2025 Basketpalooza is here!!

Between now and December 22nd, you are cordially invited to support the Andover Friends of the Library and their fifth annual fundraiser, Basketpalooza!  This year, we have a record number of FORTY-SIX baskets filled with all sorts of goodies, from toys to homemade jams & jellies, baking supplies, fossils, Red Sox stuff, wine, and gift cards galore -- just to name a few items.   Please consider stopping by the library sometime soon and support this big event!  The library is open Monday through Thursday, 10AM-7PM and Saturday, 10AM-2PM.  Tickets are $1 each; $5 for 6 tickets; and $10 for 13 tickets.  One winning ticket for each basket will be drawn on Monday, December 22nd at 5PM, and the winners will be notified that evening.  Please stop by the library soon and support this wonderful event!

Here's the list of baskets ~ there's something for everyone!  

BASKET #1:  Basket of Beauty ~ All sorts of cleansers, serums, lotions, and potions from many makers, including Estee Lauder, Clinique, Elizabeth Arden, and more.  Plus, several Sephora makeup and body brushes.

BASKET #2:  Holiday Cheers! ~ 3 bottles of wine to get you through the holiday season, including Carmel Road Chardonnay (2023), Josh Cellars Pinot Grigio (2024), and Yellow Tail Cabernet Merlot (2023).  Plus, a game of Festive Bingo!  [Ages 21+, please]

BASKET #3:  Kitchen Goodies ~ Lots of utensils for your kitchen utensil drawer, including a lemon squeezer, turkey baster, balloon whisk, cutting board, and more.  Plus, tea and ancient coarse sea salt, too.

BASKET #4:  Cheers! ~ 3 bottles of wine, including Bartenura Moscato D’Asti, Loosen Bros. Riesling, and Fissata Blonde selections.  Plus, two wine glasses to ring in the new year…or whatever occasion you like!  [Ages 21+, please]

BASKET #5:  Jams & Pickles, Too! ~ More goodies from the kitchen of Andover’s Janet Platz, including smaller-sized jars of Blueberry Lime Jam, Blueberry Marmalade, Low Sugar Peach Raspberry Jam, Peach Bellini Jam, Red Raspberry Jam, Peach Honey Butter, Low Sugar Blueberry Jam, Apple Butter, and a jar of bread & butter pickles.

BASKET #6:  Stacking Mugs & Towels ~ Your morning coffee will taste better when you drink it from one of these fun, stackable Christmas character mugs.  Plus, four Christmas-themed dish towels and a bag of Starbucks holiday blend coffee.

BASKET #7:  Let’s Go, Red Sox! ~ Lots of vintage items for the Red Sox fan, including a Red Sox window cling for the car, a Worcester Red Sox souvenir batting helmet, Four mini Red Sox flags, a Red Sox talking pen, a Red Sox Pez dispenser, and more goodies.  Plus, four Red Sox books fill out the basket.

BASKET #8:   For the Scrapbooker ~ Lots of goodies for the scrapbooker/crafter, including water color pencils, set of 40 fine line markers, an album, and lots more scrapbooking materials.

BASKET #9:  Garden Basket ~ Lots of things for the gardener including a kit, books, gloves with sleeves, tools, and arm sleeves.
 
BASKET #10:  Big Time Beauty Basket ~ Geske Sonic Full-Body Brush & Intensive Exfoliator; Geske Sonic Facial & Body Roller; Augustinus Bader The Cream & The Eye Cream box; ZenoWell Auricular Massage Device; Lovery Hand Mask set; Set of Dior Prestige micro-lotion, advanced serum, and crème; Penta Berry Panthenol Repair Peel Pad; and FRE Detox Me Instant Clearing Mask.

BASKET #11:  Snoopy! ~ Lots of Snoopy items, including a coin purse, socks, a Squishmallow, ornament, and A Charlie Brown Christmas Sticker by Number book, all stuffed inside a Snoopy head basket.  Plus, some Woodstock pens!

BASKET #12:  A Little Bit of Trader Joe’s ~ Several goodies including a milk chocolate peanut butter trees, 2 beef sticks, milk chocolate bar, dark chocolate covered pretzels, a tin of Starbucks Hot Cocoa mix, and a $10 Trader Joe’s gift card, all packed in a small Trader Joe’s canvas tote bag.

BASKET #13:  Bear with Me! ~ A big Vera Bradley bear-themed tote stuffed with some unbearably cute items:  soft throw with bears reading books; Crayola Bear; Winnie the Pooh mug with peppermint bark tea, honey, and hot chocolate; a pair of reading socks; bear chocolates.

BASKET #14:  Spoiled Dog Basket ~ Christmas dog toy; holiday pet waste bags; dog ornament; Christmas dog-themed dish towels; Trader Joe’s dog toy; Natural peanut butter dog treats; decorative dog-themed sign for shelf; Chicken Soup for the Soul dog treats; water bottle dog toy; gentle lead for medium-sized dog; glass picture frame with dog motif; an advent calendar for pups; box of buddy biscuits dog treats; dog-design reusable bag; and a $25 Pet Smart gift card.

BASKET #15:  Christmas Crafting Kits for Kids! ~ Five individual kits for kids to create trees, decorations, reindeer, and letters to Santa.

BASKET #16:  Caring for Your Skin ~ Lots of higher-end lotions and cremes from makers like Elizabeth Arden, Eminence Organic Skin Care, Shiseido, Clarins Paris, Sisley Paris, and more.  Also, several makeup brushes from Sephora and Rare Beauty.

BASKET #17:  Dress Up! ~ All sorts of fun stuff for dressing up, including a rainbow skirt, paper crown, unicorn headband, princess shoes, and more.

BASKET #18:  It’s Baking! ~ Cake mixes and cookie mixes, plus cake toppers, sprinkles, and tip cards for baking for parties.

BASKET #19:  Color & Draw! ~ An animal coloring book, plus a drawing pad, and two boxes of crayons.  Plus, a 300-piece EZ-Grip dog puzzle.

BASKET #20:  For the Reader ~ Seven advanced readers’ copies of adult fiction titles, including Dear Debbie by Frieda McFadden (publishing date is January 27, 2026).  Also includes some cozy foot covers and a book lover’s mug, all packed inside an Out of Print book bag.

BASKET #21:  Tea & Baking Goodies ~ A box of Bigelow assorted teas, plus a tea cup with strainer, cookie mixes, and a Christmas spatula and cookie cutters.

BASKET #22:  Wrap it Up! ~ 4 rolls of wrapping paper, plus gift tags, bows, and tissue paper – all in a Christmas tote bag.  

BASKET #23:  Christmas is for the Birds! ~ Several Christmas bird decorations, a lump of coal, and a couple more Christmas goodies.

BASKET #24:  Stuffed Toys, Books & More! ~ This basket is filled with stuffed animals, toys, and books.  What more could you want?

BASKET #25:  Homemade Jams & Jellies ~ Straight from the kitchen of Andover’s Janet Platz, here are 11 jars of homemade jams & jellies, including Strawberry Margarita Jam, Peach Bellini Jam, Cinnamon Peach Jam, Low Sugar Black Raspberry Jam, Peach Cardamom Jam, Strawberry Rhubarb Jam, Blueberry Lime Jam, Strawberry Jam, Blueberry Jam, Red Raspberry Jam, and Apple Jelly.

BASKET #26:  Handmade Quilt ~ Lovely quilt made by a library patron; measures approximately 52” x 62”.

BASKET #27:  Treat Yourself! ~ Several very fine spa goodies, including a YONO Eucalyptus Mint soy wax candle, Needle’s Nest Lavender Flaxseed eye pillow, pillow & linen spray, feverfew & chamomile oil EVOO, a bottle of Newport Vineyards Island White wine, and a 3-class gift card from YONO Quiet Corner Float in Willimantic.  [Ages 21+, please]

BASKET #28:  Even More Trader Joe’s! ~ Lots of goodies from Trader Joe’s including a box of Candy Cane Green Tea, plus a Bacon Ranch Popcorn, Mini Pretzels, a Banana Bread Mix, and a jar of Hot & Sweet Pepper Jelly.  All of these items are packed inside a Trader Joe’s insulated cooler bag, and for an added bonus, there is also a Trader Joe’s insulated lunch bag AND a $10 Trader Joe’s gift card.

BASKET #29:  It’s a Fall Thing ~ Several pumpkin-themed items, including pumpkin cookies, caramel cocoa mix, home décor, pumpkin necklaces, candy corn, and more.

BASKET #30:  Picnic Basket ~ A collapsible cooler, packable picnic blanket, cloth napkins, a backpack purse, margarita mix, sunscreen, cherry soy candle, and sunglasses.

BASKET #31:  Puzzles for Kids ~ A basketful of tray puzzles for kids.

BASKET #32:  Big Basket of Games & Puzzles ~ Lots of fun options for the whole family, including a Grecian Computer wooden puzzle, Elf family bingo, a music trivia game, and more.

BASKET #33:  This Basket is Millions of Years Old! ~ Here is a treasure trove of fossils harvested in 2001 at the Ulrich’s Fossil Fish Gallery in Kemmerer, Wyoming by two Andover residents.  Enjoy learning and discovering about these 25 fascinating glimpses into our past.  Also includes two books about fossils and a magnifying glass.

BASKET #34:  For the Future Chef ~ A Fisher Price Laugh & Learn Follow the Recipe Meal kit and a Frypan playset.

BASKET #35:  Garden Basket ~ Lots of goodies for the gardener, including a Garden Secrets book, bee garden mug, a sun hat, garden gloves, seeds, and more.

BASKET #36:  Classic Toys for the Classic Kid ~ A Barbie styling head and a Play-Doh Drill & Fill playset, plus 12 small cans of Play-Doh.

BASKET #37:  Toys! ~ Wooden magnetic fishing game and a toolbox that makes noise.

BASKET #38:  Duck, Duck, Christmas Birds ~ Two vintage ceramic ducks and three Christmas birds.

BASKET #39:  Honey, Syrup & Tea ~ Four jars of honey, plus, Wild Cherry Balsamic Vinegar, Organic Lavendar Syrup, and Dandelion & Peach Tea.

BASKET #40:  Even More Toys! ~ Magic Magnetic Tiles and Marble Run.

BASKET #41:  More Toys! ~ Newborn twin dolls, a doctor play set, and Baby Shark finger puppets.

BASKET #42:  Hello Kitty! ~ Several Hello Kitty items, including 2 makeup bags, a pouch, 4 collectible packages of Hello Kitty MGA’s MiniVerse Make It Mini Food (Series 1), and several other HK items.

BASKET #43:  Coloring! ~ Several coloring and activity books for the kids, plus pencils, a pencil case, and a great big box of 120 Crayola Crayons.

BASKET #44:  Box O’Cash! ~ Who can’t use some cash?  Enjoy this box of bills (though the amount is a surprise).

BASKET #45:  What’s in the Box? ~ It’s a BIG mystery!  This box is stuffed with many fine items that will keep you warm, help you stay hydrated, and a whole lot more.  Want to know what’s in the box?  Buy some tickets, and maybe your ticket will be the lucky winner!

BASKET #46: Gift Cards & Lottery Tix! ~ 4 separate gift cards ($20 Aldi, $25 Ted’s IGA, $25 Applebee’s, $20 Mastercard Gift Card) plus 6 CT Lottery Holiday Cash scratch-offs.  [Ages 21+, please]