Library Closed for Labor Day Holiday

Both locations of the library will be closed on Sunday, August 31, and Monday, September 1.

Event List

Featured Events

Age Group
Age Group
Program Type
Library Branch

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This event is in the "School Age" group
This event is in the "Teen" group

Make a Laser Cut Dragon

Saturday, August 30, 2025 at 1:00pm - 3:00pm
Beems Auditorium A/B at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Crafts & Hobbies, Maker Room and Technology
Age Group:
School Age, Teen

Create a beautiful laser-cut dragon as a family! Use acrylic paint pens to decorate your dragon before assembling it. See how the dragons were made using the library's laser cutter and learn how to use the library's Maker Spaces. 

Registration Required
This event is in the "Preschool" group
This event is in the "School Age" group
This event is in the "Teen" group
This event is in the "Adult" group

"Sonder," a Solo Show by Lauren Manninen: Third Floor Gallery

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

"Sonder" explores the quiet weight of intertwined living beings. Each individual human, animal, or plant carries their own inner experiences and climate.

This event is in the "Preschool" group
This event is in the "School Age" group
This event is in the "Teen" group
This event is in the "Adult" group

Art Happens Here: Skywalk Gallery

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

Libraries are full of stories—and so are the people who work in them.

This event is in the "School Age" group
This event is in the "Teen" group
This event is in the "Adult" group

Helen Hunter: Ladd Library Gallery

All Day
Ladd Library
Program Type:
Other
Age Group:
School Age, Teen, Adult

Helen Hunter bloomed late as an artist.

This event is in the "Preschool" group
This event is in the "School Age" group
This event is in the "Teen" group

Family Art Night: Mini Clay

Tuesday, September 2, 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 fall! 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.

Full
Registration Required
This event is in the "School Age" group
This event is in the "Teen" group
This event is in the "Adult" group

Dungeons & Dragons: Character Sheet Workshop

Wednesday, September 3, 2025 at 4:30pm - 6:30pm
Beems Auditorium B at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Crafts & Hobbies, Games and Activities
Age Group:
School Age, Teen, Adult

Join our Character Sheet Workshop! Our Dungeons & Dragons Club takes a break from its regular adventures to focus on character sheets. Need help leveling up your character? Want to build a new character from scratch?

This event is in the "School Age" group
This event is in the "Teen" group
This event is in the "Adult" group

CR Chess Club

Wednesday, September 3, 2025 at 5:30pm - 7:30pm
Beems Auditorium A at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Games and Activities
Age Group:
School Age, Teen, Adult

Join the all-ages meeting of the Cedar Rapids Chess Club from 5:30 to 7:30 pm weekly on Wednesdays at the Downtown Library for a relaxed, casual session playing this great universal game.

This event is in the "Babies & Toddlers" group
This event is in the "Preschool" group
This event is in the "School Age" group

Sensory Story Time

Thursday, September 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.

This event is in the "Babies & Toddlers" group
This event is in the "Preschool" group
This event is in the "School Age" group
This event is in the "Teen" group
This event is in the "Adult" group

Tiny Art Workshop

Thursday, September 4, 2025 at 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Ladd Library Community Room at Ladd Library
Program Type:
Crafts & Hobbies, Family Programs
Age Group:
Babies & Toddlers, Preschool, School Age, Teen, Adult

You’re invited to make a Tiny Art masterpiece to be displayed at the library and the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art.   

Register
Registration Required
This event is in the "Preschool" group
This event is in the "School Age" group

Expressive Arts With Tanager

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

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

This event is in the "Babies & Toddlers" group
This event is in the "Preschool" group
This event is in the "School Age" group
This event is in the "Teen" group
This event is in the "Adult" group

Friends of the Library Farmers Market Book Sale

Saturday, September 6, 2025 at 7:30am - 12:00pm
Urban Plaza at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Book Sale, Books and Reading
Age Group:
Babies & Toddlers, Preschool, School Age, Teen, Adult

Purchase new and gently used books from the Friends of the Cedar Rapids Public Library during Downtown Cedar Rapids Farmers Markets. Browse the books on the Urban Plaza in front of the Fourth Avenue doors of the Downtown Library.

This event is in the "Preschool" group
This event is in the "School Age" group
This event is in the "Teen" group
This event is in the "Adult" group

Button Making

Saturday, September 6, 2025 at 9:30am - 11:30am
Library Commons at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Crafts & Hobbies, Maker Room and Technology
Age Group:
Preschool, School Age, Teen, Adult

Drop in during the Farmers Market to create buttons from premade and DIY designs!

This event is in the "Preschool" group
This event is in the "School Age" group

Family Art Night: Mini Clay

Tuesday, September 9, 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.

Register
Registration Required
This event is in the "School Age" group
This event is in the "Teen" group
This event is in the "Adult" group

Dungeons & Dragons

Wednesday, September 10, 2025 at 4:30pm - 6:30pm
Beems Auditorium B at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Crafts & Hobbies, Family Programs, Games and Activities
Age Group:
School Age, Teen, Adult

Join us for Dungeons & Dragons, the world renowned table top role-playing game. Our tables meet weekly for adventure and excitement. Handbooks (2014) and dice are provided.

This event is in the "School Age" group
This event is in the "Teen" group
This event is in the "Adult" group

CR Chess Club

Wednesday, September 10, 2025 at 5:30pm - 7:30pm
Beems Auditorium A at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Games and Activities
Age Group:
School Age, Teen, Adult

Join the all-ages meeting of the Cedar Rapids Chess Club from 5:30 to 7:30 pm weekly on Wednesdays at the Downtown Library for a relaxed, casual session playing this great universal game.

This event is in the "Babies & Toddlers" group
This event is in the "Preschool" group
This event is in the "School Age" group

Sensory Story Time

Thursday, September 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 that is designed for attendees with multi-sensory needs, including low lights, reduced sounds, and opportunities for social interaction and play.

This event is in the "School Age" group
This event is in the "Teen" group
This event is in the "Adult" group

The Exposure Fashion Show

Thursday, September 11, 2025 at 5:00pm - 7:00pm
Beems Auditorium A/B at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Special Performances
Age Group:
School Age, Teen, Adult

This family-friendly fashion show features local creatives and designers from around Iowa. Mingling and morsels open the evening, with the show starting at 5:30 pm.

Register
Registration Required
This event is in the "Preschool" group
This event is in the "School Age" group

Expressive Arts With Tanager

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

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

This event is in the "School Age" group
This event is in the "Teen" group
This event is in the "Adult" group

Civil Rights Commission Pop-Up

Friday, September 12, 2025 at 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Library Commons at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Other
Age Group:
School Age, Teen, Adult

Join the Cedar Rapids Civil Rights Commission on the second Fridays of the month to participate in an activity to celebrate our community.

Cancelled
This event is in the "School Age" group
This event is in the "Teen" group
This event is in the "Adult" group

Book Tasting

Saturday, September 13, 2025 at 1:00pm - 3:00pm
Library Commons at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Books and Reading
Age Group:
School Age, Teen, Adult

Stuck in a reading funk? Looking to try a new genre or author? Get recommendations and feast on the first pages of a fresh selection. Come with an open mind and leave with new books for your TBR.

This event is in the "Preschool" group
This event is in the "School Age" group

Family Art Night: Ink Art

Tuesday, September 16, 2025 at 5:30pm - 6:30pm
Ladd Library Community Room at Ladd 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.

Register
Registration Required
This event is in the "School Age" group
This event is in the "Teen" group
This event is in the "Adult" group

Dungeons & Dragons

Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at 4:30pm - 6:30pm
Beems Auditorium B at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Crafts & Hobbies, Family Programs, Games and Activities
Age Group:
School Age, Teen, Adult

Join us for Dungeons & Dragons, the world renowned table top role-playing game. Our tables meet weekly for adventure and excitement. Handbooks (2014) and dice are provided.

This event is in the "School Age" group
This event is in the "Teen" group
This event is in the "Adult" group

CR Chess Club

Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at 5:30pm - 7:30pm
Beems Auditorium A at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Games and Activities
Age Group:
School Age, Teen, Adult

Join the all-ages meeting of the Cedar Rapids Chess Club from 5:30 to 7:30 pm weekly on Wednesdays at the Downtown Library for a relaxed, casual session playing this great universal game.

This event is in the "Babies & Toddlers" group
This event is in the "Preschool" group
This event is in the "School Age" group

Sensory Story Time

Thursday, September 18, 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.