Event List

Featured Events

A clay creature with feathers, big blue ears, a purple head, and beads for legs.

Third Grade Clay

All Day 2/8 - 2/14
Library Commons at Downtown Library

Program Type:

Family Programs

Age Group:

Preschool, School Age, Teen, Adult
Family Fun written over a green circle.

Family Valentine Party

Saturday, February 14, 2026 at 10:30am - 11:30am
Children's Program Room at Downtown Library

Program Type:

Crafts & Hobbies, Family Programs

Age Group:

Babies & Toddlers, Preschool, School Age, Teen, Adult
image of a dragon and words dungeons and dragons

Dungeons & Dragons Club Presents: Character Creation

Saturday, February 21, 2026 at 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Ladd Library Community Room at Ladd Library

Program Type:

Crafts & Hobbies, Games and Activities

Age Group:

School Age, Teen, Adult
book club words over pic of a book

Steeped in Books

Monday, February 23, 2026 at 6:30pm - 7:30pm
UnConference Room at Downtown Library

Program Type:

Books and Reading

Age Group:

Adult
Solve the Mystery! written over an illustration of a magnifying glass.

Murder Mystery Club

Wednesday, February 25, 2026 at 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Ladd Library Community Room at Ladd Library

Program Type:

Games and Activities

Age Group:

Teen, Adult
image of a kitten and the words cat cafe

Cat Café

Saturday, February 28, 2026 at 10:00am - 12:00pm
Beems Auditorium A/B, Whipple Auditorium at Downtown Library

Program Type:

Family Programs

Age Group:

Preschool, School Age, Teen, Adult
opportunity center logo

Explore ChatGPT & Conversational AI

Monday, March 2, 2026 at 12:30pm - 1:30pm
Opportunity Center Classroom at Ladd Library

Program Type:

Job Skills Training, Opportunity Center

Age Group:

Adult
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A clay creature with feathers, big blue ears, a purple head, and beads for legs.

Third Grade Clay

All Day 2/8 - 2/14
Library Commons at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Family Programs
Age Group:
Preschool, School Age, Teen, Adult

Visit an exhibit of clay projects made by Cedar Rapids-area third graders in the library Commons! Drop in to see the creativity of Cedar Rapid's young artists.

sensory story time

Sensory Story Time

Thursday, February 12, 2026 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.

art supplies and words create art

Expressive Arts With Tanager

Thursday, February 12, 2026 at 10:00am - 11:00am
Ladd Library Community Room at Ladd Library
Program Type:
Books and Reading, Crafts & Hobbies
Age Group:
Preschool, School Age

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

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

Pied Piper: Percussion

Friday, February 13, 2026 at 9:30am - 10:15am
Whipple Auditorium at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Special Performances
Age Group:
Babies & Toddlers, Preschool, Adult

Orchestra Iowa presents a free concert designed for preschool-aged children. February highlights percussion.

Shows will be at 9:30 and 10:30 am in Whipple Auditorium.

art supplies and words create art

Expressive Arts with Tanager

Friday, February 13, 2026 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. 

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

Pied Piper: Percussion

Friday, February 13, 2026 at 10:30am - 11:15am
Whipple Auditorium at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Special Performances
Age Group:
Babies & Toddlers, Preschool, Adult

Orchestra Iowa presents a free concert designed for preschool-aged children. February highlights percussion.

Shows will be at 9:30 and 10:30 am in Whipple Auditorium.

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

Saturday Story Time

Saturday, February 14, 2026 at 10:00am - 10:30am
Children's Program Room at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Books and Reading, Early Learning
Age Group:
Babies & Toddlers, Preschool

Story time activities support early literacy and foster a love of reading. Participating in activities such as story time contributes to learning, social skills, and school readiness.

Family Fun written over a green circle.

Family Valentine Party

Saturday, February 14, 2026 at 10:30am - 11:30am
Children's Program Room at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Crafts & Hobbies, Family Programs
Age Group:
Babies & Toddlers, Preschool, School Age, Teen, Adult

Drop in for Valentine’s Day crafts and activities immediately following Saturday Story Time. All ages welcome. 

image of a fairy and the words early learning storytime

Early Learning Story Time

Monday, February 16, 2026 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, February 17, 2026 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: Doodlepens at the Downtown Library

Wednesday, February 18, 2026 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, February 19, 2026 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.

image of a puppy with words read to dogs

Read to Dogs

Thursday, February 19, 2026 at 6:30pm - 7:15pm
Ladd Library Community Room at Ladd Library
Program Type:
Books and Reading, Family Programs
Age Group:
Babies & Toddlers, Preschool, School Age

Trained, certified therapy dogs provide companionship to emerging readers as they earn a free book and bookmark. Everyone is welcome to read to the dogs. Stay for a performance at 7 p.m.! 

art supplies and words create art

Expressive Arts with Tanager

Friday, February 20, 2026 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. 

image of a fairy and the words early learning storytime

Early Learning Story Time

Monday, February 23, 2026 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, February 24, 2026 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: Doodlepens at Ladd Library

Tuesday, February 24, 2026 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
sensory story time

Sensory Story Time

Thursday, February 26, 2026 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.

image of a kitten and the words cat cafe

Cat Café

Saturday, February 28, 2026 at 10:00am - 12:00pm
Beems Auditorium A/B, Whipple Auditorium at Downtown Library
Program Type:
Family Programs
Age Group:
Preschool, School Age, Teen, Adult

Meet cool adoptable kittens and cats while you enjoy cool treats and fun activities! After you become acquainted with our feline friends, make a cat toy for your own cat or the adoptable cats, create a cat button, and check out cat books.

A painting shows abstract faces in bright colors.

Leah Casey: Ladd Library Gallery

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

Multimedia artist Leah Casey will exhibit at the Ladd Library Gallery this spring.

A graphic has a cog and says "Maker and technology fest."

Maker Fest Feature with Collins Aerospace: Downtown Library, Skywalk Gallery

All Day
Downtown Library
Program Type:
Maker Room and Technology, Special Performances
Age Group:
Babies & Toddlers, Preschool, School Age, Teen, Adult

In conjunction with the Third Annual Maker Fest: Making in Space, we welcome community partner Collins Aerospace to the Downtown Library's Skywalk Gallery. 

A triptych painting has skeletons on both sides of a woman whose hair is streaming up and out of the frame.

Susan Creamer Joy: Third Floor Gallery

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

Join us in the Third Floor Gallery for an exhibition of painting by Susan Creamer Joy.

In her own words: 

image of a fairy and the words early learning storytime

Early Learning Story Time

Monday, March 2, 2026 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, March 3, 2026 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, and bubbles!