Activity

Program for kids ages 2-5. Explore the rainbow with vibrant stories, songs, and fun activities in this colorful story time adventure! 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. Essex Library programs are free and open to the public. Registration is encouraged to ensure enough crafts are prepared. Register: https://engagedpatrons.org/EventsRegister.cfm?SiteID=1314&BranchID=1000003139&Branch=All%20Locations&EventID=551555&PK=

We “got the feeling” at Essex Library! In follow-up to the Indie-Lens Pop-Up documentary film "We Want the Funk," which was screened at the Library earlier this month, a live drumming performance by Gary Ribchinsky, the founder of the band Long Island Sound, will take place on March 29 at 1:00 PM at Essex Library. Ribchinsky will also provide a lecture on the basic characteristics of funk music, artists and songs. This program is FREE and open to the public at 33 West Avenue, Essex, CT. Register at youressexlibrary.org or by calling the Library at 860-767-1560. If you missed the Library's screening of "We Want the Funk," Connecticut Public will be premiering the film on April 8, 2025. More information is available HERE. About the Film WE WANT THE FUNK! is a syncopated voyage through the history of funk music, spanning from African, soul, and early jazz roots, to its rise into the public consciousness. Featuring James Brown's dynamism, the extraterrestrial funk of George Clinton's Parliament Funkadelic, transformed girl group Labelle, and Fela Kuti's Afrobeat, the story also traces funk's influences on both new wave and hip-hop. About Stanley Nelson Stanley Nelson is an Emmy Award-winning filmmaker, MacArthur Fellow, and […]

Essex Library will host Louie Listens; an opportunity for kids & teens to read with a local, licensed therapy dog! Reading to a therapy dog has been proven to improve reading skills, self-esteem, and confidence in public speaking sessions. Sign up to spend time with and read to Louie the Labrador, a local, licensed therapy dog and his handler, Rebecca Russell. Time slots will be a private 15 minutes to read to and interact with Louie. This free event is open to all kids & teens who wish to practice reading, or spend time, with a therapy dog. Register for 5:00 Time Slot: https://engagedpatrons.org/Eve... Register for 5:15 Time Slot: https://engagedpatrons.org/Eve... Register for 5:30 Time Slot: https://engagedpatrons.org/Eve... Register for 5:45 Time Slot: https://engagedpatrons.org/Eve...

In this workshop, participants will learn everything they need to know to create a thriving container garden in any space. From selecting the perfect containers, to choosing the right plants, and designing a layout that showcases a specific style, this class covers it all. This program is FREE and open to all at 33 West Avenue, Essex, CT. Registration is preferred. Register HERE.

Program for kids ages 2-5. Daffodil Days are in full swing here in Essex! Bloom into a world of stories, songs, and fun with our daffodil-themed story time, celebrating spring, growth, and sunshine! 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. Essex Library programs are free and open to the public. Registration is encouraged to ensure enough crafts are prepared. Register: https://engagedpatrons.org/EventsRegister.cfm?SiteID=1314&BranchID=1000003139&Branch=Essex%20Library%20Association%20&EventID=553937&PK=

The Essex Library will host an advance screening of the Indie Lens Pop-Up “Free for All: The Public Library.” The documentary tells the story of the quiet revolutionaries who made a simple idea happen. From the pioneering women behind the “Free Library Movement” to today's librarians who service the public despite working in a contentious age of closures and book bans, meet those who created a civic institution where everything is free and the doors are open to all (Run Time: 60 minutes). The screening will be followed by a panel discussion with Former Hartford Mayor, Luke Bronin, Former Executive Director of the American Library Association, Keith Michael Fiels, and Hartford Public Library’s President and CEO, Bridget E. Quinn. Essex Library Association Executive Director Ann Thompson will moderate the panel discussion. Register  HERE or by calling the Library at 860-767-1560.

Program for kids ages 5-12. Join us for this awesome session of STEAM Saturdays where kids will use recycled materials to create a protective structure to keep an egg safe when dropped from a ladder. Through creativity, problem-solving, and teamwork, kids will explore principles of physics, engineering, and design—learning about concepts like impact force, cushioning, and structural integrity. Once the structures are complete, we’ll put them to the test with a thrilling egg drop finale! Will your design survive the fall? Come ready to experiment, innovate, and have a smashing good time! This program is weather-dependent. Registered patrons will be notified of cancellation due to weather via telephone or e-mail. Essex Library programs are free and open to the public. Registration is required, materials are limited. Register Here!

Enjoy a movie on the big screen in the Buel Room of Essex Library! For the movie title, or any other information, please call the library at 860-767-1560. This program is FREE and open to all at 33 West Avenue, Essex, CT.

Program for kids ages 5-12. Get creative and craft your own jumbo beaded lizard using colorful pool noodles! In this fun, hands-on program, participants will string together noodle "beads" to design a big, bendy, and vibrant lizard. Come make a reptile friend that’s as unique as you! Essex Library programs are free and open to the public. Registration is required, materials are limited. Click here to register!

Join us at the Ivoryton Library to celebrate Ostara, a festival that marks the spring equinox, by engaging adults in a creative and meditative egg coloring activity that fosters community, self-expression, and the appreciation of seasonal themes. Adults interested in creative arts, seasonal celebrations, or those looking to connect with others in the community. This free egg coloring program not only serves as a fun and artistic activity but also as a meaningful way for adults to connect with the themes of Ostara, fostering community spirit and personal reflection during the spring equinox.

Program recommended for kids ages 5-10. Clues to wildlife activity are all around us! Join educators from Bushy Hill Nature Center to learn how to read animal tracks and signs, the ways different animals move, and make your own wildlife track to take home! Proudly operating for over 136 years, and the oldest operating co-ed camp in the nation, Bushy Hill Day Camp at Incarnation Center offers people of all ages the chance to learn and grow in a screen-free and unplugged environment. Located on 700+ acres encompassing Deep River and Ivoryton, their diverse surroundings offer the perfect setting for school programs, indigenous studies, summer camp, team building and workshops. Essex Library programs are free and open to the public. Registration required. Click here to register!

Program recommended for kids ages 5-12. Hop into the spirit of Spring with our fun and creative Cookie Decorating Class for Kids with the Cookie Jar CT! In this 1-hour hands-on class, kids will decorate 3 delicious sugar cookies using vibrant royal icing and learn a variety of decorating techniques. Whether it's creating bunny ears or pastel flowers, each child will have the opportunity to express their creativity and leave with their own beautifully decorated cookies. Stacey Britner, owner of The Cookie Jar CT, is a passionate baker on a sweet adventure in the world of cookies. After two years in the baking market, her enthusiasm for baking is as warm as the oven she works with. She says, "There’s nothing quite like the joy of seeing someone’s face light up with the first bite of one of my homemade treats." She loves experimenting with flavors, perfecting recipes, and sharing the happiness that comes with a perfectly baked cookie. Every batch is a labor of love, and her goal is simple: to spread smiles, one delicious cookie at a time.  Essex Library programs are free and open to the public. Registration is required, materials are limited. Click here to register!

From the atoms that compose us to the evolutionary forces that shaped us, our existence is built on fundamental scientific principles. Join Miranda, Aurora, and Shahank for an engaging exploration of what makes us who we are. Register HERE. Miranda will discuss how our bodies came to take their current form, tracing the evolutionary forces that connect us to our ancestors and other species. Aurora will dive into the chemistry of everyday life, from the molecules we interact with daily to the reactions powering our bodies. Shahank will explore the origins of the elements themselves, uncovering how the universe forged the building blocks of matter-from the Big Bang to the explosive deaths of stars. Come discover the science behind what makes up us, from the smallest molecules to the grand forces of evolution and the cosmos!  This program is FREE and open to ALL at 33 West Avenue, Essex, CT. About the Speakers Miranda Margulis-Ohnuna is a first-year PhD student in vertebrate paleontology at Yale University. Aurora Miranda is a second-year PhD student in Chemical Biology at Yale University. Shahank Dattathro is a third-year PhD student at Yale University.

Program for kids ages 2-5. Hop into a ribbiting adventure with stories, songs, and fun all about frogs! 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. Essex Library programs are free and open to the public. Registration is encouraged to ensure enough crafts are prepared. Register Here!

Program for kids ages 8-12. Join the Society of Women Engineers for this super fun STEM project! Kids will be introduced to the Engineering Design Process with a hands-on design challenge! In this challenge, participants will design and build an air-powered rocket that can hit a distant target. For more than seven decades, SWE has given women engineers a unique place and voice within the engineering industry. Our organization is centered around a passion for our members’ success and continues to evolve with the challenges and opportunities reflected in today’s exciting engineering and technology specialties. Essex Library programs are free and open to the public. Registration is required. Click here to register!

In this 2-part beginner yoga series, participants will learn valuable breathing and movement sequences that can be used daily. Each class will include breathing and meditation to prepare the mind as well as deep stretching appropriate for all levels and just a hint of strength work to help keep bodies healthy and agile. Modifications will be provided for anyone that needs them and chairs will be available for those that choose to practice chair yoga. Please register for each session separately. The Library has a limited supply of yoga mats; we suggest bringing your own. This program is FREE and open to all at 33 West Avenue, Essex, CT. Register  HERE  or by calling the Library at 860-767-1560.

Program for kids ages 0-3 and their caregivers, siblings welcome! Wiggle Worms is a play-based music and movement story time for children and their caregivers! Essex Library programs are free and open to the public. No registration required.

Program for kids in grades K-2. Come to the library to learn all about emergency preparedness with the American Red Cross! This program will teach kids to identify the best ways to stay safe during emergencies, use coping skills to help manage stress, gain confidence in their abilities to be prepared, use their knowledge to act as advocates for preparedness, and discuss the role science plays in emergency preparedness. All children who participate will receive a storybook to share what they have learned at home. For more about Prepare with Pedro, see the Prepare with Pedro page on the American Red Cross website. The American Red Cross is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to people affected by disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. From helping during disasters and ensuring access to lifesaving blood, to providing training to save lives and supporting military communities, the Red Cross is there when help can’t wait. Essex Library programs are free and open to the public. Registration is required, space is limited. Click here to register!

Enjoy a movie on the big screen in the Buel Room of Essex Library! For the movie title, or any other information, please call the library at 860-767-1560. This program is FREE and open to all at 33 West Avenue, Essex, CT.

As the weather warms up and leaves start to show up on trees, birders in North America eagerly await the return of thousands of birds from their wintering grounds in Central and South America. The sights and sounds of warblers, vireos, thrushes and more fill our woodlands and wetlands. Learn about the incredible journeys these birds make, the perils they face, and which species you can expect to see coming into and through Connecticut. This program is FREE and open to ALL at 33 West Avenue, Essex, CT. Register HERE or by calling the Library at 860-767-1560.

Program for kids ages 2-5. Dig into a delightful garden-themed story time filled with stories, songs, and fun about plants, flowers, and growing things! 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. Essex Library programs are free and open to the public. Registration is encouraged to ensure enough crafts are prepared. Click here to register

In this 2-part beginner yoga series, participants will learn valuable breathing and movement sequences that can be used daily. Each class will include breathing and meditation to prepare the mind as well as deep stretching appropriate for all levels and just a hint of strength work to help keep bodies healthy and agile. Modifications will be provided for anyone that needs them and chairs will be available for those that choose to practice chair yoga. Please register for each session separately. The Library has a limited supply of yoga mats; we suggest bringing your own. This program is FREE and open to all at 33 West Avenue, Essex, CT. Register HERE or by calling 860-767-1560.

Program for kids ages 0-3 and their caregivers, siblings welcome! Wiggle Worms is a play-based music and movement story time for children and their caregivers! Essex Library programs are free and open to the public. No registration required.

Program for kids of all ages. Kids 5 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Is your child curious about percussion? Join local musician Gary “Coach” Ribchinsky for this interactive program to explore the percussion family of instruments. Kids will learn how percussion instruments create rhythm and sound, watch demonstrations of different instruments, and even get hands-on experience playing them. No prior musical experience is needed. Gary Ribchinsky, drummer and vocalist continues to perform with the band, Long Island Sound that he founded in 1975. Gary has also performed with stars such as Sammy Davis Jr., Engelbert Humperdink, Nel Carter, and Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. He has performed at the Goodspeed Opera House, the national Broadway tour of Ain't Misbehavin', and as percussionist with the Hartford Symphony Orchestra and Orchestra New England. He has been musician, contractor and percussionist for the New England Pops and the American Musical Theater as well as many Big Bands throughout New England. He was also the percussionist with the CD award winning Klezmer group, Klezical Tradition and plays frequently with Zev and the Klezmer All Stars. Gary has taught percussion at the University of Connecticut and the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, […]

REGISTER HERE. Probate is a process that people often wish they could avoid. But is that possible? Well, yes…and no. There are some techniques available that can be used to avoid the probate process such as a living trust, but that does not mean you avoid the probate fee! In this session, learn from Madison-based estate and elder law Attorney Erin Duques about the probate process and how trusts (and other probate avoidance options like using joint accounts) can be utilized to avoid probate, as well as the pros and cons of each.  Additionally, Attorney Duques will discuss the most common circumstances in which avoiding probate would be advisable and why, as well as provide an overview of both how probate and a trust work as part of an estate plan.

New York Times and Emmy Award-winning author Chris Whipple will be at Essex Library to discuss his book, “Uncharted: How Trump Beat Biden, Harris, and the Odds in the Wildest Campaign in History.” In “Uncharted,” Whipple draws on his exclusive access to sources on both sides of the aisle and takes readers behind the scenes of headline-making news to reveal insights on Joe Biden’s presidential debate performance as well as the campaigns of both Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. This program is FREE and open to ALL at Essex Library, 33 West Avenue, Essex, CT 06426. Registration is required. Register by calling the library at 860-767-1560. ABOUT CHRIS WHIPPLE Chris Whipple is a New York Times bestselling author and widely acclaimed documentary filmmaker, speaker, and a Peabody and Emmy Award-winning journalist. He appears throughout the media and contributes to the New York Times and Washington Post, and has written for Vanity Fair, Politico, and the Daily Beast, among others. He lives in New York City with his wife Cary. ABOUT “UNCHARTED” A disastrous debate, a would-be assassin’s bullet, an electrifying eleventh hour candidate swap, dramatic and surprising VP selections, betrayals behind closed doors, charges of a stolen election, game-changing blunders—the history-making 2024 presidential election is a political saga of […]

Program for kids ages 2-5. All aboard for a fun-filled train-themed story time, where kids can enjoy exciting train tales, sing railroad songs, and go on a pretend journey full of adventure! 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. Essex Library programs are free and open to the public. Registration is encouraged to ensure enough crafts are prepared. Click here to register.

EHS is looking for friendly, responsible Guides and Hosts for the summer tour season at Pratt House: the only historic house museum in Essex.  The well-preserved, uniquely-asymmetrical Pratt House served the same family for more than 200 years, many of them sharing in the family blacksmith business.   The house is open Saturdays and Sundays, June through September from 1:00-4:00 pm, with occasional additional programs throughout the summer. Volunteers will have the opportunity to guide tours and/or act as hosts. Guides lead small groups of visitors on tours through the colonial home. Hosts greet guests, share information about rotating exhibits, and operate Pratt’s Provisions Gift Shop. Training will be provided for both positions.  This is an exciting opportunity to work with like-minded people, make new friends, and discover new things about our town. Join EHS in our mission to engage and inspire the community in the three villages! Ideal Pratt House Volunteers are: ·         Interested in local history ·         Communicative with visitors, volunteers and staff ·         Not required to have previous experience ·         Responsible for arriving on time for shifts We ask that ALL volunteers, new and returning, join us for a Training Session and Kick-off on Saturday, May 3rd from 10:00am-Noon.  […]

Learn tips and tricks to take great pictures with your iPhone! In this first session, photographer Fred Verillo will focus on the creative aspects of photography such as composition, lighting, perspective, color versus black and white – the overall basics of taking a good picture. The second session will be held on May 10 and will cover photo editing apps. This program is FREE and open to ALL at Essex Library, 33 West Avenue, Essex, CT. Register by calling the library at 860-767-1560. About Fred Verillo Fred Verillo is a self-taught photographer. He was born and raised in New Britain, CT, moved to NYC in 1974, and has lived in Old Lyme since 2017. He finds great inspiration in the sights, sounds, and colors of NYC, and began to photograph upon moving there. Fred’s artistic focus is with light and shadows, patterns, and reflections in glass, metal and water. He strives to present familiar subjects in a way not usually seen by the viewer.

When you picture art, do you ever wonder about the math that builds the patterns or the innovation behind art’s mediums? Have you ever truly seen the science behind the art? Join us in this month's Science in the News talk where three Yale scientists will discuss what we know about the hidden beauty (and potential consequences) of science and its contributions to the world of art and music. You’ll learn about the golden ratio, the sorcery of the theremin, and the new age of AI art. This program is FREE and open to ALL at Essex Library, 33 West Avenue, Essex, CT. Registration is required. Register by calling the library at 860-767-1560.

Let’s face it: Everyone has anxiety. Furthermore, our incessant quest to rid ourselves of this ubiquitous human emotion worsens it. What if, instead of fighting our anxiety, we could turn it into a strength? Register HERE. In this enlightening online webinar, you will learn how to use anxiety to become more self-accepting, connected to others, and resilient. Author of Thriving with Anxiety, Dr. Rosmarin’s constructive, compassionate, and evidence-based approach will not make you less anxious. Instead, it will empower you to use anxiety to thrive. You will learn: To rethink anxiety from being a “disease” to being a normal human emotion; How to use anxiety to increase our self-compassion; How to harness the power of anxiety to enhance emotional intimacy; and How can anxiety help us accomplish what we truly want in life? About the Author: David H. Rosmarin, PhD, is an Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School, a program director at McLean Hospital, and Founder of Center for Anxiety. Through his work as a clinical psychologist, scientist, educator, author, and keynote speaker, David has helped thousands of individuals and organizations to thrive by embracing the emotion of anxiety. His clinical work and research have been featured in Good Morning America, the […]

Dwight Fowler will be at Essex Library to offer an “Introduction to Family Research and Genealogy” class for beginners. Dwight will cover best practices for the overall research process including planning and logging as well as free online tools, primary sources and lesser known sources. This program is FREE and open to ALL at Essex Library, 33 West Avenue, Essex, CT. Registration is required. Register by calling the library at 860-767-1560. About Dwight Fowler Dwight has worked on genealogy and family history since 1982 when he discovered the handwritten notes of his father who logged all of the Fowlers in CT by walking the cemeteries. His area of focus is New England history and is a direct descendant of a Puritan, Philip Fowler, who arrived in Ipswich, MA in 1634. He is the vice president of the Vermont Genealogy Library, having lived in Vermont for 10 years. He is a longtime resident of Connecticut.

Program for kids and teens ages 10 and up! Are you interested in robotics? Join the VRHS Robotics Team “Human Error” to get up close and personal with some cool robots! Meet Noj, Human Error’s newest robot that just competed in the 2025 First Robotics Competition and have a chance to interact with some LEGO Robotics from First Lego League. No prior robotics experience is necessary. Essex Library programs are free and open to the public. Registration is required. Click here to register!