The stacks were packed at the 20th Annual Harford County Public Library Gala. Some 600 folks filled the Abingdon library branch for the shindig, whose theme is always based on a book. This year, the chosen tome: Erin Morgenstern’s “Night Circus” – inspired a Victorian circus theme, Cirque de Magie. A juggler, stilt walker, magicians and fortune tellers were scattered throughout and a “big top” hung over the dance floor.“It’s our 20th gala, so we pulled out all the stops,” said Amber Shrodes, the library’s director of philanthropy and community engagement. “We started it as a thank you to our community and we’ve made it a party that everybody wants to come to,” said Mary Hastler, library CEO.

“We make it so much fun that people are already saving the date for next year,” she said, with a laugh.

That date, by the way? Nov. 1, 2025.