BPL 2021 Holiday Happenings Updates
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| Local patrons put the finishing touches on the East Ensley Library's tree. Photo from Karen Jackson. |
Kicking off December, I created a long blog compiling all of the Birmingham Public Library's (BPL) holiday happenings across 13 of our branches.
There is roughly a little over one week left in the month before all BPL locations close on Friday, December 24, and each location still has plenty of crafts, celebrations, and movie marathons planned for you!
Check out these holiday happenings going on this week, like the last day of the 12 Days of Grinchmas at Avondale Library or the Winter Open House tomorrow, Wednesday, December 15, at Central Library.
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| Grab a Holiday Happenings pamphlet at any BPL location. Photo by Cheyenne Trujillo. |
Avondale Regional Branch Library
🎄12 Days of Grinchmas
🎄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
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.
🎅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
🎄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.
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!
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
🎅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 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
🎁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
🎁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.
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
🎁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
🎁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
🎁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
🎅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
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Give the gift of reading this holiday season. Graphic designed by Lisa Smith. |
The Unwrap a Good Read (the holiday honorarium gift donation) campaign is also going on this December!
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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