Upcoming Events

Featured Events

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.

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.

Colorfully painted 2 dimensional gemstones in all shapes and sizes laid out on a black background

Color Your World: Giant Gemstones

Wednesday, June 25, 2025 at 2:00pm - 3:30pm
Community Meeting Room at Essex Public Library

Program Type:

Arts & Crafts

Age Group:

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

Strike it RICH!  Use the color wheel & oil pastels to create large, colorful gemstones. For ages 7-12. Registration required.

Podcasting equipment set up in a dark room with the ON AIR sign on

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

Wednesday, June 25, 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 2, learn about the craft of interviewing and podcasts.

The text, "Colors of Culture: Storytelling, Food & Art from the Indigenous World, Colors of the Sky & Earth Worlds" imposed on a blue sky with clouds and green terrestrial planet with plants emerging from it background. Just Harvest orange and black logo with an ear of corn, feather and raised fist in a circle.

Colors of Culture: Indigenous Storytelling, Food & Art

Friday, June 27, 2025 at 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Community Meeting Room at Essex Public Library

Program Type:

Special Event

Age Group:

Everyone
Register Now
Library Branch: Essex Public Library
Room: Community Meeting Room
Age Group: Everyone
Program Type: Special Event
Registration Required
Event Details:

Jay Richardson Grebe, Executive Director of Just Harvest and descendent of the Rappahannock Tribe shares stories from Indigenous cultures around the globe of how colors of Sky and Earth came to be before leading participants in a story inspi

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Author Talk - Living the Otter Life with Katherine Applegate (3rd-6th Grade)

4:00pm–5:00pm
Children, Tweens
Author Talk, Virtual Event
Virtual Event
Library Branch: Essex Public Library
Room: Online
Age Group: Children, Tweens
Program Type: Author Talk, Virtual Event
Event Details:

Join us as award-winning author and summer reading champion Katherine Applegate talks to viewers about her enthusiastically heartwarming novel in verse, Odder. 

Author Talk - Dibuja tu mundo con Raúl the Third (Preescolar a 2.º grado)

2:00pm–3:00pm
Children, Preschool
Author Talk, Virtual Event
Virtual Event
Library Branch: Essex Public Library
Room: Online
Age Group: Children, Preschool
Program Type: Author Talk, Virtual Event
Event Details:

Acompaña al autor e ilustrador Raúl the Third mientras nos habla de su libro ¡Vamos! ¡A leer! Conoce a Lobito y sus amigos mientras exploran el Festival del Libro Love de su biblioteca.

Author Talk - Drawing Your World with Raúl The Third (PK-2nd Grade)

4:00pm–4:30pm
Children, Preschool
Author Talk, Virtual Event
Virtual Event
Library Branch: Essex Public Library
Room: Online
Age Group: Children, Preschool
Program Type: Author Talk, Virtual Event
Event Details:

Join author and illustrator Raúl The Third as he discusses his book ¡Vamos! Let’s Go Read!. Meet Little Lobo and friends as they explore their library's Libro Love Book Festival!

Author Talk - Discerning the Truth with Marie Lu (9th-12th Grade)

4:00pm–5:00pm
Teens
Author Talk, Virtual Event
Virtual Event
Library Branch: Essex Public Library
Room: Online
Age Group: Teens
Program Type: Author Talk, Virtual Event
Event Details:

Explore the intricate world of Legend with Marie Lu as she encourages readers to look beyond the surface and reveal hidden secrets.

Author Talk - Illuminating Hope and Grace in the Face of Hardship with Rex Ogle (5th-8th Grade)

4:00pm–5:00pm
Children, Tweens
Author Talk, Virtual Event
Virtual Event
Library Branch: Essex Public Library
Room: Online
Age Group: Children, Tweens
Program Type: Author Talk, Virtual Event
Event Details:

You’re invited to join us online with award-winning author Rex Ogle as he talks to viewers about his struggles to navigate sixth grade as written about in his book Free Lunch. 

Author Talk - On the Strangeness and Wonder of Our Brains with Pria Anand

2:00pm–3:00pm
Adults
Author Talk, Virtual Event
Virtual Event
Library Branch: Essex Public Library
Room: Online
Age Group: Adults
Program Type: Author Talk, Virtual Event
Event Details:

You’re invited to a fascinating conversation with neurologist and author Pria Anand to chat about her new book The Electric Mind: A Neurologist on the Strangeness and Wonder of Our Brains (forthcoming June

Author Talk - The Stories, Science, and History of Birds with Smithsonian Biologist Jay Falk

2:00pm–3:00pm
Adults
Author Talk, Virtual Event
Virtual Event
Library Branch: Essex Public Library
Room: Online
Age Group: Adults
Program Type: Author Talk, Virtual Event
Event Details:

Delve into the fascinating world of birds through astonishing photography and clear explanations in this absorbing global guide, The Bird Book: The Stories, Science, and History of Birds.

Author Talk - Returning to Romance Through Food and Flirty Fun in Fiction with Casey McQuiston

7:00pm–8:00pm
Adults
Author Talk, Virtual Event
Virtual Event
Library Branch: Essex Public Library
Room: Online
Age Group: Adults
Program Type: Author Talk, Virtual Event
Event Details:

Bring an appetite for sizzling drama as we discuss New York Times bestselling author Casey McQuiston's latest romantic comedy, The Pairing. 

Author Talk - How to Thrive in a World of Constant Chaos with Organizational Psychologist Dr. Tasha Eurich

2:00pm–3:00pm
Adults
Author Talk, Virtual Event
Virtual Event
Library Branch: Essex Public Library
Room: Online
Age Group: Adults
Program Type: Author Talk, Virtual Event
Event Details:

Learn how to master the daily grind and become shatterproof in a tumultuous world with key insights by Dr.