2019 Holiday Happenings at the Birmingham Public Library

Happy Holidays from all of us at the Birmingham Public Library.

Seventeen of BPL’s 19 library locations are hosting over 60 free programs to get patrons in a festive holiday mood.

Activities include:

• Three Christmas concerts -Friday, December 6 at 2:30 p.m. at Pratt City Branch Library (featuring Abraham Diltz), Friday, December 6 at 6:00 p.m. at Powderly Branch Library (featuring Regi Yarbrough & Co.) Tuesday, December 10 at 6:30 p.m. at West End Branch Library (Deirdre Gaddis, Crystal Leonard & Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority).

• Christmas pictures with library elves at Santa’s Workshop December 19 at 12:00 p.m. at Five Points West Regional Library. 

• Gingerbread house building, December 4 at 4:00 p.m. at North Birmingham Regional Library and December 16, 3:30 p.m. at East Ensley Branch Library.

• Holiday Fun: Ukulele 101! Saturday, December 21, 9:30 a.m. at Avondale Regional Library 

• All day Christmas movie marathons at Pratt City Branch Library (December 6), Smithfield Branch Library ( December 5-7), Five Points West Regional Library (December 20), Titusville Branch Library (December 23)

• Card-making with Connie for Adults, Monday, December 2, 11:00 a.m., Henna Art Christmas Scenes, Wednesday, December 11 at 4:00 p.m., and Bath Bomb Making for Adults, Monday, December 23, 12:00-1:30 p.m., all at North Birmingham Regional Library. 

Here is a list of our upcoming events to help you celebrate the holiday, all listed alphabetically by library. Each event is free and open to the public.

For more information, click on the seasonal calendar

Avondale Regional Library 

Club Create – Christmas Button Tree Canvases 
Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2:00-3:00 p.m.
Come together to create something new! We'll tackle a new craft project each month, with instruction and materials provided. This month we’ll be creating Christmas-themed button trees. All adults are welcome, but registration is appreciated. 

Time for Tales 
Thursday, December 5, 9:30 a.m.
An action packed preschool storytime with stories, songs, and lots of fun for everyone. Groups welcome!

Family Night: "Who-liday" Fun! 
Tuesday, December 10, 6:30 p.m. 
Maybe Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more. Join us for a "Grinchy" celebration! 24-hour advance registration required.

Art Party – Paper Christmas Tree Ornaments
Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2:00-3:00 p.m.
A different art project is offered each month with materials and instruction provided, and each participant can create a unique work of art. This month we’re crafting paper Christmas tree ornaments.

Books & Beads – Ugly Sweater Party 
Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2:00-3:00 p.m. 
Join us for our monthly jewelry-making adventure. Adults of all skill levels are welcome. This month we're crafting easy "ugly sweater" necklaces and ornaments. Free but advanced registration is appreciated.

Holiday Fun: Ukulele 101 
Saturday, December 21, 9:30 a.m. 
If you've been dreaming about playing the ukulele, this is the class for you! This 45 minute introduction will be enough to get you strumming. Check out one of Avondale's ukuleles, or bring your own. Registration Required.

Central Library

DIY (Do It Yourself): No-Sew Scarves 
Monday, December 2, 3:30-5:00 p.m. 
Youth Department Create your own scarf using fleece and o sewing supplies. Extra scarves will be donated to those in need.

Holiday Party
Monday, December 9, 1:30-3:00 p.m. 
Youth Department Come join the holiday spirit with snacks and a movie. If that is not enough fun, come make your own snow globe.

Winter Geometric Painting 
Monday, December 16, 3:30-5:00 p.m.
Youth Department Become an artist for the afternoon and create winter-inspired geometric art.

Introduction to Genealogy –Holiday Edition 
Wednesday, December 11, 3:00 p.m. Southern History Department 
Did you make a Christmas wish to learn how to do genealogical research? Come to this introductory class that will help get you started on your genealogical journey. The staff in the Southern History Department covers such topics as vital records, courthouse and church records, and the Federal Census.

A Gathering of Continents: Revisiting a Birmingham Treasure: Rare Deluxe Edition of Joan Blaeu's Atlas major
Sunday, December 15, 3:00 p.m. Arrington Auditorium 
55 years ago, the Birmingham Public Library acquired one of the rarest and most beautiful atlases ever created. Join Dr. Kenneth Knoespel from the Georgia Institute of Technology as he discusses the history and significance of the Atlas Major. This program is made possible by a grant from the Alabama Humanities Foundation.

Eastwood Branch Library

Holiday Board Games 
Monday, Dec. 23, Thursday-Friday, Dec. 26-27, Monday-Tuesday, Dec. 30-31, Thursday-Friday, Jan. 2-3, 2020, each day from 10:00  a.m. to 1:00 p.m. & 2:00 -5:00  p.m. 
Come enjoy the holidays by playing board games at Eastwood Branch Library

East Ensley Branch Library

Holiday Open House Thursday, December 5, 1:30-4:30 p.m. Join us at the East Ensley branch for an afternoon of refreshments and holiday cheer!

Gingerbread House Building
Monday, December 16, 3:00-4:30 p.m.
Get it in the holiday spirit and decorate your very own gingerbread house!

East Lake Library Holiday Movie and Craft 
Tuesday, December 10, 3:00-5:00 p.m. 
Make a holiday craft and enjoy one of our favorite holiday movies.

Ensley Branch Library

Holly Jolly Holidays Scavenger Hunt
Monday, December 2 to Friday, December 6 
Patrons will look for clues around the library and we will enter them in a drawing for a prize when they solve the riddle.

Activity and Game Day 
Thursday, December 5, 3:30-4:30 p.m.
Staff will play games with the kids.

Guess How Many Bells are in the Jar? 
Monday, December 9- Friday, December 13 
Patrons will guess how many bells are in the jar and the person whose guess is correct or closest to the amount without going over will win it.

Ensley Library's Christmas Spirit Day
Tuesday, December 17, 2:00-4:00 p.m.
Patrons will have the opportunity to come in and enjoy refreshments while socializing with the staff. There will be Christmas music, games and trivia.

Five Points West Regional Library

Active Living for Seniors -- Christmas Jeopardy
Wednesday, December 11, 10:30 a.m.
Come play the game of Jeopardy with members of the Active Living for Seniors program.

Active Living for Seniors -- Christmas Crafts and Cookies 
December 18, 10:30 a.m. 
Come enjoy holiday crafts and cookies. Registration Required.

Santa's Workshop 
Thursday, December 19, 12:00 p.m.
Come get your Christmas pictures taken and make some crafts and treats with our elves at the library! 

Family Christmas Movie Marathon 
Friday, December 20, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. 
Re-watch the classics or maybe find a new favorite Christmas movie.

Inglenook Branch Library

Christmas Craft Monday, December 2, 3:30 p.m.
Youth will be making Christmas crafts to take home.

Christmas Memory Ornament 
Friday, December 6, 3:30 p.m.
Come make Christmas ornaments to take home.

Christmas Scavenger Hunt 
Monday, December 9, 3:15 p.m.
Come participate in Inglenook Library’s scavenger hunt.

Christmas Craft: Candy Sleighs
Wednesday, Dec. 11, 3:30 p.m.
Join us for our candy sleigh craft.

Christmas Name That Carol 
Friday, December 13, 3:30 p.m.
Do you know the words to classic holiday songs? Come participate in our Christmas Name That Carol contest.

Light Up the Holidays: Christmas Around the World! 
Wednesday, Dec. 18, 3:30 p.m.
Come help Inglenook Library light up the holidays.

Christmas Movie 
Friday, December 20, 3:30 p.m.

North Avondale Branch Library

Sweet Treats and Stories
Tuesday, December 3, 1:00 p.m. 
Children will participate in storytime and enjoy holiday treats.

A Holiday Movie and Craft 
Tuesday, December 17, 3:00 p.m.
Children will make and take home a holiday craft and enjoy a classic holiday movie. Hot cocoa and cookies will be served.

Chapter Chatters Book Club Holiday Party 
Wednesday, December 18, 10:30 a.m.
Book club members will celebrate the season with a good book discussion, snacks and music.

North Birmingham Regional Library

Christmas Decorations for our Children and Teen Christmas Trees 
Monday, November 25 through Monday, December 23, during library hours.
See Youth Staff for Instructions & Supplies.

Placemats for Jimmie Hale Mission Christmas Dinner
Monday, November 25 through Thursday, December 19, during library hours.
The guests at the Jimmie Hale Christmas Dinner enjoy having specially created placemats under their dinner plate and cup!

Card-making with Connie for Adults 
Monday, December 2, 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. 
Come make Christmas Cards to give to family & friends.

Grub-down at Christmas 
Tuesday, December 3, 10, 17, 4:00 p.m.
All ages are welcome to come meet, pet, feed, brush various Library Animals. Be sure to get your picture made with a pet!

EATable Creations for Kids: Gingerbread Houses
Wednesday, December 4, 4:00 p.m.
Come make a Gingerbread House to decorate your home for the Holidays. Or eat!

Festival of Lights 
Monday, December 9, 4-5:30 p.m.
All ages are invited for Entertainment, goodies, Games & Crafts for Adults & Kids!

Tuesday Morning @ the Library 
Tuesday, December 10, 10:15-11:00 a.m.
 Adult patrons will come enjoy a morning of holiday activities.

ART ATTACK: Henna Art Christmas Scenes
Wednesday, December 11, 4:00 p.m. 
Tweens & Teens will love participating in this form of art and displaying their pieces in our Library Gallery.

CineMania Holiday Movies 
Wednesday, December 18, 4:00 p.m.
All ages are welcome to enjoy movies & a snack!

Bath Bomb Making for Adults
Monday, December 23, 12-1:30 p.m.
Come make Bath Bombs for Yourself or as Gifts for those you love.

Powderly Branch Library

Neighborhood Christmas Extravaganza
Friday, December 6, 6:00-8:00 p.m.
 Celebrate the holidays at our concert featuring Regi Yarbrough & Company.

Pratt City Branch Library

Holiday Movie Marathon
Friday, Dec. 6, 10:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Holiday movies will be shown; snacks provided.  The Pratt City Library is closed for lunch from 1 to 2 p.m. Movie times are 10:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m. and 2–5:30 p.m.

 First Fridays at Pratt – Abraham Diltz Concert
 Friday, December 6, 2:30-3:30 p.m.
 Join us for a delightful time of listening to soulful Christmas favorites past and present performed by Abraham Diltz

Smithfield Branch Library

Holly Jolly Christmas Movie Marathon 
Thursday, December 5 through Saturday, December 7, 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. & 2:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m.
 Join us to watch Christmas movies all day long during library hours.

Christmas Slime
Wednesday, December 11, 3:30 p.m.
Join us as we make gooey Christmas slime.

Friday the 13th Christmas Style 
Friday, December 13, 3:30 p.m. 
We will be watching scary movies, decorating and eating Christmas cookies.

Southside Branch Library

Holiday Card Making for Adults
Saturday, December 14, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. 
Make your own greeting cards for the holidays. The library will provide card stock, ribbon, stickers and other items for you to create beautiful cards. Registration is required and limited to 15 adults.

Holiday Preschool Story Time 
Friday, December 6, 9:30 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. 
Enjoy songs and stories to get you in the holiday mood. Daycare groups welcome. Registration is appreciated.

Holiday Coloring for Adults 
Wednesday, December 11, 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. 
Manage holiday stress by coloring. Create something special while enjoying the meditative process of coloring. The program is free. Registration is appreciated.

Springville Road Regional Library

Family Movie Night
Monday, December 9, 6:00 p.m. 
We'll be watching and singing along to some of our favorite holiday movies! There will be snacks, crafts, songs, and plenty of holiday spirit.

The Nightmare Before Christmas Interactive Movie 
Friday, December 13, 4:00 p.m.
Enjoy this spooky holiday classic with us! We will be watching the movie, but also participating in the fun by singing along and playing games.

Tacky Sweater Wednesday 
All day on 1st three Wednesdays (December 4, 11, 18)
Wear your ugliest holiday sweater to the library on any Wednesday in December and we'll give you a special treat!

Coffee, Conversation and Crafts 
Monday, December 23, 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
This is a community building and crafting program. All craft materials and instructions are provided, but you may also bring your own projects to work on while enjoying the company and light refreshments. For details, contact Kelly Laney at 205-226-4083 or kelly.laney@cobpl.org.

Titusville Branch Library

Christmas Holiday Moviethon 
Monday, Dec. 23, 2019, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Join us as we celebrate Christmas by watching some of our favorite holiday movies.

West End Branch Library

Annual West End Christmas Extravaganza Concert 
Tuesday, December 10, 6:30 p.m. 
West End Library is hosting its annual Christmas concert.

Woodlawn Branch Library

Holiday Craft Day
Monday, December 16, 3:00 p.m.
We'll be making a variety of holiday related crafts to celebrate the holiday season. We hope you'll join us!