Upcoming Events

Featured Events

Book cover of Wishtree: silhouette of a large oak tree with a few colorful ribbons tied to its branches against a star-studded blue night sky. A crow stands looking up at the tree and an owl and a pair of skunks are in its branches. The words wishtree from the Newbery medal-winning author of the One and Only Ivan Katherine Applegate

World Builders Book Club: Wishtree

Tuesday, June 10, 2025 at 3:45pm - 5:00pm
Community Meeting Room at Essex Public Library

Program Type:

Book Club

Age Group:

Children, Tweens
Register Now
Library Branch: Essex Public Library
Room: Community Meeting Room
Age Group: Children, Tweens
Program Type: Book Club
Registration Required
Event Details:

Read, craft and play games centered around Newbery Medal-winning author, Katherine Applegate's, Wishtree.

Nickolas Muray's photograph of Frida Kahlo on a Bench in New York in 1939

Color Our World with Frida Kahlo and Mexican Modernism

Wednesday, June 11, 2025 at 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Community Meeting Room at Essex Public Library

Program Type:

Other, Special Event

Age Group:

Adults
View Details
Library Branch: Essex Public Library
Room: Community Meeting Room
Age Group: Adults
Program Type: Other, Special Event
Event Details:

Delve deeper into the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Frida Kahlo exhibit, "Frida: Beyond the Myth," in this talk with art historian Dr. Jeanette Nicewinter, Ph.D. 

cartoonish red and white striped tub of popcorn wearing sunglasses walking munching popcorn and holding a paintbrush in its hand and leaving a red paint trail behind it

Paint, Punch and Popcorn

Friday, June 13, 2025 at 2:30pm - 5:00pm
Community Meeting Room at Essex Public Library

Program Type:

Arts & Crafts

Age Group:

Children, Preschool, Tweens, Family
View Details
Library Branch: Essex Public Library
Room: Community Meeting Room
Age Group: Children, Preschool, Tweens, Family
Program Type: Arts & Crafts
Event Details:

Drop by the library to make some art and have a snack. All ages.

grand piano sitting on a cloud with its lid open and a rainbow with colorful musical notes and shapes on a sky blue background

There's a Song for That!

Saturday, June 14, 2025 at 10:30am - 11:15am
Community Meeting Room at Essex Public Library

Program Type:

Performance, Workshop

Age Group:

Children, Preschool, Family
View Details
Library Branch: Essex Public Library
Room: Community Meeting Room
Age Group: Children, Preschool, Family
Program Type: Performance, Workshop
Event Details:

Whatever you’re thinking or feeling, there's probably a song for that! Music is a great way for children to express emotions, cultivate creativity, and build empathy.

Blue graphic of a drone flying over a geometric pattern and the words make it work with STEM robotics written in gold

Make it Work With STEM: Drones

Saturday, June 14, 2025 at 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Community Meeting Room at Essex Public Library

Program Type:

Technology Class, Workshop

Age Group:

Tweens, Teens
Register Now
Library Branch: Essex Public Library
Room: Community Meeting Room
Age Group: Tweens, Teens
Program Type: Technology Class, Workshop
Registration Required
Event Details:

Work together in teams to build and fly a drone - explore how it works, test your flying skills and see just how high you can soar.  Ages 9 to 15.  Registration required.

Light it Up With STEM Engineering text and red mini LED light saber and colorful LED stickies

Light It Up With STEM: Lightsabers & More

Tuesday, June 17, 2025 at 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Community Meeting Room at Essex Public Library

Program Type:

Other

Age Group:

Children, Tweens
Register Now
Library Branch: Essex Public Library
Room: Community Meeting Room
Age Group: Children, Tweens
Program Type: Other
Registration Required
Event Details:

Brighten things up by creating mini-LED lightsabers and stickies. For ages 7-12. Registration required.

Hot Mix VA Radio in red lettering with black headphone graphic surrounding the words with the text the real world of media & music, episode 1: how it works

The Real World of Media & Music: How it Works

Wednesday, June 18, 2025 at 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Community Meeting Room at Essex Public Library

Program Type:

Workshop

Age Group:

Teens
View Details
Library Branch: Essex Public Library
Room: Community Meeting Room
Age Group: Teens
Program Type: Workshop
Event Details:

Work with Travis Harris and DJ Turtle of Hot Mix VA radio in this interactive series introducing young people to the Media & Music industry.  

In episode 1, learn about the skill set and equipment used in the business.

Stone rampart and slatted wooden bridge with 3 neon green dungeons and dragons die of various shapes

D & D Club

Saturday, June 21, 2025 at 11:00am - 2:00pm
Community Meeting Room at Essex Public Library

Program Type:

Gaming

Age Group:

Tweens, Teens
Register Now
Library Branch: Essex Public Library
Room: Community Meeting Room
Age Group: Tweens, Teens
Program Type: Gaming
Registration Required
Event Details:

Step into the multi-colored world of Dungeons & Dragons. Pizza provided and beginners welcomed! For ages 11 - 15. Registration required.

Author Katherine Applegate in a jean jacket with colorful necklace standing next to the picture book cover of Odder with a sea otter leaning its face against a paw while floating on its back in the Pacific Ocean. World Builders Book club Watch Party written underneath

World Builders Book Club Watch Party with Katherine Applegate

Tuesday, June 24, 2025 at 3:45pm - 5:00pm
Community Meeting Room at Essex Public Library

Program Type:

Book Club, Special Event

Age Group:

Children, Tweens
View Details
Library Branch: Essex Public Library
Room: Community Meeting Room
Age Group: Children, Tweens
Program Type: Book Club, Special Event
Event Details:

Join us for a watch party at the Library as award-winning author and summer reading champion Katherine Applegate talks to viewers about her enthusiastically heartwarming novel in verse, Odder.

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Age Group
Program Type

There's a Song for That!

10:30am–11:15am
Children, Preschool, Family
Performance, Workshop
Library Branch: Essex Public Library
Room: Community Meeting Room
Age Group: Children, Preschool, Family
Program Type: Performance, Workshop
Event Details:

Whatever you’re thinking or feeling, there's probably a song for that! Music is a great way for children to express emotions, cultivate creativity, and build empathy.

Make it Work With STEM: Drones

1:00pm–2:00pm
Tweens, Teens
Technology Class, Workshop
Waitlist
Registration Required
Library Branch: Essex Public Library
Room: Community Meeting Room
Age Group: Tweens, Teens
Program Type: Technology Class, Workshop
Registration Required
Event Details:

Work together in teams to build and fly a drone - explore how it works, test your flying skills and see just how high you can soar.  Ages 9 to 15.  Registration required.

The Real World of Media & Music: How it Works

6:30pm–7:30pm
Teens
Workshop
Library Branch: Essex Public Library
Room: Community Meeting Room
Age Group: Teens
Program Type: Workshop
Event Details:

Work with Travis Harris and DJ Turtle of Hot Mix VA radio in this interactive series introducing young people to the Media & Music industry.  

In episode 1, learn about the skill set and equipment used in the business.

The Real World of Media & Music: How to Interview & Make a Podcast

6:30pm–7:30pm
Teens
Workshop
Library Branch: Essex Public Library
Room: Community Meeting Room
Age Group: Teens
Program Type: Workshop
Event Details:

Work with Travis Harris and DJ Turtle of Hot Mix VA radio in this interactive series introducing young people to the Media & Music industry.  

In episode 2, learn about the craft of interviewing and podcasts.

Get Going With STEM: Vehicles

10:30am–11:30am
Children, Tweens
Workshop
Open
Registration Required
Library Branch: Essex Public Library
Room: Community Meeting Room
Age Group: Children, Tweens
Program Type: Workshop
Registration Required
Event Details:

Engineer vehicles powered by balloons and rubber bands and race them. For ages 7-12. Registration required.

The Real World of Media & Music: How to DJ

6:30pm–7:30pm
Teens
Workshop
Library Branch: Essex Public Library
Room: Community Meeting Room
Age Group: Teens
Program Type: Workshop
Event Details:

Work with Travis Harris and DJ Turtle of Hot Mix VA radio in this interactive series introducing young people to the Media & Music industry.  

In episode 3, crank up the volume and learn about DJing.

For ages 12- 17.

Color Your World: Bottle Galaxy Watercolor

4:00pm–5:30pm
Tweens, Teens
Arts & Crafts, Workshop
Open
Registration Required
Library Branch: Essex Public Library
Room: Community Meeting Room
Age Group: Tweens, Teens
Program Type: Arts & Crafts, Workshop
Registration Required
Event Details:

Use out of this world watercolor techniques and design a stunning galaxy in this workshop with local artist and art educator, Emily Crews! for ages 10 - 17. Registration required.

Capture Our World: Smartphone Photography 101

6:00pm–7:00pm
Adults
Workshop
Library Branch: Essex Public Library
Room: Community Meeting Room
Age Group: Adults
Program Type: Workshop
Event Details:

Discover how to make the most of your camera phone!

Creative Planning through Bullet Journaling

11:00am–12:30pm
Teens, Adults
Arts & Crafts, Other, Workshop
Open
Registration Required
Library Branch: Essex Public Library
Room: Community Meeting Room
Age Group: Teens, Adults
Program Type: Arts & Crafts, Other, Workshop
Registration Required
Event Details:

Have a goal to stay organized? In need of a scheduling system you'll keep? Then plan in style with a Bullet Journal! It's a unique way to keep events, notes, goals, general life, and creative fun in order.