All programs are free and open to everyone.
Teen Events | Tween Events
Teen Events (Gr. 9-12)
Teen Friday (Ages 13+)
Fridays (ongoing), 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. in the Program Room
Drop-in event, no registration required.
Note: No Teen Friday during the week of winter break, December 29.
What is Teen Friday? It’s a time to come to the library, play video games with your friends, eat snacks, color, do a craft (it’s a mystery each week), or just hang and chat with your friends and our librarians about the things that you love.
It is an open hangout so bring your friends and come spend some time at the Essex Library!
Tranquil Tuesday (Ages 13+)
Tuesday, December 19, 5:00 p.m. in the Conference Room
Registration requested but not required.
Take some time for yourself to de-stress at the Essex Library’s Tranquil Tuesday! Chat with friends, or zone out, as we listen to music and enjoy a new relaxing activity each month. This month we will be doing paint-by-sticker art. Snacks will be provided. We hope to see you there!
Sign up at (860) 767-1560 or e-mail staff.essexlib@gmail.com
Bingo for Books: Winter Break Edition (All Ages)
Tuesday, December 26, 4:00 p.m. in the Program Room
Drop-in event, no registration required.
Bingo for books is fun for everyone! Bring your family and friends, play BINGO and earn books as your prize. Winners will be able to select a book from a selection of children and teen titles. Come celebrate Winter Break at the Essex Library!
Best of 2023 Kid’s Movie Marathon
Thursday, December 28, 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. in the Program Room
Drop-in event, no registration required.
Program for families, kids, and teens. Movie ratings are listed for parents to determine age-appropriateness for their families.
Come to the library to remember the year and watch some of the best kid’s movies of 2023! Popcorn and movie snacks provided. Come for one, some, or all of these awesome films!
Film Schedule:
9-11:30 AM: Super Mario Bros Movie [PG]
11:30 AM – 1:45 PM: Little Mermaid [PG]
2:00-3:30 PM: Elemental [PG]
3:30-6:00 PM: Haunted Mansion [PG-13]
Dungeons & Dragons
Thursday, December 28, 5:00 p.m. in the Conference Room
Registration required.
Join us and play the world’s greatest role-playing game at one of the Essex Library’s Dungeons & Dragons sessions! Come create your own character and join the adventure where we will fight monsters and explore new lands.
Both new and experienced players are welcome.
There will be two sessions for teens (Gr. 9-12) in December: December 14 & December 28 at 5pm.
Sign up at (860) 767-1560 or e-mail staff.essexlib@gmail.com
New Year’s Eve Eve Party
Saturday, December 30, 11:00 a.m. in the Program Room
Registration required.
Program for families with kids of all ages.
Celebrate the New Year a few days early! Play some New Year’s themed games, make a New Year’s craft, and ring in the New Year with a virtual ball drop at noon!
Sign up at (860) 767-1560 or e-mail staff.essexlib@gmail.com
NEW TIME: Louie Listens
Thursday, January 11, 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. in the Program Room
Registration required.
Louie is back and ready to read or spend time with you! Reading to a therapy dog has been proven to improve reading skills, self-esteem, and confidence!
Kids & teens can sign up to spend a private 15 minutes with Louie the Labrador, a local, licensed therapy dog. See Louie on the local news!
Sign up at (860) 767-1560 or e-mail staff.essexlib@gmail.com
Program Room PuzzleMania
Monday, January 29, all day in the Program Room
Drop-in event, no registration required.
It’s National Puzzle Day! Come celebrate at the Essex Library. Our program room will be filled with puzzles for kids, teens, and adults of all ages to complete! Put in one piece or finish a whole puzzle!
Tween Events (Gr. 4-8)
Kids Create: Snow Globes! (Gr. K+)
Saturday, December 16, 10:00 a.m. in the Program Room
Registration required.
Roll up your sleeves and get crafty! In this session, children are invited to make their very own winter-themed snow globe!
Sign up at (860) 767-1560 or e-mail staff.essexlib@gmail.com
Crazy 8’s Math Club: Grades 3-5
Saturdays, December 16 – Febraury 3, 3:00 p.m. in the Program Room
Registration required.
Note: January 13th Meeting will be at 11:00 a.m. as the library closes early that day.
Join Miss Nicole, Essex Library’s Children’s Librarian, and Mrs. Vandermale, Essex Elementary School’s Math Specialist, for 8 weeks of math fun!
Crazy 8’s is a no-repeats math experience that helps kids overcome their anxiety around math and build confidence, with a 2018 study finding that Crazy 8s significantly reduced children’s feelings of math anxiety after eight weeks of participation in the club!
Crazy 8’s club will meet 8 Saturdays in a row from December 16-February 3. Participants should commit to attending all 8 sessions.
Sign up at (860) 767-1560 or e-mail staff.essexlib@gmail.com
STEAM Saturdays: Paper Circuit Cards (Gr. K+)
Saturday, December 23, 10:00 a.m. in the Program Room
Registration required.
Enjoy a different STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Mathematics) project at the library select Saturdays. This session we will be exploring the science of electricity and simple circuits by making greeting cards that light up! Make a card for an upcoming birthday, holidays, or just for fun, and impress your family and friends when it lights up!
Sign up at (860) 767-1560 or e-mail staff.essexlib@gmail.com
Bingo for Books: Winter Break Edition (All Ages)
Tuesday, December 26, 4:00 p.m. in the Program Room
Drop-in event, no registration required.
Bingo for books is fun for everyone! Bring your family and friends, play BINGO and earn books as your prize. Winners will be able to select a book from a selection of children and teen titles. Come celebrate Winter Break at the Essex Library!
Best of 2023 Kid’s Movie Marathon
Thursday, December 28, 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. in the Program Room
Drop-in event, no registration required.
Program for families, kids, and teens. Movie ratings are listed for parents to determine age-appropriateness for their families.
Come to the library to remember the year and watch some of the best kid’s movies of 2023! Popcorn and movie snacks provided. Come for one, some, or all of these awesome films!
Film Schedule:
9-11:30 AM: Super Mario Bros Movie [PG]
11:30 AM – 1:45 PM: Little Mermaid [PG]
2:00-3:30 PM: Elemental [PG]
3:30-6:00 PM: Haunted Mansion [PG-13]
New Year’s Eve Eve Party
Saturday, December 30, 11:00 a.m. in the Program Room
Registration required.
Program for families with kids of all ages.
Celebrate the New Year a few days early! Play some New Year’s themed games, make a New Year’s craft, and ring in the New Year with a virtual ball drop at noon!
Sign up at (860) 767-1560 or e-mail staff.essexlib@gmail.com
STEAM Saturdays: Winter Thaumatropes (Gr. K+)
Saturday, January 6, 10:00 a.m. in the Program Room
Registration required.
Enjoy a different STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Mathematics) project at the library select Saturdays. This session we will be exploring the concept of the “persistence of vision” by making winter-themed thaumatropes – spinning pictures that will amaze your eyes!
Sign up at (860) 767-1560 or e-mail staff.essexlib@gmail.com
NEW TIME: Louie Listens
Thursday, January 11, 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. in the Program Room
Registration required.
Louie is back and ready to read or spend time with you! Reading to a therapy dog has been proven to improve reading skills, self-esteem, and confidence!
Kids & teens can sign up to spend a private 15 minutes with Louie the Labrador, a local, licensed therapy dog. See Louie on the local news!
Sign up at (860) 767-1560 or e-mail staff.essexlib@gmail.com
Winter Minute to Win It Challenge (Gr. K+)
Saturday, January 16, 4:00 p.m. in the Program Room
Registration required.
Test your reflexes and skills in a series of quick one-minute winter-themed games! Bring your friends and compete in a “snowball” race, build a “snowman”, and play many other games!
Sign up at (860) 767-1560 or e-mail staff.essexlib@gmail.com
“Hunny Pot” Glitter Slime Lab (Gr. K+)
Thursday, January 18, 4:00 p.m. in the Program Room
Registration required.
You’re never too old to celebrate Winnie the Pooh Day! Come in for a fun STEAM activity where we explore polymers and non-Newtonian fluids by making golden glitter “Hunny” slime!
Sign up at (860) 767-1560 or e-mail staff.essexlib@gmail.com
STEAM Saturdays: Thermochromic Modeling Dough (Gr. K+)
Saturday, January 20, 10:00 a.m. in the Program Room
Registration required.
Enjoy a different STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Mathematics) project at the library select Saturdays. This session we will be exploring with thermochromic pigment by making modeling dough that changes colors with cold or heat!
Sign up at (860) 767-1560 or e-mail staff.essexlib@gmail.com
Kids Create: DIY Stickers (Gr. K+)
Saturday, January 27, 10:00 a.m. in the Program Room
Registration required.
Roll up your sleeves and get crafty! In this session, children are invited to use household materials to design, create, and color their very own stickers!
Sign up at (860) 767-1560 or e-mail staff.essexlib@gmail.com
Program Room PuzzleMania
Monday, January 29, all day in the Program Room
Drop-in event, no registration required.
It’s National Puzzle Day! Come celebrate at the Essex Library. Our program room will be filled with puzzles for kids, teens, and adults of all ages to complete! Put in one piece or finish a whole puzzle!
