Holiday Hours

Both locations of the Cedar Rapids Public Library will be closed on Thursday, November 27 and Friday, November 28. 

Event List

Featured Events

Family Fun written over a green circle.

Family Fort Day

Saturday, November 29, 2025 at 10:00am - 11:30am
Beems Auditorium A/B at Downtown Library

Program Type:

Books and Reading, Family Programs

Age Group:

Babies & Toddlers, Preschool, School Age
opportunity center logo

Explore ChatGPT & Conversational AI

Thursday, December 4, 2025 at 12:30pm - 1:30pm
Opportunity Center Classroom at Ladd Library

Program Type:

Job Skills Training, Maker Room and Technology, Opportunity Center

Age Group:

Adult
"Get Festive" written over a snowflake in a blue circle.

Winter Fairy Village

Saturday, December 6, 2025 at 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Children's Program Room at Downtown Library

Program Type:

Crafts & Hobbies, Family Programs

Age Group:

Preschool, School Age, Teen, Adult
The words Library Music Concert over an illustration of a guitar on a blue circle.

Music Medley with the Collins Aerospace Band

Thursday, December 11, 2025 at 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Whipple Auditorium at Downtown Library

Program Type:

Special Performances

Age Group:

Babies & Toddlers, Preschool, School Age, Teen, Adult
maker spaces words over a gear

Holiday Express Maker Hours

Friday, December 12, 2025 at 9:30am - 12:30pm
Maker Spaces at Downtown Library

Program Type:

Maker Room and Technology

Age Group:

Adult
Illustration of animal puppets with the words "Story Time."

Saturday Story Time: Special Guest Ms. Carly from Music Together

Saturday, December 13, 2025 at 10:00am - 10:30am
Children's Program Room at Downtown Library

Program Type:

Books and Reading, Early Learning

Age Group:

Babies & Toddlers, Preschool, School Age
Teens in Christmas sweaters play brass instruments.

24th Annual Cedar Rapids Area Merry TubaChristmas

Saturday, December 13, 2025 at 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Library Commons at Downtown Library

Program Type:

Special Performances

Age Group:

Babies & Toddlers, Preschool, School Age, Teen, Adult
Filters
Age Group
Family Fun written over a green circle.

Family Art Night: Window Clings and Sun Catchers

Tuesday, November 25, 2025 at 5:30pm - 6:30pm
Children's Program Room at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Crafts & Hobbies, Family Programs
Age Group:
Preschool, School Age

Join us for Family Art Night this fall! Different art supplies will be provided each program for families to experiment and learn new concepts with.

Registration Required
Family Fun written over a green circle.

Family Fort Day

Saturday, November 29, 2025 at 10:00am - 11:30am
Beems Auditorium A/B at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Books and Reading, Family Programs
Age Group:
Babies & Toddlers, Preschool, School Age

Families are welcome to bring blankets and other fort-building materials to Family Fort Day at the library! We will have campfire stories and songs, and yummy snacks as we get cozy for the afternoon.

"A Walk in the Woods" painting by Shelly Bales is has abstract greens and browns on a white background.

"Boho Fluid Art" by Shelly Bales: Ladd Library Gallery

All Day
Ladd Library
Program Type:
Special Performances
Age Group:
Preschool, School Age, Teen, Adult

A collection of alcohol ink works on paper and birch cradleboard. This show will run from December 2025 through mid-February 2026.

From the artist:

Young Heart: Skywalk & Third Floor Galleries

All Day
Downtown Library
Program Type:
Special Performances
Age Group:
Preschool, School Age, Teen, Adult

This retrospective exhibit features works created by individuals who were incarcerated at the Linn County Juvenile Detention Center. Library staff provide outreach services to the center via book delivery and programming. 

image of a fairy and the words early learning storytime

Early Learning Story Time

Monday, December 1, 2025 at 10:00am - 10:30am
Ladd Library Community Room at Ladd Library
Program Type:
Books and Reading, Early Learning
Age Group:
Babies & Toddlers, Preschool

Join us for a fun-filled story time for children ages 2-5, featuring stories, songs, parachute play, and bubbles! 

image of a fairy and the words early learning storytime

Early Learning Story Time

Tuesday, December 2, 2025 at 10:00am - 10:30am
Children's Program Room at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Books and Reading, Early Learning
Age Group:
Babies & Toddlers, Preschool

Join us for a fun-filled story time for children ages 2-5. This high-energy story time features stories, songs, parachute play, and bubbles! 

ducks coming out of an egg and words baby and toddler story time

Baby & Toddler Story Time

Wednesday, December 3, 2025 at 9:30am - 10:30am
Children's Program Room at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Books and Reading, Early Learning
Age Group:
Babies & Toddlers

A 15-minute story and song program for newborns to three-year-olds, followed by a 45-minute playtime. 

art supplies and words create art

Family Art Night

Wednesday, December 3, 2025 at 5:30pm - 6:30pm
Children's Program Room at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Crafts & Hobbies, Family Programs
Age Group:
Preschool, School Age, Teen

Join us for Family Art Night this winter! Different art supplies will be provided each program for families to experiment and learn new concepts with. Each program will be presented at Ladd and Downtown with the same materials.

Register
Registration Required
sensory story time

Sensory Story Time

Thursday, December 4, 2025 at 10:00am - 10:30am
Children's Program Room at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Books and Reading, Early Learning
Age Group:
Babies & Toddlers, Preschool, School Age

Children and caregivers are invited to a story time that is designed for attendees with multi-sensory needs, including low lights, reduced sounds, and opportunities for social interaction and play.

ducks coming out of an egg and words baby and toddler story time

Baby & Toddler Story Time

Friday, December 5, 2025 at 9:30am - 10:30am
Ladd Library Community Room at Ladd Library
Program Type:
Books and Reading, Early Learning
Age Group:
Babies & Toddlers

A 15-minute story and song program for newborns to three-year-olds, followed by a 45-minute playtime. 

art supplies and words create art

Expressive Arts with Tanager

Friday, December 5, 2025 at 10:00am - 11:00am
Children's Program Room at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Books and Reading, Crafts & Hobbies
Age Group:
Preschool, School Age

Arts, movement, and music for youth and their caregivers at the Downtown Library. This program is geared to pre-K to second graders. 

"Get Festive" written over a snowflake in a blue circle.

Winter Fairy Village

Saturday, December 6, 2025 at 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Children's Program Room at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Crafts & Hobbies, Family Programs
Age Group:
Preschool, School Age, Teen, Adult

Help decorate a crafty winter fairy village at the library before heading out to Greene Square to enjoy the annual Tree Lighting. All ages welcome! 

image of a fairy and the words early learning storytime

Early Learning Story Time

Monday, December 8, 2025 at 10:00am - 10:30am
Ladd Library Community Room at Ladd Library
Program Type:
Books and Reading, Early Learning
Age Group:
Babies & Toddlers, Preschool

Join us for a fun-filled story time for children ages 2-5, featuring stories, songs, parachute play, and bubbles! 

image of a fairy and the words early learning storytime

Early Learning Story Time

Tuesday, December 9, 2025 at 10:00am - 10:30am
Children's Program Room at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Books and Reading, Early Learning
Age Group:
Babies & Toddlers, Preschool

Join us for a fun-filled story time for children ages 2-5. This high-energy story time features stories, songs, parachute play, and bubbles! 

art supplies and words create art

Family Art Night

Tuesday, December 9, 2025 at 5:30pm - 6:30pm
Ladd Library Community Room at Ladd Library
Program Type:
Crafts & Hobbies, Family Programs
Age Group:
Preschool, School Age, Teen

Join us for Family Art Night this winter! Different art supplies will be provided each program for families to experiment and learn new concepts with.

Register
Registration Required
ducks coming out of an egg and words baby and toddler story time

Baby & Toddler Story Time

Wednesday, December 10, 2025 at 9:30am - 10:30am
Children's Program Room at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Books and Reading, Early Learning
Age Group:
Babies & Toddlers

A 15-minute story and song program for newborns to three-year-olds, followed by a 45-minute playtime. 

sensory story time

Sensory Story Time

Thursday, December 11, 2025 at 10:00am - 10:30am
Children's Program Room at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Books and Reading, Early Learning
Age Group:
Babies & Toddlers, Preschool, School Age

Children and caregivers are invited to a story time designed for attendees with multi-sensory needs, including low lights, reduced sounds, and opportunities for social interaction and play.

The words Library Music Concert over an illustration of a guitar on a blue circle.

Music Medley with the Collins Aerospace Band

Thursday, December 11, 2025 at 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Whipple Auditorium at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Special Performances
Age Group:
Babies & Toddlers, Preschool, School Age, Teen, Adult

Enjoy an hour of music provided by Collins Aerospace's Concert Band. The band will play a medley of holiday and patriotic music with a splash of "Hello Dolly" and ABBA. 

ducks coming out of an egg and words baby and toddler story time

Baby & Toddler Story Time

Friday, December 12, 2025 at 9:30am - 10:30am
Ladd Library Community Room at Ladd Library
Program Type:
Books and Reading, Early Learning
Age Group:
Babies & Toddlers

A 15-minute story and song program for newborns to three-year-olds, followed by a 45-minute playtime. 

art supplies and words create art

Expressive Arts with Tanager

Friday, December 12, 2025 at 10:00am - 11:00am
Children's Program Room at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Books and Reading, Crafts & Hobbies
Age Group:
Preschool, School Age

Arts, movement, and music for youth and their caregivers at the Downtown Library. This program is geared to pre-K to second graders. 

Illustration of animal puppets with the words "Story Time."

Saturday Story Time: Special Guest Ms. Carly from Music Together

Saturday, December 13, 2025 at 10:00am - 10:30am
Children's Program Room at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Books and Reading, Early Learning
Age Group:
Babies & Toddlers, Preschool, School Age

Celebrate the sounds of the season in this joyful holiday music class with special guest Ms. Carly from Orchestra Iowa's Music Together! 

Teens in Christmas sweaters play brass instruments.

24th Annual Cedar Rapids Area Merry TubaChristmas

Saturday, December 13, 2025 at 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Library Commons at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Special Performances
Age Group:
Babies & Toddlers, Preschool, School Age, Teen, Adult

The public is invited to attend and participate in the annual Cedar Rapids Area Merry TubaChristmas. Participants can register to play a tuba online at CRTubaChristmas.com.

image of a fairy and the words early learning storytime

Early Learning Story Time

Monday, December 15, 2025 at 10:00am - 10:30am
Ladd Library Community Room at Ladd Library
Program Type:
Books and Reading, Early Learning
Age Group:
Babies & Toddlers, Preschool

Join us for a fun-filled story time for children ages 2-5, featuring stories, songs, parachute play, and bubbles! 

image of a fairy and the words early learning storytime

Early Learning Story Time

Tuesday, December 16, 2025 at 10:00am - 10:30am
Children's Program Room at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Books and Reading, Early Learning
Age Group:
Babies & Toddlers, Preschool

Join us for a fun-filled story time for children ages 2-5. This high-energy story time features stories, songs, parachute play, and bubbles!