Essex Library Association

Program for kids ages birth-3 and their caregivers. A play-based music and movement story time for young children and their caregivers!
At Essex Library, we are committed to providing high-quality story time experiences that foster early literacy, social-emotional growth, and a lifelong love of learning.
What to expect:
Each Wiggle Worms session begins with a welcome song where children (or caregivers) are invited to introduce themselves (or their little one), helping build confidence. We sing interactive songs that encourage vocabulary development and gross motor movement, then share a story together while modeling early literacy skills by pointing to words, turning pages, and engaging with the book. After the first book, we play and sing with interactive toys such as shakers, scarves, and rhythm sticks before we wrap up with one final story and a goodbye song.
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.
This story time will take place every Tuesday morning. Due to space, Please choose 1 session per day to attend.
Essex Library programs are free and open to the public.
No registration required.

Local Event: Wiggle Worms Story Time (Birth - Age 3)

Middlesex County

Essex-Chester-Deep River

Connecticut

Wiggle Worms Story Time (Birth - Age 3)

Program for kids ages birth-3 and their caregivers.  A play-based music and movement story time for young children and their...

Local Event: Wiggle Worms Story Time (Birth - Age 3) 

Wiggle Worms Story Time (Birth - Age 3) 

Program for kids ages birth-4 and their caregivers.
Join us for a hands-on, child-led play session designed to engage the senses! Sensory Playtime encourages exploration, creativity, and early learning through touch, sound, and movement. Kids are invited to move from station to station, at their own pace, to scoop, squish, pour, and play with a variety of textures and materials in a safe, supportive space alongside their caregivers. This program supports sensory development, fine motor skills, and social interaction—come play, learn, and make a (little) mess with us!
Program funded in part by the&nbsp;<a href="https://middlesexcountycf.org/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Community Foundation of Middlesex County</a>, and made possible by the GSB Grant Making Fund, and the Whelen Family Fund.
Essex Library programs are free and open to the public.
No registration required. Drop in!

Local Event: Sensory Playtime (Birth - Age 4)

Sensory Playtime (Birth - Age 4)

Program for kids ages birth-4 and their caregivers.
Join us for a hands-on, child-led play session designed to engage the...

Program for kids ages 2-5.
Kids, come celebrate our prehistoric friends with stories, songs, and fun activities, all to help us celebrate DINOvember!
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.<a href="https://engagedpatrons.org/EventsRegister.cfm?SiteID=1314&amp;BranchID=1000003139&amp;Branch=Essex%20Library%20Association%20&amp;EventID=600913&amp;PK=" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Click here to register.</a>

Local Event: Little Learners Story Time: Dinosaurs (Ages 2-5)

Little Learners Story Time: Dinosaurs (Ages 2-5)

Program for kids ages 2-5.
Kids, come celebrate our prehistoric friends with stories, songs, and fun activities, all to help us...

Program designed for all kids who love Dog Man!
The newest Dog Man came out earlier this week! Celebrate Pilkey’s newest in the series, Dog Man: A Sprinkle in Time with some Dog Man fun, right after school!
Join us for crafts, activities, games, and plenty of Dog Man silliness as we celebrate the newest adventure. One lucky kid will win a copy of the newest release!
Essex Library programs are free and open to the public.
Registration is required.<a href="https://engagedpatrons.org/EventsRegister.cfm?SiteID=1314&amp;BranchID=1000003139&amp;Branch=Essex%20Library%20Association%20&amp;EventID=600914&amp;PK=" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Click here to register.</a>

Local Event: Dog Man Book Release Party (All Ages)

Dog Man Book Release Party (All Ages)

Program designed for all kids who love Dog Man!
The newest Dog Man came out earlier this week! Celebrate Pilkey’s newest in the...

Program for kids ages 5-12.
Celebrate DINOvember and National STEM Day with some amazing science experiments with Claudia from Cool-ology! Kids will really “dig” becoming junior geologists and paleontologists as they unearth information about the magical world under their feet! Through hands-on activities, they'll learn all about the rock cycle, create a sedimentary "rock" of their very own, and make fossil imprints!
Essex Library programs are free and open to the public.
Registration is required, space is limited.<a href="https://engagedpatrons.org/EventsRegister.cfm?SiteID=1314&amp;BranchID=1000003139&amp;Branch=Essex%20Library%20Association%20&amp;EventID=600917&amp;PK=" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Click here to register.</a>

Local Event: Cool-ology: Fossils, Rocks & Minerals (Ages 5-12)

Cool-ology: Fossils, Rocks & Minerals (Ages 5-12)

Program for kids ages 5-12.
Celebrate DINOvember and National STEM Day with some amazing science experiments with Claudia from...

Program for kids ages 2-5.
Tomorrow is National Family PJ Day, celebrate a day early at the library with cozy songs, stories, and plenty of fun! Wear your PJ’s, of course!
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.<a href="https://engagedpatrons.org/EventsRegister.cfm?SiteID=1314&amp;BranchID=1000003139&amp;Branch=All%20Locations&amp;EventID=601181&amp;PK=" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Click here to register.</a>

Local Event: Little Learners Story Time: Pajama Day! (Ages 2-5)

Little Learners Story Time: Pajama Day! (Ages 2-5)

Program for kids ages 2-5.
Tomorrow is National Family PJ Day, celebrate a day early at the library with cozy songs, stories,...

Program for families with kids ages 6-12.
Celebrate DINOvember at the library! Join Miss Nicole to create a beautiful dinosaur sunset painting, perfect to decorate the room of any dinosaur lover! All supplies will be provided, and smocks/aprons will be available, but please wear clothes you don’t mind (possibly) getting dirty!
Essex Library programs are free and open to the public.
Registration is required, space is limited.
<a href="https://engagedpatrons.org/EventsRegister.cfm?SiteID=1314&amp;BranchID=1000003139&amp;Branch=Essex%20Library%20Association%20&amp;EventID=601187&amp;PK=" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Click here to register.</a>

Local Event: Dinosaur “Paint Night” (Ages 6-12)

Dinosaur “Paint Night” (Ages 6-12)

Program for families with kids ages 6-12.
Celebrate DINOvember at the library! Join Miss Nicole to create a beautiful dinosaur...

Program for kids ages 3-6.
Join dancers from Eastern Connecticut Ballet for an interactive creative movement class with a Nutcracker theme. This presentation will be led by Eastern Connecticut Ballet’s teacher educators and will feature dancers from their upcoming Nutcracker performance.
Eastern Connecticut Ballet was founded in 1992 to serve students in the shoreline area and beyond. As a nonprofit organization, Eastern Connecticut Ballet recognizes their responsibility to the broader community. Through their educational outreach programs, they raise awareness of the beauty and power of dance.
Essex Library programs are free and open to the public. Space is limited, registration is required.<a href="https://engagedpatrons.org/EventsRegister.cfm?SiteID=1314&amp;BranchID=1000003139&amp;Branch=Essex%20Library%20Association%20&amp;EventID=601188&amp;PK=" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Click here to register.</a>

Local Event: Nutcracker Creative Movement (Ages 3-6)

Nutcracker Creative Movement (Ages 3-6)

Program for kids ages 3-6.
Join dancers from Eastern Connecticut Ballet for an interactive creative movement class with a...

Program designed around The Food Group book series by Jory John, written for an audience age 4-8. Kids ages 4-12 are welcome to join, and for safety reasons, kids ages 4-8 must have an adult participate alongside!
This summer’s popular Food Group program is BACK for the release of Jory John’s newest Food Group book, The Toast of the Town!
Meet Toast. He knows everybody, and everybody knows him. He pops up wherever help is needed—shoveling sidewalks, welcoming newcomers, checking in on neighbors—just because. But Toast wasn't always so warm and toasty. In his younger days, he kept to himself, loafed around, and mostly just felt a little . . . stale. It took one life-changing moment to help him rise to the occasion. Can one ordinary piece of toast transform an entire community? And can helping others turn out to be the best thing since sliced bread?
What to expect:
Cook, read, and explore with us in this deliciously fun program inspired by Jory John’s Food Group series. This program will combine stories with simple snack-making. We’ll kick things off by washing hands and learning a few basic food safety tips, because every great chef starts with good habits. Then, we’ll introduce the day’s featured book, and participants will create a themed snack inspired by the story. While our creations bake, chill, or come together, we’ll gather for an interactive read-aloud of the book. Once everything is ready, participants can enjoy their snack and can take home a recipe card to try again at home!
Possible Allergens: recipe contains white bread, milk, &amp; food coloring.
Essex Library programs are free and open to the public.
Registration is required as space is limited.<a href="https://engagedpatrons.org/EventsRegister.cfm?SiteID=1314&amp;BranchID=1000003139&amp;Branch=Essex%20Library%20Association%20&amp;EventID=601189&amp;PK=" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Click here to register.</a>

Local Event: Food Group: The Toast of the Town (Ages 4+)

Food Group: The Toast of the Town (Ages 4+)

Program designed around The Food Group book series by Jory John, written for an audience age 4-8. Kids ages 4-12 are welcome to...

Program for families with kids of all ages.
Reading to a therapy dog has been proven to improve reading skills, self-esteem, and confidence in public speaking sessions. Kids are invited to sign up for a private 15-minute slot to read to and interact with local licensed therapy dog Louie the Labrador!
Essex Library programs are free and open to the public.
Registration is required.<a href="https://engagedpatrons.org/EventsRegister.cfm?SiteID=1314&amp;BranchID=1000003139&amp;Branch=Essex%20Library%20Association%20&amp;EventID=601191&amp;PK=975459" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Click here to register for the 5:15 time slot.</a><a href="https://engagedpatrons.org/EventsRegister.cfm?SiteID=1314&amp;BranchID=1000003139&amp;Branch=Essex%20Library%20Association%20&amp;EventID=601191&amp;PK=975460" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Click here to register for the 5:30 time slot.</a><a href="https://engagedpatrons.org/EventsRegister.cfm?SiteID=1314&amp;BranchID=1000003139&amp;Branch=Essex%20Library%20Association%20&amp;EventID=601191&amp;PK=975461" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Click here to register for the 5:45 time slot.</a>

Local Event: Louie Listens: Read to a Therapy Dog (All Ages)

Louie Listens: Read to a Therapy Dog (All Ages)

Program for families with kids of all ages.
Reading to a therapy dog has been proven to improve reading skills, self-esteem,...

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 requested to ensure enough supplies are available.<a href="https://engagedpatrons.org/EventsRegister.cfm?SiteID=1314&amp;BranchID=1000003139&amp;Branch=Essex%20Library%20Association%20&amp;EventID=601190&amp;PK=" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Click here to register.</a>

Local Event: Baby Band (Birth - Age 2)

Baby Band (Birth - Age 2)

Program for children ages birth – 2 and their caregivers.
Music is one of the earliest ways babies learn about the world! In...

Program for kids ages 2-5.
Flannel Boards are fun, interactive ways to tell stories, or sing songs! Today, every song we sing and every book we read will have interactive flannel puppets to go along with them! To get in the spirit, wear your favorite flannel shirt!
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.<a href="https://engagedpatrons.org/EventsRegister.cfm?SiteID=1314&amp;BranchID=1000003139&amp;Branch=Essex%20Library%20Association%20&amp;EventID=601192&amp;PK=" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Click here to register.</a>

Local Event: Little Learners Story Time: Flannel Board Friday! (Ages 2-5)

Little Learners Story Time: Flannel Board...

Program for kids ages 2-5.
Flannel Boards are fun, interactive ways to tell stories, or sing songs! Today, every song we sing...

Little Learners Story Time: Flannel Board Friday! (Ages 2-5)

Program for kids ages 8-12.
Come to the library and get crafty with model magic and markers to make awesome dinosaur (or dragon) eye sculptures! All supplies will be provided, and tweens will be led step-by-step to make their creations!
Essex Library programs are free and open to the public.
Registration is required.<a href="https://engagedpatrons.org/EventsRegister.cfm?SiteID=1314&amp;BranchID=1000003139&amp;Branch=Essex%20Library%20Association%20&amp;EventID=601193&amp;PK=" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Click here to register.</a>

Local Event: Tween Time: Create Dinosaur Eyes (Ages 8-12)

Tween Time: Create Dinosaur Eyes (Ages 8-12)

Program for kids ages 8-12.
Come to the library and get crafty with model magic and markers to make awesome dinosaur (or...

Program for kids ages 5-12.
Travel back in time and build your own miniature dinosaur habitat. Join us at the library to create a miniature dinosaur terrarium in a jar. When you’re done, take home a fun&nbsp;decoration that brings a little piece of the prehistoric world to your space!
Essex Library programs are free and open to the public.&nbsp; &nbsp;Space is limited, registration is required.<a href="https://engagedpatrons.org/EventsRegister.cfm?SiteID=1314&amp;BranchID=1000003139&amp;Branch=Essex%20Library%20Association%20&amp;EventID=601194&amp;PK=" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Click here to register.</a>

Local Event: Kids Create: Mini Dinosaur Terrariums (Ages 5-12)

Kids Create: Mini Dinosaur Terrariums (Ages 5-12)

Program for kids ages 5-12.
Travel back in time and build your own miniature dinosaur habitat. Join us at the library to create...

Nicole Ballestas

Rich Kirby

Hartford Metropolitan Area

Clinton

The Haddams-Killingworth

New Haven County

Alfred Branch

Madison

New London County

The Lymes

Richard Kaufman

Guilford

Durham-Middlefield

North Branford

East Hampton-Portland

Chris Dehnel

Middletown

Ellyn Santiago

Branford

East Lyme Senior Center

Join this free educational presentation to navigate the complexities of home care options, including skilled home health care, non-skilled home care, and Adult Family Living (AFL). Led by industry experts from Focus Homecare, Atrinity Home Health, and Careforth, this program is designed to help families and professionals understand available services and how they support caregivers.

Local Event: Care at Home: Which Service is Right for Your Loved One?

Care at Home: Which Service is Right for Your...

Join this free educational presentation to navigate the complexities of home care options, including skilled home health care,...

Care at Home: Which Service is Right for Your Loved One?

The Cube at Centerbrook Architects 67 Main St. Centerbrook, CT 06409

We’re honored to welcome Scott Macaulay as our Featured Guest Filmmaker at the 2026 Essex Film Festival. Join us for a weekend celebrating Scott’s extraordinary contributions to independent cinema. We’ll be screening four films he produced, with Scott in attendance for Q&amp;As following each screening, as well as a special producing workshop where he’ll discuss his creative process and the evolving landscape of independent filmmaking. Tickets are still available but are selling fast . For more information about the films and Essex FilmFest follow the link below. We look forward to sharing this unforgettable weekend with you.&nbsp;

Local Event: Essex FilmFest 

Essex FilmFest 

We’re honored to welcome Scott Macaulay as our Featured Guest Filmmaker at the 2026 Essex Film Festival. Join us for a weekend...

I-Park Foundation, Inc.

I‑Park invites visitors of all ages to reconnect with nature and explore its expansive grounds at our final Open Trails +&nbsp;Music Day of the season. Taking place on November 7 from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm, the event will feature a range of activities including live music from the HouseBand at School of Rock Madison, a guided hike, and a special visit from our friends at Epoch Arts.
Wander at your own pace through over 40 environmental artworks nestled in I-Park’s meadows, woodlands, and waterways. Most trails are gentle and well‑marked, offering an easygoing experience for both casual walkers and day‑long explorers. Explore at your will, or participate in a variety of planned activities.
• From 9:30am-12:30pm, Epoch Arts will be onsite, hosting an interactive “found-art” station where visitors of all ages can create a unique art piece. Epoch Arts is a nonprofit organization based in East Hampton, CT, with a mission to serve youth and the community through the arts. Their goal is to inspire creativity in youth so they can engage in and build a more empathetic, creative and connected community. Visit their table at Open Trails to join in a craft and learn more about how to get involved in their ongoing programs.
• From 10:00am-12:30pm: A guided hiking party will depart at 10am. This ~2 hour excursion will lead visitors to view artworks along some of I-Park’s lesser-ventured paths- a special opportunity to learn about the artists and their sculptures from a knowledgeable I-Park guide. Please register in advance for this activity.
• From 12:30pm-2:30pm: The Common Area comes alive as the HouseBand delivers a dynamic mix of hits from the 60s through today. Settle in and enjoy an energizing afternoon, with songs performed by the most advanced musicians at School of Rock Madison. 
This is a free, family‑friendly event, open to all who wish to explore, create, and be inspired by art and nature. <a href="https://www.i-park.org/event/november-open-trails-music/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Advance reservations are recommended for a quick easy check-in</a>, though walk‑ins may register at the welcome table upon arrival. A suggested donation of $10 per adult supports the ongoing maintenance of I‑Park’s trails and gardens.
Open Trails + Music is being funded in part through grants from the Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation and Community Foundation of Middlesex County.

Local Event: November Open Trails + Music at I-Park

November Open Trails + Music at I-Park

I‑Park invites visitors of all ages to reconnect with nature and explore its expansive grounds at our final Open Trails + Music...

Nearby Communities

State Edition

National Edition

Posting Activity

Wiggle Worms Story Time (Birth - Age 3)

NOV

3

9:30 AM

Essex Library Association, 33 West Ave, Essex, CT

Wiggle Worms Story Time (Birth - Age 3)

NOV

3

10:30 AM

Essex Library Association, 33 West Ave, Essex, CT

Sensory Playtime (Birth - Age 4)

NOV

4

10:00 AM

Essex Library Association, 33 West Ave, Essex, CT

Little Learners Story Time: Dinosaurs (Ages 2-5)

NOV

6

10:00 AM

Essex Library Association, 33 West Ave, Essex, CT

Dog Man Book Release Party (All Ages)

NOV

6

3:30 PM

Essex Library Association, 33 West Ave, Essex, CT

Cool-ology: Fossils, Rocks & Minerals (Ages 5-12)

NOV

7

10:00 AM

Essex Library Association, 33 West Ave, Essex, CT

Wiggle Worms Story Time (Birth - Age 3)

NOV

10

9:30 AM

Essex Library Association, 33 West Ave, Essex, CT

Wiggle Worms Story Time (Birth - Age 3)

NOV

10

10:30 AM

Essex Library Association, 33 West Ave, Essex, CT

Little Learners Story Time: Pajama Day! (Ages 2-5)

NOV

13

10:00 AM

Essex Library Association, 33 West Ave, Essex, CT

Dinosaur “Paint Night” (Ages 6-12)

NOV

13

3:30 PM

Essex Library Association, 33 West Ave, Essex, CT

Nutcracker Creative Movement (Ages 3-6)

NOV

14

11:00 AM

Essex Library Association, 33 West Ave, Essex, CT

Food Group: The Toast of the Town (Ages 4+)

NOV

14

1:30 PM

Essex Library Association, 33 West Ave, Essex, CT

Wiggle Worms Story Time (Birth - Age 3)

NOV

17

9:30 AM

Essex Library Association, 33 West Ave, Essex, CT

Wiggle Worms Story Time (Birth - Age 3)

NOV

17

10:30 AM

Essex Library Association, 33 West Ave, Essex, CT

Louie Listens: Read to a Therapy Dog (All Ages)

NOV

17

5:15 PM

Essex Library Association, 33 West Ave, Essex, CT

Baby Band (Birth - Age 2)