Clearwater Main Library expands popular rooftop event series

You can find so much at the library, including beautiful sunsets and sunrises.

For the last two years, from November to March, Clearwater Public Library has held weekly “Sunset on the Roof’’ gatherings on its rooftop terrace. This year, the series expanded to include an April 22nd Art Appreciation Night on the Roof event that drew a crowd of about 140 and a Sunrise of the Roof gathering on May 1.

“It went really well,” says Donna Groce, a library administrative assistant. “We had about 40 people, and they were all new faces. They were not people they’re used to seeing at the rooftop events.”

Julia Bodolay, library program specialist, says the sunrise event drew an all-ages crowd, from families with young children to retirees. 

“It’s really a great way to see the community interact,” she says.

The program is on pause during daylight saving time, when the sunset comes too late to hold regular viewings. But the events have grown so popular that Bodolay and Groce plan to continue organizing monthly late-afternoon rooftop events until the weekly “Sunset on the Roof’’ series returns in November.

Groce says when the email notification list for rooftop events grew to more than 300 people, “We said, wow, let’s not lose the momentum.’’

“And we might throw a sunrise in there now and then,’’ she adds.

The events have become so popular that they wanted to keep the programming going, Bodolay says.

From 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. on June 17, Clearwater Fire & Rescue Emergency Management Division Chief Jarett Hood, will talk about hurricane preparation and safety. On July 17, a rooftop party with live music will celebrate the nation’s 250th Birthday. Free light refreshments, such as cookies and sparkling juice, are served at the events.

Groce says Clearwater Library Director Jennifer Obermaier started the Sunset on the Roof event in 2009, when she was the library’s youth manager.

“It went on for a few years and then some people kind of dropped off,” she says. “Julia and myself have been with the city a little over two years and we both have strong event planning backgrounds, so we begged to be able to give people access to these beautiful views and build some sort of community connection. And so we were given the blessing to do that, and we took off with this program and it’s really exceeded anyone’s expectations.’’

The rooftop events help generate more activity and draw more people downtown, two City Council priorities. Clearwater Main Library stands on the edge of Coachman Park overlooking Clearwater Harbor. The City Council wants a permanent arts or cultural attraction to occupy part of the library in an effort to draw more people to the area to support downtown businesses.

The BayCare Sound amphitheater in Coachman Park is a popular draw for concerts, but city officials want to draw people to the area regularly.

Two nearby projects currently under construction will help. Next to the library, The Ballad Hotel, a 10-story hotel with ground-floor retail and restaurant space and a bar on the top floor, is scheduled to open in late 2027. The Bluffs, a 28-story apartment tower with 10,000 square feet of retail space, is scheduled to open in May 2028.

For information about future rooftop programs, go to Clearwater library events 

To subscribe to the event email notification list, go to Sunset on the Roof updates