daughters Paxton, 6, and Kinlee, 4, to the program. Paxton was one of the children who helped with the puppet show. Reece said they were excited to come.

“We come every week to storytime, and we love Ms. Tommie and Ms. Jacki,” said Reece.

Reece has been bringing her daughters to the library since the oldest was 2 or 3 years old. She said, “It’s nice to do something for the little kids.”

Smith was happy to have some of her former storytime participants, like Paxton, come back to help.

“I love for my kids to come back and visit,” remarked Smith.

Last year the library didn’t sponsor the program, but it has held similar events in years prior to that.

“We begged them to do it again,” said Reece.

Four-year-old Kinlee said her favorite part of the program was when she saw the elves.

Kennedy Richardson, 4 years old, said, “It was good.” She enjoyed the puppet show most.

Kennedy’s mom, Robin Richardson, found out about the event through the library’s Facebook page.

Richardson explained why she brought her daughter: “I think it’s good to involve reading, no matter what the age is ... and any time you come to the library it’s a good thing.”

Spector summed the program up by saying, “It was fun for us and fun for the children.”

Tonight the Dewey Decimal Players will perform “Follow the Star” at the library at 6:30 p.m.

Contact Meghann Evans at mevans@mtairynews.com or 719-1952.