Library supporters, dignitaries and partygoers alike will want to circle Saturday, Sept. 24, on their calendars for the return of Sparkopolis – the creative fundraising party hosted by the Rangeview Library Friends Foundation. Money raised through this year’s event will fund the construction of Nature Explore children’s gardens at Anythink libraries.

Just as Anythink isn’t a typical library, Sparkopolis is unlike most fundraisers. By creating fun, interactive experiences through food, drink, music and art, Sparkopolis is a marvel to behold at the district’s 45,000-square-foot flagship library, Anythink Wright Farms.

Chef Ian Kleinman of The Inventing Room will be back using the latest molecular gastronomy techniques to create an incredible dining experience, where guests can interact with food in a way they’ll have to see to believe. Whether its local brews, signature cocktails, or unique tamales and latkes, Sparkopolis has something special for the food and drink lover in everyone. Music provided by The Fever, a Denver-based R&B/funk/jazz outfit, will keep guests dancing all night long. The Sparkopolis gallery will feature pieces for sale by local artists, with 25 percent of sales going to the Rangeview Library Friends Foundation.

Brandi Shigley, owner and founder of Fashion Denver, will emcee the event, bringing a new creative flair to Sparkopolis in 2011. Designers Tricia Hoke and Francis Roces, who represent the amazing design talent here in Colorado, will join her. Hoke, named a 2011 Westword Mastermind, will draw whimsical fashion sketches of what people are wearing that evening. Roces, a designer regularly featured at the Fashion Denver boutique, will create a piece of fashion/art in which guests at the event will contribute by selecting pieces of fabric and other accouterments to add to the piece.

One of the coolest new features of Sparkopolis 2011 includes shuttle transportation from Denver for downtown guests who’d rather not worry about driving. This 44-seat party bus will make for a fun commute to and from Anythink Wright Farms. The bus leaves at 6 pm from the Westword building downtown and will depart after Sparkopolis concludes at 10 pm.

All of the fun packed into Sparkopolis contributes to a great cause. Nature Explore gardens are creative outdoor classrooms that help connect kids to nature while improving math, science, language and socialization skills. Research shows that children who lack sufficient interaction with nature can have issues with obesity, dislike of the outdoors and increased reliance on behavior-regulating medications. By building Nature Explore gardens, Anythink will help to encourage a healthier lifestyle with unique exposure to nature during children’s key formative years.

Sparkopolis tickets are available for $75, with a discounted rate of $50 for “idea connoisseurs” 35 and under. This year, there is a limited amount of $60 tickets for guests interested in taking the shuttle from Denver. All tickets can be purchased here. For sponsorship information, please contact Mahala Evans at mevans@anythinklibraries.org.