Vandergrift Public Library to hold escape room fundraisers with live actors

The Vandergrift Public Library wants you out the door — for a good cause.

As a fundraiser, the library will hold two escape room events, on Feb. 11 and 25, in its historic building in downtown Vandergrift.

People are invited to register in teams of four to six to compete in “The Order of the Trust Escape Room.” Tickets are $20 each with all proceeds going to the library.

The first escape room fundraiser was held in 2019, but pandemic restrictions forced a pause until this year.

“We are hoping to make this another successful fundraiser that will run through the year,” said library director Vanessa Groholski. “We only got a chance to run the first event for five months.”

During that time, the library raised $935.

Library officials have added a special feature to their escape room — the inclusion of live actors immersing players into the game.

“Players need only book a date, arrive, and they will be drawn into a mystery highlighting the 120-year history of the Vandergrift Public Library,” said library board member Natalie Sack, who designed the escape room. “The storyline of this fundraiser reflects reality in that libraries are in real need of donations to continue providing services to communities.”

The teams of players use observation, logic and teamwork to solve puzzles and “escape” from the building with the lost treasure.

The escape process utilizes the entire library, with teams beginning on the first floor and working their way upstairs into three rooms.

Reservations are required and the experience lasts about an hour. Organizers said the event is ideal for friends, families or as a team-building excercise. Participants must be 16 or older.

The fundraiser will operate as an after-hours event (7 to 8 p.m.) and will not affect normal library hours.

The live actors in the event will not be wearing masks. Sack said the actors will not come into close contact with players, and the game is sterilized after each play session. For participants, masks are optional.

Organizers hope to add additional escape-room dates soon.

“We previously had a fantastic response and hope to bring it back bettter than ever, especially to recover the loss of funds during the ongoing pandemic,” Groholski said. “This unique event is fun and a great way to support the library.”

The library has waived all fines since 2020 in response to covid conditions.

“It wasn’t a personal choice, but a Westmoreland Library network decision. We really rely on that income and have lost an average of $2,000 just on fines,” Groholski said.

Tickets are available on the library’s website at vandergriftpubliclibrary.org.