Activity

Program for children ages birth – 2 and their caregivers. Music is one of the earliest ways babies learn about the world! In Baby Band, caregivers and little ones will sing, dance, bounce, clap, and explore child-safe instruments in a playful, engaging environment. Along the way, babies strengthen early literacy, communication, motor, and social-emotional skills while caregivers discover fun ways to continue the music at home. No pressure to sit still, wiggles, giggles, and movement are all part of the fun! What to Expect: We’ll start by singing some familiar songs to get the party started. Then, we’ll explore rhythm with scarves, shakers, drums, or other child-safe instruments. Before we end, we’ll sing a goodbye song! After baby band, families are encouraged to stay, play, and socialize in our Children's Room. It's a wonderful opportunity for children to make friends, caregivers to connect, and our library community to grow together. Essex Library programs are free and open to the public. Registration is required as supplies are limited. Click here to register.

Join the Ivoryton Library in celebrating National Play-Doh Day by making our own play-doh and creating with it! Each family will walk away with some homemade play-doh and the recipe to make more!

Join us for an empowering, eye-opening virtual conversation with renowned wellness expert Yasmine Cheyenne as we discuss her transformative new book, The Comeback Era: From Limiting Beliefs to Living Without Limits. Consider this your official permission slip to stop pretending everything is fine and start building a life you genuinely love. This Essex Library Association program is free and open to all. Registration is required for all virtual author talks. Register online at www.youressexlibrary.org or by calling the Library at 860-767-1560.

This interactive workshop, led by Amy Weiss, will introduce participants to several artificial intelligence apps to explore their varied uses. Together, we’ll discuss how AI can streamline daily tasks at work and at home, while also recognizing the ethical and environmental implications of this technology. The responsibilities that AI companies have in keeping its users safe and what we can do to protect our personal information will also be discussed. Space is limited. Registration required. Register online at www.youressexlibrary.org or by calling the Library at 860-767-1560. Amy Weiss is an assistant professor of Judaic Studies and History at the University of Hartford. She recently received a 2026 Teaching and Learning Grant on AI from the University of Hartford’s Center for Teaching Excellence and Innovation. The university also named her an AI Faculty Facilitator, tasked with creating a professional development workshop for faculty. During the 2025 – 2026 academic year, Amy has served as the lead faculty fellow for the Humanities Center’s Honors Seminar, where she is teaching a two semester course titled “AI in Action: The Future of Humans.” She holds a certificate from the Generative AI: Technology, Business, and Society Program at Stanford University.

Program for kids ages 2-5. Celebrate the magic of the season with stories, songs, movement, and a festive fall craft as we explore the colors, sounds, and wonders of autumn together! Join us for themed stories, songs, rhymes, and crafts! We’ll learn early literacy concepts like colors, shapes, opposites, the ABCs and much more, to prepare our pre-school age children for kindergarten. What to expect: Each Little Learners session begins with a welcome song where each child is invited to dance and celebrate themselves. We sing interactive songs that encourage vocabulary development and gross motor movement, then read a story together. After the first book, we sing a few more songs and read another story. We conclude our time together with 3-4 craft and play centers that help children develop their early math, literacy, and motor skills. After story time, families are encouraged to stay, play, and socialize in our Children's Room. It's a wonderful opportunity for children to make friends, caregivers to connect, and our library community to grow together. Essex Library programs are free and open to the public. Registration is requested to ensure enough crafts are prepared. Click here to register.

Come join us on September 19th (rain date September 20th) to help clean up the Connecticut River and other areas in our three village community (Essex, Ivoryton, Centerbrook). We meet at the Connecticut River Museum and then go out into groups to get supplies and site assignments. It is a great way to volunteer, meet like minded people, and help clean up our local environment. Click on the web link for more details and to sign up to join us!

Program for kids ages 5-12. Explore the science of aerodynamics with us! Kids will use everyday objects to create an awesome glider that is part game, part toy, and part physics experiment! Ready, set, fly! Essex Library programs are free and open to the public. Registration is required, space is limited. Click here to register.

Join Harp & Happenings for a Fall Paint Night at Brickside Pizza!

Register for this virtual program HERE. Is having a trust in your estate plan the best option for you? In this session, estate planning and elder law attorney Erin Duques of Daly Perri Arnold & Knierim in Madison, will demystify trusts and explain why a trust may – or may not - be suitable for you and why. First, you’ll learn about some of the most common types of trusts and the purpose and benefits of each, such as protecting assets, avoiding probate, minimizing taxes, and keeping public benefits for a loved one with special needs. Whether you are new to trusts or even understand them well, you’ll walk away understanding how and when to use these powerful planning tools to your advantage. This Essex Library Association program is free and open to the public. Registration is required for all virtual programs.

Register and ask questions of the author here Grab a pocketful of change and get ready to dance down the street! Join us for an energetic conversation as we celebrate the joy of community and summer fun with Latin GRAMMY-winning musician Lucky Diaz, author of the sensational bilingual picture book, Paletero Man. What’s the best way to cool off on a hot summer day? Run quick and find Paletero José! Follow along with our narrator as he passes through his busy neighborhood in search of the Paletero Man. But when he finally catches up with him, our narrator’s pockets are empty. Oh no! What happened to his dinero? It will take the help of the entire community to get the tasty treat now. Inspired by the vibrant rhythms of Los Angeles and Diaz’s own hit song, this beautiful story invites readers into a sun-drenched neighborhood where the ring of a bell means the best treat of the day is just around the corner. Register today and discover how we can all bring a little more sweetness and community spirit into our daily lives! Essex Library programs are free and open to the public. Registration is required, see above link.

Want to reduce the waste you create? Join Karen Evans, environmental educator and member of Sustainable Essex, for a hands on workshop focusing on reducing, reusing, recycling, and rethinking!

Want to reduce the waste you create? Join Karen Evans, environmental educator and member of Sustainable Essex, for a hands on workshop focusing on reducing, reusing, recycling, and rethinking!

Take a trip down Main Street in Essex Village to capture the rich maritime history of 18th century “Potapaug,” its working waterfront and ship-building prominence in the early 19th century as well as its development as a beautiful visitor destination of today. Our tours meet at the "Foot of Main Street" in front of the CT River Museum and start at 5:00pm.  Walking tours are open to the public but we encourage pre-registration. We ask for a $10 donation per person and tours are FREE to active EHS 2026 members. Our walks last about an hour and are on mostly flat ground covering a little less than a mile.  We try to adapt our tours a bit based on our audience of the day, but if  you would like a fully customized tour, please contact our staff 860-767-0681 to arrange, giving us at least 3 weeks to arrange our guide scheduling. NEW DAY THIS YEAR! Summer 2026 walks will be on Saturdays: June 27, July 25, August 29 and September 26.

Kids and families are invited to join the Ivoryton Library in celebrating National Fall Foliage Week by crafting with the beautiful nature all around us!

Program designed for caregivers and their child, age birth – 2. Sharing in playtime is an excellent way to help children build social skills, promote learning, and discover that the library is a destination for fun! Children will have the opportunity to practice skills such as: following directions, socializing with others, using language, and using small and large muscles. Come meet new friends, bond with your little one, and explore the many resources your neighborhood library has to offer! What to Expect: The Essex Library children’s room already has amazing toys for all ages, such as our train table, our sensory book collection, and our many puzzles! During baby playtime, caregivers are encouraged to explore the library’s existing toy collection, and extra items will be set up around the room that support fine and gross motor play – specifically for our youngest little ones! Essex Library programs are free and open to the public. No registration is required. Drop in!

Food Specials! Beer & Wine! Prizes for the winners!

Program for kids ages 2-5. Flap into the fun with a bat-themed story time featuring spooky stories, silly songs, and a craft that’s sure to be fang-tastic! Join us for themed stories, songs, rhymes, and crafts! We’ll learn early literacy concepts like colors, shapes, opposites, the ABCs and much more, to prepare our pre-school age children for kindergarten. What to expect: Each Little Learners session begins with a welcome song where each child is invited to dance and celebrate themselves. We sing interactive songs that encourage vocabulary development and gross motor movement, then read a story together. After the first book, we sing a few more songs and read another story. We conclude our time together with 3-4 craft and play centers that help children develop their early math, literacy, and motor skills. After story time, families are encouraged to stay, play, and socialize in our Children's Room. It's a wonderful opportunity for children to make friends, caregivers to connect, and our library community to grow together. Essex Library programs are free and open to the public. Registration is requested to ensure enough crafts are prepared. Click here to register.

Program for kids ages 5-12. Kids are invited to “roll up” to the library to create a delicious breakfast treat, while learning simple kitchen skills and basic food safety. Sushi-lovers and non-sushi-lovers alike will love this recipe! Essex Library programs are free and open to the public. Allergen Information: recipe contains banana, Greek yogurt, Fruity Pebbles cereal, & blackberries. Registration is required, space is limited. Click here to register.

Join us for a special Cemetery walk as part of our America 250 celebrations! Join EHS Director, Melissa Josefiak on Saturday, October 3 at 5:00pm, for a tour of the cemetery that will visit the gravesites of Essex veterans and residents connected to the Revolutionary War and talk about their histories before, during, and after the Revolution. Located on the shores of the Connecticut River, River View Cemetery testifies to the early history of “Potapaug,” as Essex was once known, with the oldest gravestones dating from the early 1700s.  Enjoy the cemetery’s beautiful grounds as we trace its history from a simple burial yard to the park-like setting of today, especially during this twilight tour starting at 5pm.   The tour lasts about an hour over uneven, sloped, grassy terrain for about half a mile.  Walkers should wear proper footwear and outerwear, and possibly bring a flashlight if they would like.  While this tour is based on historical facts and is not intended to be ‘haunted’, historical details about death, war and disease may disturb young walkers. Register! Each tour is $10 per person; free to EHS members.   Please meet at the base of the cemetery’s driveway. Limited parking […]

Join us for our popular event of Brickside Bingo! Our local business partner is Sweet P's Ice Cream, we will have extra sweet treats in our Pizza Prize Boxes! Arrive early to guarantee your seat!

Join us for a captivating online conversation with acclaimed author and Smithsonian curator Carolyn Russo as we dive into her fascinating book, The Ascent of Rauschenberg. Explore the towering legacy, unexpected inspirations, and creative heights of one of America's most influential artistic icons. This program is free and open to all. Registration is required for all virtual author talks with Essex Library. Register online HERE or by calling the Library at 860-767-1560.

This talk at Essex Library will focus on the life cycles of several medically important tick species in Connecticut, as well as when each life stage is most likely to be encountered based on active tick surveillance data. Knowledge of common tick species and their seasonal activity periods can help people be more vigilant during certain months to better protect themselves, family members, and pets. Speakers: Natalie Bailey, agricultural research technician for the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station will present this talk with Jessica Brown, a CAES agricultural post-doctoral research scientist. Register on the Library's Events Calendar at www.youressexlibrary.org or by calling the Library at 860-767-1560.

Kids and families are invited to join the Ivoryton Library in celebrating National Dessert Day by creating all kinds of no-bake desserts! From pudding “dirt” to edible cookie dough, we will make lots of treats to enjoy!

Essex Library Association will host pediatrician, allergist and social media star Zachary Rubin virtually for a discussion of “All About Allergies: Everything You Need to Know About Asthma, Food Allergies, Hay Fever, and More.” The book, “All About Allergies,” offers an in-depth look at both common and surprising allergies, spotlighting patient stories, the history and science behind allergies, common myths, treatment options, and more. This virtual program is free and open to the public. Registration is required for all virtual programs. Register HERE or call the Library at 860-767-1560. About Dr. Zachary Rubin Dr. Zachary Rubin is a double board-certified pediatrician and allergist/immunologist who practices at Oak Brook Allergists in the Chicago area. A nationally recognized medical educator and public health advocate, he shares evidence-based, accessible information on allergies, asthma, and public health with over four million followers under the handle @rubin_allergy.

Join EHS Director, Melissa Josefiak as she guides a tour of historic River View Cemetery, which dates back over 300 years! Located on the shores of the Connecticut River, River View Cemetery testifies to the early history of “Potapaug,” as Essex was once known, with the oldest gravestones dating from the early 1700s.  Come hear the stories of the cemetery’s ‘residents’ including: the influence of the town’s first pastor: a traitorous sea captain; an enterprising mother/daughter team; and many other engaging and touching tales.  Learn about changes in gravestone art – from grimacing “death’s heads” to ornate obelisks.  Enjoy the cemetery’s beautiful grounds as we trace its history from a simple burial yard to the park-like setting of today, especially during this twilight tour starting at 5pm.   The tour lasts about an hour over uneven, sloped, grassy terrain for about half a mile.  Walkers should wear proper footwear and possibly bring a flashlight for the twilight tours.  While this tour is based on historical facts and is not intended to be ‘haunted’, historical details about death and disease may disturb young walkers. Register Each tour is $10 per person; free to EHS members.   Limited parking is available in the […]

A talk at Essex Library about the so-called Gilded Age from the 1870s to the 1910s, when New London and Groton became playgrounds of the wealthy. New London's Pequot Colony and Groton's Eastern Point attracted the wealthy and influential including U.S. presidents, celebrities, artists, Supreme Court justices and families such as the Plants and Harknesses. In turn, the region also benefited from the philanthropy of these people of power and privilege.  Learn about the people and places of the Connecticut shoreline during this era of excess with Gail B. MacDonald.

Kids, teens, and families are invited to join the Ivoryton Library in celebrating National Book Month with bedazzling books! We will decorate book covers to be uniquely ours, and enjoy all things books!

Join EHS Director, Melissa Josefiak as she guides a tour of historic River View Cemetery, which dates back over 300 years! Located on the shores of the Connecticut River, River View Cemetery testifies to the early history of “Potapaug,” as Essex was once known, with the oldest gravestones dating from the early 1700s.  Come hear the stories of the cemetery’s ‘residents’ including: the influence of the town’s first pastor: a traitorous sea captain; an enterprising mother/daughter team; and many other engaging and touching tales.  Learn about changes in gravestone art – from grimacing “death’s heads” to ornate obelisks.  Enjoy the cemetery’s beautiful grounds as we trace its history from a simple burial yard to the park-like setting of today, especially during this twilight tour starting at 4pm.   The tour lasts about an hour over uneven, sloped, grassy terrain for about half a mile.  Walkers should wear proper footwear and possibly bring a flashlight for the twilight tours.  While this tour is based on historical facts and is not intended to be ‘haunted’, historical details about death and disease may disturb young walkers. Register Each tour is $10 per person; free to EHS members.   Limited parking is available in […]

Be transported to colonial New York through the words of Washington Irving’s spine-tingling tale. Follow Connecticut school teacher Ichabod Crane as he becomes the target of a ghostly apparition: the famed Headless Horseman of Sleepy Hollow. As the night darkens, and hoof beats approach, feel the suspense build as fear and folktale blend in this perennial Halloween favorite. This program is free and open to the public at Essex Library, 33 West Avenue, Essex, CT. Space is limited. Registration is required. Register online at www.youressexlibrary.org or call the Library at 860-767-1560.