Join Us for the 2021 Holiday Happenings at the BPL

A graphic with several BPL holiday programs flyers wrapped up like presents that says "Holiday Happenings at the BPL 2021"

The holidays are happening throughout the city at 13 Birmingham Public Library (BPL) locations!

There are FREE celebrations, programs, and giveaways celebrating December holiday at almost every BPL location.

We hope you will join us for one—or all—of these BPL celebrations!

Stop by one of our locations to pick up a Holiday Happenings 2021 booklet to have all the holiday events in one convenient and organized location. 

Photo of the BPL Holiday Happenings 2021 booklet on a red and white striped background.
Happy holidays from all of us at the BPL! Photo by Cheyenne Trujillo.

🎄12 Days of Grinchmas
"On the first day of Grinchmas, my Grinch friend gave to me..."

The Avondale Library is celebrating the 12 Days of Grinchmas. Drop by every day from Wednesday, December 1—Tuesday, December 14, (excluding Sundays) to pick up an official Grinchmas treat. 

A staff member will share a clue each day on the Avondale Library's Facebook (Meta) page, hinting at the day's treat. What will your Grinch friend bring you?

There are limited supplies and treats are on a first come, first serve basis. Contact Librarian Ⅱ Carla Perkins at 205-226-4000 or carla.perkins@cobpl.org for more information.

  • When: Wednesday, December 1—Tuesday, December 14 (excluding Sundays)
  • Where: Avondale Regional Branch Library | 509 40th St S, Birmingham, AL 35222
🎁D.I.Y. Dreidel Craft
Stop by Avondale Branch Library to pick up a dreidel craft and game!

Each packet includes instructions and materials to make a paper dreidel and how to play with it. 
  • When: All month long while supplies last
  • Where: Avondale Regional Branch Library | 509 40th St S, Birmingham, AL 35222
Winter Open House
This next Food Truck Roundup is special—Central Library is hosting a Winter Open House! Enjoy food trucks while listening to musical guest Regi Yarbrough and sipping on free hot chocolate with cookies. 

Winter Open House is from 11:00 a.m.—1:00 p.m. and food trucks will be in the Central Library parking lot from 11:00 a.m.—2:00 p.m.
  • When: Wednesday, December 15, from 11:00 a.m.—1:00 p.m.
  • Where: Central Library, Grand Reading Room |  2100 Park Place, Birmingham, AL 35203
Five Points West Regional Branch Library
🎅Christmas Cookies and Crafts
Enjoy a Christmas craft, cookies, and fellowship with Five Points West Library. 

Space is limited and registration is required. Call Monica Cottrell at 205-226-4015 to register!  
  • When: Wednesday, December 15, from 10:30 a.m.—11:30 a.m.
  • Where: Five Points West Regional Branch Library | 4812 Ave W, Birmingham, AL 35208
🎁Holiday Open House
Five Points West Library invites you to their annual Holiday Open House! Enjoy snacks, holiday crafts, tunes, and festive karaoke.  
  • When: Monday, December 20, from 12:00 p.m.—2:00 p.m.
  • Where: Five Points West Regional Branch Library | 4812 Ave W, Birmingham, AL 35208
🎄Adult Christmas Karaoke
Want to be the star of the show, performing on center stage? Five Points West Library is setting the stage for you!

Join them for the fun you didn't know you needed at Christmas karaoke. 
  • When: Wednesday, December 22, starting at 10:30 a.m.
  • Where: Five Points West Regional Branch Library | 4812 Ave W, Birmingham, AL 35208
🎅Christmas Movie Matinee 
Start off your holiday weekend with a movie, popcorn, and laughter with a screening of A Madea Christmas.
  • When: Thursday, December 23, starting at 2:00 p.m.
  • Where: Five Points West Regional Branch Library | 4812 Ave W, Birmingham, AL 35208
🎁 A Celebration of Kwanzaa 
Celebrate Kwanzaa at the Five Points West Library with the Birmingham Kwanzaa Committee!
  • When: Wednesday, December 29, from 6:00 p.m.—7:00 p.m.
  • Where: Five Points West Regional Branch Library | 4812 Ave W, Birmingham, AL 35208
⛄Game Night
The North Avondale Library has games, puzzles, trivia, and board games! Kids are welcomed to come play various games with the North Avondale Library staff.
  • When: Tuesday, December 9, from 3:00 p.m.—5:00 p.m.
  • Where: North Avondale Branch Library | 501 43rd St N, Birmingham, AL 35222
🎄Paper Plate Christmas Wreath Craft
Kids of all ages can join in for this Christmas craft! North Avondale Library will provide all the supplies and instructions so children can create their own Christmas wreaths using paper plates.
  • When: Tuesday, December 14, from 3:00 p.m.—5:00 p.m.
  • Where: North Avondale Branch Library | 501 43rd St N, Birmingham, AL 35222
🎁A Holiday Movie and Treats
Come join the North Avondale Library staff as they celebrate the holiday season with a movie and sweet treats to enjoy!
  • When: Tuesday, December 21, from 2:00 p.m.—5:00 p.m.
  • Where: North Avondale Branch Library | 501 43rd St N, Birmingham, AL 35222
North Birmingham Regional Branch Library
🎅Christmas Mindful Coloring 
Color the holiday stress away with the North Birmingham Library's Adult Department.

They will have Christmas mindful coloring sheets and supplies available all month long in the Adult Department. 
  • When: All month long
  • Where: North Birmingham Regional Branch Library | 2501 31st Ave N, Birmingham, AL 35207
🎁Tis the Season Christmas Ornaments 
Create your own Christmas tree ornaments from a variety of pre-cut templates! 

North Birmingham Library staff will laminate the ornaments so they last for many holidays to come. 
  • When: All month long
  • Where: North Birmingham Regional Branch Library | 2501 31st Ave N, Birmingham, AL 35207
⛄Storytime with Mrs. Chelsea
Join Mrs. Chelsea on North Birmingham Library's Facebook (Meta) page for a Christmas Storytime!
  • When: Wednesday, December 1
  • Where: North Birmingham Regional Branch Library | 2501 31st Ave N, Birmingham, AL 35207
🎄Christmas Craft
Learn how to make a cool Christmas craft with North Birmingham's Youth Department on Facebook (Meta)!
  • When: Wednesday, December 8
  • Where: North Birmingham Regional Branch Library | 2501 31st Ave N, Birmingham, AL 35207
⛄Holiday Open House
Enjoy hot chocolate, music, crafts, and a visit from Santa at the North Birmingham Library!
  • When: Monday, December 13, starting at 4:00 p.m.
  • Where: North Birmingham Regional Branch Library | 2501 31st Ave N, Birmingham, AL 35207
🎄Storytime with Ms. Pamela
Join Ms. Pamela on North Birmingham Library's Facebook (Meta) page for a Christmas Storytime!
  • When: Wednesday, December 15
  • Where: North Birmingham Regional Branch Library | 2501 31st Ave N, Birmingham, AL 35207
Make a Holiday Ornament 
Join Pratt City Library for holiday cheer and creative fun while creating ornaments using old puzzle pieces, ribbon, paint, and glue!

All supplies are provided.
  • When: Monday, December 6, starting at 10:00 a.m.
  • Where: Pratt City Branch Library | 509 Dugan Ave, Birmingham, AL 35214
🎅Annual Christmas Festival
Celebrate with the Pratt City Library and the Pratt City Six Neighborhood Associations at their Annual Christmas Party!

Enjoy activities for all ages, a DJ, refreshments, and finish the evening with the lighting of the community Christmas tree.
  • When: Wednesday, December 8, starting at 5:00 p.m.
  • Where: One Pratt Park | 601 Dugan Ave, Birmingham, AL 35214
🎄Pinecone Tree Ornament Art
Make pom-pom pinecone ornaments at Pratt City Library while you enjoy music, cookies, milk, and juice.

Supplies are limited and registration is required. Call Pratt City Library at 205-791-4997 for more information. 
  • When: Wednesday, December 15, starting at 10:00 a.m.
  • Where: Pratt City Branch Library | 509 Dugan Ave, Birmingham, AL 35214
🎁Classic Christmas Movie Day
Hang out with the Pratt City Library staff for classic and new holiday movies!

A new movie will start every two hours with the last movie starting at four p.m. Popcorn and lemonade will be served!  
  • When: Wednesday, December 22, from 10:00 a.m.—4:00 p.m.
  • Where: Pratt City Branch Library | 509 Dugan Ave, Birmingham, AL 35214
Smithfield Branch Library
🎁Toys for Tots
Smithfield Library is hosting a Toys for Tots toy drive! Drop off toys between 10:00 a.m.—5:00 p.m. from Wednesday, December 1, and Friday, December 17, for the toy drive. 

Toys will be distributed on Monday, December 20, from 1:00 p.m.—4:00 p.m. For more information, call Smithfield Library at 205-324-8428.
  • When: From Wednesday, December 1, to Monday, December 20
  • Where: Smithfield Branch Library | 1 8th Ave W, Birmingham, AL 35204
⛄Between the Lines
Smithfield Library's weekly Between the Lines coloring program also offers holiday themed coloring activities this month. 

This program happens every week on Mondays and all ages are welcome.

  • When: Every Monday from 2:00 a.m.—5:00 p.m. 
  • Where: Smithfield Branch Library | 1 8th Ave W, Birmingham, AL 35204
🎅Christmas Movie Mania
Enjoy all the classic Christmas movies with Smithfield Library staff! They plan on starting at 10:00 a.m. barring any city closures for the holidays. 
  • When: Fridays, December 23, starting at 10:00 a.m.
  • Where: Smithfield Branch Library | 1 8th Ave W, Birmingham, AL 35204
Smithfield Library has other events planned, like story time with the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. To see what other programs they offer, call the Smithfield Library at 205-324-8428.

Winter D.I.Y. Blitz
Southside Library is helping decorate your home into a winter wonderland! They have D.I.Y. kits for hand wreathes, pasta snowflakes, and snowmen and penguin sock crafts.

These kits will be available starting Monday, December 6, and are available all month long while supplies last. 
  • When: Kits are available starting Monday, December 6
  • Where: Southside Branch Library | 1814 11th Ave S, Birmingham, AL 35205
🎁Gingerbread Scavenger Hunt 
The gingerbread man is hiding so no one eats him! But food is not allowed in the Birmingham Public Library. 

Help the Youth Department find him and get rewarded for your sleuthing skills!
  • When: All month long
  • Where: Springville Road Regional Branch Library | 1224 Old Springville Rd, Birmingham, AL 35215
⛄Weekly Story and Craft Demos
Come by the Springville Road Youth Department to pick up a food themed craft kit! Each week has a different theme, like dumplings, latkes, and gingerbread-people. 

Videos on Springville Road Library's Facebook (Meta) page include stories, instructions, and jokes to help you with the kit or recreate it at home!
  • When: Every Wednesday from 10:00 a.m.—11:00 a.m.
  • Where: Springville Road Regional Branch Library | 1224 Old Springville Rd, Birmingham, AL 35215
🎁Gingerbread Coloring Contest 
The Youth Department has gingerbread-people that your child can color and decorate starting Wednesday, December 1, until Wednesday, December 15.

The top decorated gingerbread-people win great gingerbread prizes! Contest ends Friday, December 17 and no late entries are accepted. 
  • When: Starts Wednesday, December 1, and ends Wednesday, December 15; winner announced Friday, December 17 
  • Where: Springville Road Regional Branch Library | 1224 Old Springville Rd, Birmingham, AL 35215
🎄Board Games with the Adult Department
Bring your holiday gift board games to Springville Road Library on Thursday mornings to play a round with the Adult Department!

The Adult Department has board games every Thursday morning. 
  • When: Every Thursday starting at 10:00a.m.
  • Where: Springville Road Regional Branch Library | 1224 Old Springville Rd, Birmingham, AL 35215 
🎅Youth Department Board Games
Every Thursday afternoon the Springville Road Youth Department plays board games together.

Bring you holiday gift board games to break them in with Springville Road staff!
  • When: Every Thursday from 4:00 p.m.—5:00 p.m.
  • Where: Springville Road Regional Branch Library | 1224 Old Springville Rd, Birmingham, AL 35215
🎄Festive Film Fridays
Enjoy a festive film favorite picked by the audience every Friday leading up to the holiday break!

Contact Springville Road Library Adult Department at 205-226-4083 or laura.gentry@cobpl.org.

  • When: Fridays, December 3, 10, and 17, starting at 10:00 a.m.
  • Where: Springville Road Regional Branch Library | 1224 Old Springville Rd, Birmingham, AL 35215
🎅Holiday Drive-thru
Drive by the Springville Road Library to get some great holiday treats and crafts! Everyone will be dressed up in holiday cheer, and patrons are encouraged to dress up, too. 

Make sure to stop by while supplies last. 
  • When: Thursday, December 16, from 4:00 p.m.—5:00 p.m.
  • Where: Springville Road Regional Branch Library | 1224 Old Springville Rd, Birmingham, AL 35215
Titusville Branch Library
🎅Neighborhood Holiday Celebration
Titusville Library has big plans for December, so join them as they begin December with their Neighborhood Holiday Celebration!
  • When: Thursday, December 2, starting at 4:00 p.m.
  • Where: Titusville Branch Library | 2 6th Ave SW, Birmingham, AL 35211
🎄Christmas Parade
The Titusville Library and local community are parading through the neighborhood, starting at Washington Elementary School. 

Titusville Library will pass out gift bags! 
  • When: Friday, December 3, starting at 4:00 p.m.
  • Where: Washington Elementary School | 115 4th Ave S, Birmingham, AL 35205
🎁Family Activities—Christmas Crafts
Get your home ready for Santa's visit with the Titusville Library.

Starting Monday, December 6, you can drop off letters for Santa in a special mailbox that goes straight from Titusville Library to the North Pole. On Tuesday, December 7, decorate your own Christmas card however you like!

Create your own Christmas ornament on Tuesday, December 14, to give your home a holiday cheer unique to you.

Titusville Library will also offer a "Craft a Santa To-Go Bag" of chocolates on Tuesday, December 21—children will need help with this one, parents!

All supplies for crafts are provided. 
  • When: Monday, December 6; Tuesdays, December 7, 14, and 21
  • Where: Titusville Branch Library | 2 6th Ave SW, Birmingham, AL 35211
Who Kicked the Bucket? Murder Mystery Christmas
Help the Titusville Library solve a Christmas themed murder mystery! Dress up for your part and steal the show as you solve the crime. 
  • When: Wednesday, December 8, starting at 11:00 a.m.
  • Where: Titusville Branch Library | 2 6th Ave SW, Birmingham, AL 35211

🎁Annual Christmas Extravaganza Concert
It is time for West End Library's annual Christmas concert! Join them for music, spoken word, and a Christmas celebration. 
  • When: Tuesday, December 14, from 6:30 p.m.—8:00 p.m.
  • Where: West End Branch Library | 1348 Tuscaloosa Ave SW, Birmingham, AL 35211
⛄After School Holiday Coloring and Puzzles
Students are invited to color and solve Christmas themed coloring pages and puzzles after school at Woodlawn Library. 
  • When: Wednesday, December 1, starting at 3:30 p.m.
  • Where: Woodlawn Branch Library | 5709 1st Ave N, Birmingham, AL 35212
🎁Holiday Sketching
Learn the basics of illustration using a variety of pencils and crayons at Woodlawn Library. Supplies are provided! This program is intended for adults. 
  • When: Wednesday, December 8, from 10:00 a.m.—11:00 a.m.
  • Where: Woodlawn Branch Library | 5709 1st Ave N, Birmingham, AL 35212
🎅Christmas Movie Marathon
Woodlawn Library is hosting a children's movie marathon on Thursday, December 23. Movies begin at 9:00 a.m. and end around 5:00 p.m.

These film selections are family friendly choices suitable for children of all ages.
  • When: Thursday, December 23, from 9:00 a.m.—5:00 p.m.
  • Where: Woodlawn Branch Library | 5709 1st Ave N, Birmingham, AL 35212
🎄TGIF Crafts: Bedazzled Christmas Trees on Canvas 
On the first Friday of each month, Wylam Library hosts TGIF Crafts—a new festive themed program of art activities to decorate your home with.

December attendees will make a Christmas tree painting with embellishment on canvas board. Wylam Library will provide supplies, light refreshments, and jazz music. 

Registration is not required but highly appreciated by staff members. For more information, contact Library Assistant Ⅲ Joan Inman at 205-785-0349.
  • When: Friday, December 3, from 10:00 a.m.—11:30 a.m.
  • Where: Wylam Branch Library | 4300 7th Ave, Birmingham, AL 35224
The Unwrap a Good Read (the holiday honorarium gift donation) campaign is also going on all month long!

Donate to the BPL in honor of a loved one as a holiday gift, and the BPL will send them a commemorative card and bookmark for each honoree.

This a unique gift option that you, your honoree, and community will enjoy for many holiday seasons to come. 

Follow the BPL on Facebook (Meta), Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn and the Jefferson County Library Cooperative on Facebook (Meta), Instagram, and Twitter for more updates on holiday programs!

By Cheyenne Trujillo | Library Assistant Ⅲ, Public Relations

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