Thursday, December 25

Christmas Day.

LIBRARY CLOSED: Christmas

Newport Library and all Washington County Library branches will be closed for Christmas. Regular hours resume on Friday, December 26.

Friday, December 26

On Our Quilt Time

9:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. - Park Grove Library, 7900 Hemingway Ave. S., Cottage Grove

Do you have a quilting project you are working on? Join fellow quilters for camaraderie, inspiration, and ideas. Bring your own sewing machine and project supplies. Come and go as needed. No registration required.

Family Playtime at The Grove

10 – 11 a.m. – The Grove Church, 8600 90^th St. S., Cottage Grove

Every Friday at 10 a.m. for a sensory-based playtime for children of all ages in your life. You can expect stories, crafts, messy play, and activities — and free coffee for parents.

Family Art Cart

3 – 4:30 p.m. - R. H. Stafford Library, 8595 Central Park Place, Woodbury

Drop by R.H. Stafford Library on Friday afternoons to create something with our Art Cart. Each week we will have a different craft for you to try: it might involve fabric, yarn, beads, drawing or more!

Projects are designed for everyone age 5 and up. A librarian will be available to provide basic instruction, but children may need help from a grown-up. This is a great opportunity for families to work together on a creative activity, or for teens and adults to try something new.

This program is funded with money from Minnesota’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Saturday, December 27

Cottage Grove Park-runs – Weekly 5k

9 – 10 a.m. – Cottage Grove Parks

Parkrun 5ks and are meant to be a positive, welcoming and inclusive experience for all. There is no time limit, and no one finishes last. Whether you walk, jog, volunteer or spectate, all are welcome! Free to the public. Parkruns found at participating local parks:

9 – 10 a.m. – Hamlet Park, 8883 Hamlet Ave. S., Cottage Grove

Adult Craft Day

12 – 5 p.m. - Newport Library and Community Center, 405 Seventh Avenue, Newport

An opportunity for adult crafters to set aside time to craft and share their activities with other craft enthusiasts.

1:1 Genealogy Help

2  – 3 p.m. - R. H. Stafford Library, 8595 Central Park Place, Woodbury

Have you hit an obstacle in your genealogy research, or do you not know where to begin? Sign up for an hour-long 1:1 session at R.H. Stafford Library with a librarian who is a genealogy specialist. If she can’t answer the question, she’ll try to help you find resources that can.

Registration is required. When you arrive, check in at the Information Desk. Feel free to bring your tablet or laptop.

When you register, the librarian will email you to ask what issue you would like assistance with. Please respond to this email promptly so the librarian can provide you with the best help possible.

Storytime

3 – 4 p.m. - Newport Library and Community Center, 405 Seventh Avenue, Newport

Come join us for story time at Newport!

Monday, December 29

Winter Craft Workshop

2 – 4 p.m. - R. H. Stafford Library, 8595 Central Park Place, Woodbury

Kids ages 5 and up and their grown-ups are invited to drop by R.H. Stafford Library this winter break for an afternoon of crafting fun. You will be able to try three different projects, including kindness boxes, make-believe sparklers, and beaded snowflakes. We're excited to see what you create!

This drop-in program will be held in the Woodlands Room at Woodbury Central Park. For safety, we ask that all children be accompanied by a responsible grown-up who will remain in the room during the activity. 

Registration is not required.

Peer Tutoring

4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. - Newport Library and Community Center, 405 Seventh Avenue, Newport

Middle School and High School students will be on hand to help with homework or to facilitate practice in math and reading skills. Drop-ins are welcome.

Silent Book Club

6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. - Newport Library and Community Center, 405 Seventh Avenue, Newport

Silent Book Club (AKA: Introvert's Book Club) starts with 10 minutes of optional socialization followed by everyone taking out their book of choice and reading for about an hour. Participants find that reading alone together keeps them focused on their book. come on in with a book, e-reader, or an open mind to what you might find in our stacks. This will be an hour well spent.

Whole Health Discovery: The NRT Experience Class

7 – 8 p.m. - His Healing House 3394 Lake Elmo Avenue North, Suite 3, Lower Level, Lake Elmo

Are you ready to discover how your body can truly heal from the inside out?

 - Join us for an empowering evening where you'll learn about Nutrition Response Testing (NRT) — a proven, non-invasive technique that uncovers the root causes of your health concerns.
- Learn how your body communicates its needs
- Discover how NRT can help with fatigue, brain fog, gut issues & more
- Ask questions and experience the possibilities of personalized whole health

Whether you’re curious about natural wellness or ready to take your health to the next level, this event is for you.

Free to attend — space is limited!
Register and receive a FREE therapeutic 
Dive deeper here: Blog post on NRT & Nervous System
RSVP now or message us to reserve your spot!
https://www.hishealinghouse.org/whole-health-discovery

Tuesday, December 30

Blazing Needles

9:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. - Park Grove Library, 7900 Hemingway Ave. S., Cottage Grove

Do you have a needlework project you are working on? Join fellow enthusiasts for camaraderie, inspiration, and ideas. Bring your own project supplies. Come and go as you wish. Join the fun!

Lake Elmo Park Reserve at the Nordic Center

1 – 4 p.m. - Lake Elmo Park Reserve, 1515 Keats Avenue North, Lake Elmo

Winter Camp is a single-day winter adventure for kids in grades 3-5.

Kids will learn winter skills like shelter and fire building, explore the outdoors, and play fun winter games. A hands-on way to stay active over winter break. Registration is required, and space is limited.

Cost for Winter Camp is $35 per participant.

Book Tasting Party

3 – 3:45 p.m. - R. H. Stafford Library, 8595 Central Park Place, Woodbury

Choosing new books can be hard, and we want to help you out. Kids ages eight and up are invited to R.H. Stafford Library for an event all about trying new things. Librarians will select some of their favorite middle-grade reads, and we will pass them around, "musical chairs" style. You will have a few minutes to try out each book before it goes to the next person. No pressure, you just have to take a bite!

Registration is not required for this program; we will accommodate participants as space allows. While there is no firm age limit, participants should be reading at a third-grade level or higher.

VR and Open Gaming

3 – 4:30 p.m. - Park Grove Library, 7900 Hemingway Ave. S., Cottage Grove

Play video games at Park Grove Library! A variety of console systems will be out to play, such as the Nintendo Wii U, Nintendo Switch, and PlayStation 4. The Oculus Quest VR will also be available by appointment only. You can choose from up to 23 virtual reality games, including the popular Beat Saber, Superhot, and Job Simulator.

For ages 8-18.

An appointment and participant waiver are required to play VR.

Important! Minors must have a parent or legal guardian sign the waiver before they can play.

• Stop by the library earlier to sign at the information desk, or
• Print the attached waiver (link below) to sign and bring to event, or
• Waivers will be available to sign at the event.

Read With Me

4 – 5 p.m. - Newport Library and Community Center, 405 Seventh Avenue, Newport

Join in this interactive Story Time! We will read together and participate in games and activities around the literature we are experiencing.

Wednesday, December 31

New Year’s Eve.

Criminal Legal Advice Clinics

10 a.m. – 12  p.m. - Law Library, Washington County Government Center - 14929 62nd Street North, Stillwater

The Washington County Law Library provides weekly Criminal Legal Advice Clinics. The clinics assist residents navigating the Washington County judicial system. Each resident will receive a free half hour consultation with a volunteer attorney from the Washington County Bar Association.

Topics covered during the Criminal Legal Advice Clinics include traffic tickets, criminal process, criminal expungement, and DANCO order. 

We do not take walk-ins for our legal clinics and all consultations are over the phone. Please contact us to make an appointment. Please fill out the intake form ahead of time and we will schedule a time for an attorney to call you.

If you have any questions please call the Law Library at 651-430-6330.

Noon Year's Eve Dance Party

11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. - R. H. Stafford Library, 8595 Central Park Place, Woodbury

Ready to celebrate the new year, but not ready for a late bedtime? Count down to NOON with us at R.H. Stafford Library! We're hosting a dance party in the Central Park Woodlands Room, including a special countdown to 12 p.m. This program designed for children ages 2-6, but all are welcome. No registration is required for this event.

Cursive Club for Youth

4 p.m. - Newport Library and Community Center, 405 Seventh Avenue, Newport

Youth join us Wednesdays to learn the art of cursive writing. We will start with learning to sign your name, followed by crafts using cursive, and letter writing opportunities.

Bingo! At the Muddy Cow

7 p.m. - Muddy Cow, 7350 Hardwood Ct. S., Cottage Grove          

Join the Muddy Cow in Cottage Grove every Wednesday for Bingo! $1,000 coverall game starts at 7 p.m.