Free unless otherwise noted.
Monday, July 1
Crea Aretes, Pulseras y Collares / Make Earrings, Bracelets and Necklaces ~ 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm ~ In this class participants will learn how to make earrings, bracelets and necklaces. They can also make your own designs using crystals , beads , wire, and several other options. ~ Hollywood Library ~ Free tickets 15 minutes in advance.
Ready, Set, Light Speed! ~ 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm ~ Use the force to create a galaxy far, far away by stenciling your own unique star design onto an eco-friendly tote bag. ~ Hillsdale Library
Tuesday, July 2
Move Like a Mammoth ~ 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm ~ Can you pounce like a saber-toothed cat, lift like a mammoth, or stroll like a giant ground sloth? Get moving as you discover how these and other amazing ancient animals ran, swam, leaped, climbed, and ate their way through Oregon’s history. Explore fossils, bones and teeth while comparing ancient animals to those living in Oregon today. ~ Holgate Library
JuggleMania ~ 2:00 pm – 2:45 pm ~ Rhys Thomas dazzles you with improbable juggling, unique comedy and amazing acrobatics. ~ Gresham Libary
Wednesday, July 3
Ready, Set, Light Speed! ~ 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm ~ Use the force to create a galaxy far, far away by stenciling your own unique star design onto an eco-friendly tote bag. ~ Woodstock Library
Comedia mágica, música y humor absurdo con Ángel Ocasio / Comedy Magic, Music & Silly Stuff with Angel Ocasio ~ 3:00 pm – 3:50 pm ~ Enjoy a wacky show filled with comedy magic, silly antics and fun sing-a-longs as Angel plays his ukulele. This bilingual Spanish/English show is perfectly suited for children of all ages and their families. ~ Midland Library
Saturday, July 6
Sunday, July 7
Monday, July 8
Living in Space ~ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm ~ Imagine waking up on a space station orbiting 240 miles above the Earth. What would you eat for breakfast? What kind of pajamas would you wear? Spend a day in the life of an astronaut and learn how living in space can be quite a challenging mission! ~ Hollywood Library
Summer Pokémon Club ~ 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm ~ Are you a Pokémon fan? If so, join us for some Pokémon free play! Bring your Pokémon cards or learn how to play the game with others. For kids and teens ages 7-14. ~ Gresham Library
Tuesday, July 9
Construction Madness ~ 1:00 – 2:30 ~ Using paper, scissors, glue, recycled materials and imagination, design and build your own architectural wonder! ~ Sellwood- Moreland Library ~ Free tickets 30 minutes in advance
Zoo ZAP Animals / Presentando Animales del Zoológico ~ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm ~ The Oregon Zoo is coming to the library! Join Zoo Animal Presenters as they show and tell live zoo animals to library families. ~ Rockwood Library
Lucky Diaz Family Jam Band ~ 2:00 pm ~ 2:45 pm ~ Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band have been crowned the very first Americans to win a Latin Grammy in the Children’s Album category! Bilingual, head-bopping, dance party extravaganza. ~ Holgate Library
Space Origami ~ 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm ~ Did you know that the concept of folding paper has been used in space as solar arrays? These origami-inspired solar arrays are compactly folded at the time of launching, and expanded to cover a large area once in space. ~ Northwest Library
Lucky Diaz Family Jam Band ~ 6:00 pm – 6:45 pm ~ Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band have been crowned the very first Americans to win a Latin Grammy in the Children’s Album category! ~ St. John’s Library
Wednesday, July 10
Meet the Minis (Horses, That Is) ~ 10:00 am – 11:00 am ~ Meet Milo and Loki! They are being trained to be therapy horses. Learn why miniature horses are used as therapy animals, how horse behavior often is similar to our own behavior, and how we can learn about ourselves by watching their behavior. ~ Capitol Hill Library
Lucky Diaz Family Jam Band ~ 11:15 am -noon ~ Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band have been crowned the very first Americans to win a Latin Grammy in the Children’s Album category! ~ Gregory Heights Library
Lucky Diaz Family Jam Band ~ 2:00 pm – 2:45 pm ~ Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band have been crowned the very first Americans to win a Latin Grammy in the Children’s Album category! ~ Gresham Library
Ceramic Painting for Kids ~ 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm ~ Come and paint your own car, truck, butterfly, princess, dragonfly, and much, much more! We supply the ceramic pieces, paint, brushes, smocks, water tubs and mats. You come with your imagination and talent. The pieces are painted with lead-free acrylic paint and ready to be taken home in just a few minutes! ~ Midland Library
Thursday, July 11
Lucky Diaz Family Jam Band ~ 11:00 am – 11:45 am ~ Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band have been crowned the very first Americans to win a Latin Grammy in the Children’s Album category! ~ Rockwood Library
Space Origami ~ 12:30 pm – 2:00 pm ~ Did you know that the concept of folding paper has been used in space as solar arrays? These origami-inspired solar arrays are compactly folded at the time of launching, and expanded to cover a large area once in space. ~ North Portland Library
Lucky Diaz Family Jam Band ~ 2:00 pm – 2:45 am ~ Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band have been crowned the very first Americans to win a Latin Grammy in the Children’s Album category! ~ Troutdale Library
Twirly Whirlys ~ 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm ~ Create this simple toy with wire, beads and found objects. Watch the beads shimmer and dance as you move it in your hands. Gain experience with needle-nose pliers, wire cutters, hammers and anvils to create your one-of-a-kind toy. ~ Gresham Library
Friday, July 12
Aliens Are Coming! ~ 10:30 am – 11:30 am ~ Portland Columbia Symphony Orchestra performs stories based on “The Wynwood Project” in Miami, Florida; a series of murals commissioned by the town and painted by graffiti artists and home to over 70 galleries, museums and art collections. ~ Central Library ~ Free tickets 30 minutes in advance
Saturday, July 13
Comedia Para Los Niños / komedy 4 da kidz ~ 10:30 am – 11:15 ~ Angel Ocasio presents a bilingual and interactive performance combining physical comedy, juggling, balancing and magic. ~ Albina Library
Mr. Lizard’s Mobile Zoo ~ 11:45 am -12:45 pm ~ Entertaining children and adults alike with his mobile reptile zoo, Mr. Lizardprovides an interactive, hands-on experience like no other. He shares fun, fascinating information on these amazing, though often misunderstood, animals. ~ Hillsdale Library ~ Free tickets 30 minutes in advance
Crayon & Watercolor Space Art ~ 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm ~ Explore the infinite possibilities of this simple – yet magical – painting technique! All you need are crayons, watercolors and imagination! ~ Holgate Library
Sunday, July 14
Russian Egg Khokhloma Painting ~ 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm ~ With a wooden egg as your canvas, design and paint your egg using traditional Russian Khokhloma painting techniques. ~ Kenton Library
Monday, July 15
Monday Movie: Muppets from Space ~ 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm ~ Join us for a free, fun, all-ages movie at the library! Bring your own comfy pillow or blanket and curl up for a showing of Muppets from Space (1999). Popcorn and lemonade provided. ~ Hollywood Library
Tuesday, July 16
Mz. Pearl in Space ~ 1:00 pm – 1:45 pm ~ Mz. Pearl takes the audience to outer space and back again in her imaginative show full of juggling, magic and physical comedy. ~ Sellwood-Moreland Library ~ Free tickets 30 minutes in advance
Solar Observing ~ 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm ~ Rose City Astronomers will provide solar telescopes to permit observers to look at the sun safely and see features such as solar prominences and sunspots. ~ Holgate Library
Comedia mágica, música y humor absurdo con Ángel Ocasio / Comedy Magic, Music & Silly Stuff with Angel Ocasio ~ 6:00 pm – 6:50 pm ~ Enjoy a wacky show filled with comedy magic, silly antics and fun sing-a-longs as Angel plays his ukulele. ~ Hollywood Library
Wednesday, July 17
Micah and Me Family Dance Party ~ 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm ~ Micah and Me have been voted one of the top five Kindie performers in the Portland Metro area! Enjoy their highly danceable music, plus an instrument petting zoo at the end of the dance party. ~ Gresham Library
Diorama ~ 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm ~ Let your imagination flow and create your own tiny world in this diorama workshop! Participants will have access to a wide variety of unique materials to re-purpose and build miniature scenes in boxes, such as decorative paper, vintage magazines, ribbon, fabric, broken jewelry bits, buttons, tile, corks, bottle caps, wood and much more! ~ Kenton Library
Space Adventures ~ 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm ~ What do we know about space? From gravity to wind to chemical reactions, outer space is a very different place from Earth. Learn about the properties of space, see how rockets make it to space, find out how to make a comet out of dry ice, and maybe even walk on a non-Newtonian surface! ~ Hillsdale Library
Thursday, July 18
Foam Block Printing ~ 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm ~ Make your own prints and greeting cards using simple block printing methods. Students will learn the basics of printmaking using craft foam and markers. ~ Midland Library
Magnificent Magnets ~ 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm ~ Join artist Kathy Karbo in this fun workshop to design your own mixed media magnets. We will explore color, shape, texture and contrast as we work with painted papers, trinkets and treasures in our unique creations. ~ Gresham Library
Meet the Minis (Horses, That Is) ~ 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm ~ Meet Milo and Loki! They are being trained to be therapy horses. Learn why miniature horses are used as therapy animals, how horse behavior often is similar to our own behavior, and how we can learn about ourselves by watching their behavior. ~ Childswork Preschool (located at St. Stephen’s, 4235 SE Salmon St.)
Friday, July 19
The ABCs of Space! ~ 10:30 am – 11:15 am ~ The Alphabeticians will take you on a musical journey to outer space, real and imaginary. ~ Central Library
The Fascinating World of Reptiles ~ 11;30 am – 12:30 am ~ Join the Reptile Man, aka Richard Ritchey, in meeting his outstanding crew of snakes, lizards, turtles and tortoises! ~ North Portland Library
Magnificent Magnets ~ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm ~ Join artist Kathy Karbo in this fun workshop to design your own mixed media magnets. We will explore color, shape, texture and contrast as we work with painted papers, trinkets and treasures in our unique creations. ~ Rockwood Library
Saturday, July 20
Harry and the Potters ~ noon – 1:00 pm ~ Harry and the Potters are a rock band that performs songs from the perspective of Harry Potter. Their rock show is appropriate for all ages and details the adventures, concerns, hopes and fears of the famous boy wizard. ~ St. John’s Community Center
Hip Hop Soulsation ~ 2:00 pm – 2:45 pm ~ Join Cykhyia and Hip Hop Soulsation Academy as they bring an upbeat edgy interactive performance the whole family can enjoy. ~ Albina Library
Ceramic Painting for Kids ~ 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm ~ Come and paint your own car, truck, butterfly, princess, dragonfly, and much, much more! We supply the ceramic pieces, paint, brushes, smocks, water tubs and mats. You come with your imagination and talent. The pieces are painted with lead-free acrylic paint and ready to be taken home in just a few minutes! ~ Rockwood Library
Harry Potter Party ~ 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm ~ Join fellow witches and wizards at the Northwest Portland branch of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry! You will be sorted, then taught wand-making, potions and more. Grab your broomstick and join us! Snacks catered by the Leaky Cauldron. For kids in grades K-5. ~ Northwest Library
Harry and the Potters ~ 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm ~ Harry and the Potters are a rock band that performs songs from the perspective of Harry Potter. Their rock show is appropriate for all ages and details the adventures, concerns, hopes and fears of the famous boy wizard. ~ Gresham Library
Monday, July 22
Summer Pokémon Club ~ 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm ~ Are you a Pokémon fan? If so, join us for some Pokémon free play! Bring your Pokémon cards or learn how to play the game with others. For kids and teens ages 7-14. ~ Gresham Library
Tuesday, July 23
Pool Noodle Fun ~ 2:00 – 3:00 pm ~ Join us out on the lawn for simple crafts and games involving pool noodles! Make a tiny pool noodle boat, craft a colorful pool noodle monster, race through the pool noodle obstacle course, and more! ~ Holgate Library
Steve’s Creature Feature ~ 3:00 pm – 3:45 pm ~ Explore the amazing world of reptiles with Steve Lattanzi. Kids will be able to safely see, hear and touch some of the most amazing creatures on earth. ~ Northwest Library
Living & Working in Space ~ 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm ~ Take part in a dramatic mission to another world, as students build and launch paper rockets, handle artifacts from the space shuttle, and try on a spacesuit. ~ Fairview-Columbia Library
Wednesday, July 24
Aliens Are Coming! ~ 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm ~ Portland Columbia Symphony Orchestra performs stories based on “The Wynwood Project” in Miami, Florida; a series of murals commissioned by the town and painted by graffiti artists and home to over 70 galleries, museums and art collections. ~ Woodstock Library
The Stories of the Stars ~ 2:00 pm – 2:45 pm ~ Space is full of stars. But how did those stars get their names? Pegasus Puppet Theatre brings Roman and Greek myths to life, illuminating the stories behind constellations such as Hydra, Leo and Pegasus! This production is a non-stop kid-friendly puppet-romp of excitement and fun for everyone. ~ Gresham Library
Crea Aretes, Pulseras y Collares / Make Earrings, Bracelets and Necklaces ~ 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm ~ In this class participants will learn how to make earrings, bracelets and necklaces. They can also make your own designs using crystals , beads , wire, and several other options. ~ Kenton Library
Thursday, July 25
Draw Your Own Monster, Robot, or Fantasy Animal ~ 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm ~ Use your imagination to create fun and unique monsters and animals. Youth will be introduced to basic drawing techniques and guided on how to create custom monsters and animals. ~ Midland Library
Living in Space ~ 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm ~ Imagine waking up on a space station orbiting 240 miles above the Earth. What would you eat for breakfast? What kind of pajamas would you wear? Spend a day in the life of an astronaut and learn how living in space can be quite a challenging mission! ~ Belmont Library
Slime Time ~ 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm ~ Ooze into a gooey hour of sliming around! Create slime using the Mad Science recipe; students learn about the properties of polymers to make their own ooey gooey slime. ~ Troutdale Library
Clay Medallions ~ 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm ~ Join this workshop to decorate allergen-friendly clay medallions. Make a necklace, ornament or wall hanging with nature items and gel pens for yourself or as a gift! ~ Gresham Library
Friday, July 26
Colors of the Jungle ~ 10:30 am – 11:30 am ~ Meet the Oregon Bird Man and his parrots! This educational and entertaining program features a wide assortment of parrot species from four continents — including many endangered species. ~ Central Library
The Fascinating World of Reptiles ~ 11:00 am – noon ~ Join the Reptile Man, aka Richard Ritchey, in meeting his outstanding crew of snakes, lizards, turtles and tortoises! ~ St. John’s Library
Ceramic Painting for Kids ~ 11:30 am – 1:00 pm ~ Come and paint your own car, truck, butterfly, princess, dragonfly, and much, much more! We supply the ceramic pieces, paint, brushes, smocks, water tubs and mats. You come with your imagination and talent. The pieces are painted with lead-free acrylic paint and ready to be taken home in just a few minutes! ~ North Portland Library
Stencil Block Printing ~ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm ~ Using a combination of stencils and simple block printing, we will be making unique art prints and greeting cards. Youth will be introduced to basic printmaking concepts and will have their own personalized prints to take home and share. ~ Rockwood Library
Saturday, July 27
Japanese Koto Concert ~ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm ~ Koto is one of the traditional musical instruments of Japan and has long history. Oregon Koto-Kai thinks of each performance as a special gift to our community. ~ Woodstock Library
Living & Working in Space ~ 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm ~ Imagine waking up on a space station orbiting 240 miles above the Earth. What would you eat for breakfast? What kind of pajamas would you wear? Spend a day in the life of an astronaut and learn how living in space can be quite a challenging mission! ~ Albina Library
Mr. Lizard’s Mobile Zoo ~ 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm ~ Entertaining children and adults alike with his mobile reptile zoo, Mr. Lizardprovides an interactive, hands-on experience like no other. ~ Rockwood Library
Confecciona tu propio extraterreste / Make Your Own Alien ~ 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm ~ Have you ever wanted to meet an alien? Come make your own cuddly alien friend! We will provide everything you need and we’ll be using needles and thread. This is a bilingual program for kids and their grownups. ~ St. John’s Library
Sunday, July 28
A Celebration of Classical Indian Arts: Dance, Music and Poetry ~ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm ~ Experience the dance, poetry and music traditions of India. This event brings together five dance styles from across India and will feature talented, multi-generational artists residing in Multnomah and Washington counties. ~ Kenton Library
Monday July 29
Meet the Minis (Horses, That Is) ~ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm ~ Meet Milo and Loki! They are being trained to be therapy horses. Learn why miniature horses are used as therapy animals, how horse behavior often is similar to our own behavior, and how we can learn about ourselves by watching their behavior. ~ Hollywood Library
Tuesday, July 30
Living & Working in Space ~ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm ~ Imagine waking up on a space station orbiting 240 miles above the Earth. What would you eat for breakfast? What kind of pajamas would you wear? Spend a day in the life of an astronaut and learn how living in space can be quite a challenging mission! ~ Sellwood Moreland Library
Aliens Are Coming! ~ 2:00 pm – 3:00 ~ Portland Columbia Symphony Orchestra performs stories based on “The Wynwood Project” in Miami, Florida; a series of murals commissioned by the town and painted by graffiti artists and home to over 70 galleries, museums and art collections. ~ Holgate Library
Paint with He(ART) ~ 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm ~ Paint with He(ART) is a painting class where we will explore paintings that highlight the diversity of Black people (primarily Black women) with an emphasis on self-love, Black relationships and women empowerment. ~ Kenton Library ~ Registration required
Wednesday, July 31
Comedia Para Los Niños / komedy 4 da kidz ~ 11:15 am – 12:00 pm ~ Angel Ocasio presents a bilingual and interactive performance combining physical comedy, juggling, balancing and magic. ~ Gregory Heights Library
Zoo ZAP Animals / Presentando Animales del Zoológico ~ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm ~ The Oregon Zoo is coming to the library! Join Zoo Animal Presenters as they show and tell live zoo animals to library families. ~ Gresham Library
Planets and Moons ~ 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm ~ Take your place in the grand orbit of our solar system! Circle the sun and weave through rocky planets and gas giants while creating solar and lunar eclipses. This workshop will have junior space cadets shooting for the moon! ~ Kenton Library
ONGOING EVENTS
Summer Free For All ~ Various parks and dates throughout Portland
Kids Can Weave! ~ noon – 1:00 pm, Mondays and Wednesdays in July ~ Try out hand weaving on a floor loom. Finished pieces will be displayed. ~ Capitol Hill Library
Tween DIY at the Library ~ 3:30 pm on the second Friday ~ Monthly meeting for creative tweens at Hollywood Library.
All-Ages Knitting Groups ~ several library locations have weekly knitting meetups for all skill levels, with volunteer teachers who will offer one-on-one instruction or coaching to get you started:
Not Just Any Knitting Group ~ Wednesdays ~ 1:00 pm ~ Hollywood Library
A Good Yarn ~ Tuesdays ~ 6:00 pm ~ Gregory Heights Library
Belmont Knit Fix ~ Tuesdays ~ 3:30 ~ Belmont Library
Yarn Club ~ Sundays ~ 2:30 pm ~ Gresham Library
Lego at the Library ~ Several library branches (both Multnomah and Clackamas counties) have a monthly or weekly Lego-building meetup. Confirm before you go on any given day:
Happy Valley Library – 3rd Saturday of the month, 1:30 – 3:00 pm and first Wednesday of the month from 4;00 pm – 5:30 pm
Sellwood-Moreland Library – Mondays 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Hollywood Library – Mondays 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Rockwood Library – Wednesdays 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Belmont Library – Fridays 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Gresham Libary – Tuesdays 4:00 -5:00 pm
Woodstock Library – second Tuesday 3:30 – 4:30 pm
Fairview-Columbia Library – second & fourth Thursdays 4:00 – 5:00 pm
Central Library – third Sunday 3:00 pm
Hillsdale Library – third Thursday 3:30 pm
Holgate Library – third Friday 3:00 pm
Troutdale Library – fourth Wednesday 4:30 – 5:30 pm
More For Teens
Rockwood Makerspace ~ Open lab from 3:00 pm – 5:30 daily, plus lots of workshops. ~ The makerspace is a collaborative learning environment at Rockwood Library with an emphasis on middle and high school learners. The space provides access to innovative technology, equipment, software and supportive mentors. Within this 1,000 square-foot area, students learn real-life technology, design and engineering skills through open labs, workshops and camps.
Teens @ the Happy Valley Library ~ monthly board game nights on 4th Thursday of each month, 6:00 pm – 7:45 pm, various study halls, art and music meetups every month and opportunities to volunteer.
Multnomah Co. has several other teen programs, book discussion groups, art classes, that are not all individually listed here. See here for more info!
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