Submitted by Tammy Eustis
(June 25, 2026) — The following programs and events will take place at Killingworth Library during the month of July, 2026. Pre-registration is required for most of these programs. Please visit the Calendar on killingworthlibrary.org or call 860-663-2000 to reserve your spot.
Tiny Thinkers – Wednesdays: July 1, 2026 to July 29, 2026 10:00 a.m.-10:45 a.m. Toddlers, preschoolers, and kindergarteners are invited to join us to explore the world of science. We’ll start each session with a story that ties in with our “Plant a Seed – READ” theme. Then we’ll do a STEAM activity to broaden our tiny thinkers’ learning! Registration is required. Please visit the library’s online calendar for program details, and sign up for each session you can attend.
Adult Movie Night – Wednesday, July 1, 2026 6:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Join us for a free movie viewing! We meet in the adult reading area after the library closes at 6:00 p.m.. Feel free to bring your own snacks and (covered, non-alcoholic) drinks. Please contact the library or visit the Calendar on our website for this month’s title, and be sure to register to reserve your seat.
Read & Eat – Thursdays: July 2, 2026 to July 30, 2026 12:00 Noon-1:00 p.m. Enjoy story time and a picnic lunch! This program is most appropriate for children ages 5-10, but all children are welcome, especially to share in the free food. No registration necessary. Questions, please call 203-984-3518. This program is brought to you through a partnership of the Killingworth Women’s Organization, the Killingworth Library, and Shoreline Soup Kitchen and Pantries.
Sprouts – July 2, 2026 to August 6, 2026. Please visit the library’s online calendar for exact dates, times, and program details. A library grows ideas that nourish our minds. Exploring nature and gardening will do the same and get us planting a seed and reading! The seed for each program comes from a story Mrs. Fig has picked to share. Suitable for grades K-3. Registration is required. Please sign up for each session you can attend.
Nature Wonderers – July 2, 2026 to August 6, 2026. Please visit the library’s online calendar for exact dates, times, and program details. Come hang out in the AC and do a cool nature-themed craft! Suitable for Grades 4 and up. Registration is required. Please sign up for each session you can attend.
Suitcase Theater – Mondays: July 6, 2026 to July 27, 2026, 3:30 p.m.-5:00 p.m. If you have a taste for dressing up and make-believe, join our weekly summer drama program! Mrs. Nelson will read the group a story, and then we’ll figure out how to turn it into a short play with actors, lines, and action! Fun props and costumes will be provided. You need to bring only your enthusiasm and imagination. Suitable for children ages 6 to 12. Registration is required. Please sign up for each session that you can attend.
Tales for Tots – Tuesdays, July 7, 2026 to July 28, 2026, 10:30 a.m.-11:15 a.m. Storytime for little ones with Mrs. Fig! We’ll learn rhymes, wiggle, and move, and hear some stories to engage readers. Registration is required. Please sign up for each session you can attend.
Library Renewal with Stephen Watson – Tuesday, July 7, 2026, 2:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. We have carefully designed this Tai Chi class to promote balance, structural stability, and ease of mind. You can join us whether you’ve had no prior experience or perhaps practiced Tai Chi elsewhere. Each of our practices can be done seated or with the use of an assistive device. We’d like to welcome everyone to the wise world of soft health methods. In our classes, we’ll explore modern methods of balance restoration as we journey through the wonderful wisdom of Asia’s ancient traditions. Each class will offer gentle stretches, self-massage, self-care routines, guided energy circulation practices, and a chance to play at the gentle movements famous for their power and poise. Join us in the spirit of play and take the tools home to play every day! Space is limited, so please register in advance.
Minecraft Club for Tweens – Thursdays: July 9, 2026; July 23, 2026 and July 30, 2026, 5:00 p.m.-6:30 p.m. We’re playing Minecraft Bedrock Edition, available on Windows, iOS, and Android. Sign up for each session you can attend. Visit our online Calendar for details on device availability and registration.
Summer Movie Night – Thursdays: July 9, 2026 and July 23, 2026 5:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. Children and their family members are invited to bring a beach blanket or a sit-in cardboard box “car” and enjoy a movie in the children’s room, including a bag of Smartfood popcorn! Please visit the library’s online calendar for the movie titles. Space is limited, so be sure to register in advance.
Writers Writing – Fridays: July 10, 2026 and July 24, 2026, 1:00 p.m.-2:45 p.m. This is an ongoing writing group for adults and seniors. We explore different genres, including short stories, personal essays, novels, memoirs, and poetry. The class is designed as a workshop, where attendees can share their work and receive feedback. Sharing is optional and we welcome shyness. This program is very popular, so please register in advance, even if you have attended in the past.
Birds are Dinosaurs! – Saturday, July 11, 2026 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. Did you know that dinosaurs are still alive today? Explore feathers, skulls, and bones to unearth the ancient adaptations of birds that connect them to their dinosaur ancestors. Meet a live bird ambassador, enjoy hands-on activities, and unearth the incredible story of how modern birds are living dinosaurs! This event is presented by the Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center. The animals are sensitive to crowds, so we will have limited capacity. Please sign up to reserve your spot.
Be On the Lookout: Native vs. Invasive Plants – Saturday, July 11, 2026 12:00 Noon-1:00 p.m. Please join us as Kaleb from Wilder Gardens speaks about using native plants to improve the health of our backyard ecosystems! They will be sharing knowledge from years of landscaping work, and discussing the true financial and ecological cost of having “perfect” yards. Topics to be discussed include invasive plants to look out for, and which native plants thrive in our area. This presentation will include a slide show and a Q&A session. Please register to save your seat.
Tuesday Trivia – Tuesday, July 14, 2026, 6:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. Join us for the first session of our new monthly adult trivia program! Teams will be competing for the title of Trivia Master and a gift certificate to the library book sale. We will be playing Jeopardy-style with five categories, and new topics every month. We have a limit of six teams, with up to four players each. This calendar event has six sign-up slots, so please make sure only one player from each team submits a registration. The rest of the team members can just show up.
Tinker and Take-It-Apart – Thursday, July 16, 2026 4:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. Are you the next Rosie Revere, Engineer or just fascinated with taking apart everyday items (especially those you’ve never seen before)? Come disassemble donated items and foster a sense of curiosity and problem-solving with other tinkerers! We’ll provide the take-apart items, but please bring your own safety goggles to the program. Designed for ages 5-11. Space is limited, so please register in advance.
Tweens Magic: the Gathering – Fridays: July 17, 2026 and July 31, 2026, 5:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. Tweens are invited to learn and play Magic: The Gathering! Magic is the world’s most popular trading card game, and it’s a great way to reinforce math, reading, and critical thinking skills, as well as face-to-face, screen-free play. We will be learning the game from the ground up, so all levels of experience are welcome, including absolute beginners. Participants will not be required to purchase anything or bring their own cards to play. Materials have been generously donated by the MagiKids nonprofit, and participants will build decks that they will get to take home and keep. This program is recommended for ages 9+. Please register in advance.
How-To: Needle Felting – Saturday, July 18, 2026, 9:00 a.m.-12:00 Noon. Here’s your chance to learn needle felting from an expert! Carole Pleines is a local crafter who will be joining us to share her skills. You may have seen her work in our display case, or at a local fair. Each attendee will get a kit for their project, which they’ll be able to take home at the end of the session. Please note that there is a $10 materials fee for this program (cash only, please) to cover the cost of the kits. Be sure to register to save your place, as the presenter prefers to work with small groups and seats will be limited.
Furbearers of Connecticut – Thursday, July 23, 2026, 12:30 p.m.-1:15 p.m. For elementary-aged kids, here’s a hands-on opportunity to learn about local wildlife! DEEP Master Wildlife Conservationist Julie Shaw will be bringing pelts from multiple furbearing species and talking about their habitats, diets, and more. Space is limited, so please register in advance.
How-To: Quilling – Saturday, July 25, 2026, 9:00 a.m.-12:00 Noon. Here’s your chance to learn the fascinating art of paper quilling from a local expert! Please note that there is a $5 materials fee for this program. Be sure to register to save your place, as the presenter prefers to work with small groups and seats will be limited.
Escape Room: the Secret Garden – Monday through Saturday, July 27, 2026 through August 1, 2026, 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. All this week, sign up to test your wits and learn the mysteries of The Secret Garden in our second annual escape room! Of all the places to be trapped, the lush secret garden of Misselthwaite Manor may not be the worst, but it will still take a determined group to decode the puzzles hidden in the plant life around you and find the key to escape! This escape room is recommended for groups of up to six — teens, adults, and family groups are all welcome. You will have one hour to complete the room once you start. Registration is free. A list of the available time slots can be viewed on the library’s website, killingworthlibrary.org. Then, call the library at (860) 663-2000 to register for your chosen time slot. We’ll need time to reset the room between groups, so please be timely. Please arrive ten minutes early so that we can explain the rules before you start.
Holiday Closing
The library will be closed on Saturday, July 4, 2026 for Independence Day.
