FAMILIES

CREATIVITY NIGHTS

6 p.m. Tuesdays, Jan. 10 to March 28 Central Library Creativity Nights will feature a new, simple craft each week. Some crafts will utilize STEAM concepts and instructions will be available in English and Spanish. Families with children ages 3 to 9 may drop in between 6 and 7 p.m. to complete the crafts. Crafts in February will celebrate Black History Month. No registration is required.

LUNAR NEW YEAR

2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 21 Walnut Creek Branch Library Families with children of all ages may drop in and complete crafts, such as red envelopes with candy gold coins, peach and apricot blossom lanterns, and New Year’s cards.

VIETNAMESE NEW YEAR/TET

2:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28 North Garland Branch Library Families with children of all ages can celebrate the Vietnamese New Year, or Tet, with a performance from the Lion Dance Troupe. The lion dance is performed every year at Tet and celebrates luck, health and prosperity. The Lion Dance Troupe will explain the dance and then perform it. After the performance, children ages 4 through 12 can make lion dance masks out of cardboard.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH TAKE AND MAKE CRAFTS

Throughout February Central Library Each week’s takeaway kit will be unique and feature an art activity related to a historical figure. The kits will include instructions and a suggested reading list. Kits will be available on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last, with new kits each Wednesday.

SPRING CARNIVAL

2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, April 15 Walnut Creek Branch Library Families can celebrate the beginning of spring by attending a carnival featuring face painting, crafts, a cakewalk and other games. Refreshments, such as popcorn and cotton candy, will be provided. All ages are welcome.

Saturday, April 1 (All ages)

Residents of all ages can become artists just in time for Big Art Day on Saturday, April 1. All Garland libraries are hosting activities to mark this citywide celebration. The South Garland Branch Library will host an afternoon of painting at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, March 25, for children ages 6 and older and teens ages 13 to 17. Participants will each receive a 3-by-3 inch canvas, paint and brushes to create their own works of art, which they will lend to the library for display in a Tiny Art Show from March 28 to April 8. Registration is required and limited to 50 participants. Registration begins March 11. Call 972-205-3934 to register. Families may drop in to the Walnut Creek Branch Library from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 1, and contribute to a CommUNITY Art display. Participants will trace outlines of their hands then decorate them with markers. One hand tracing can be taken home while the other is included in the display, which celebrates kindness, friendship and unity. Families may also visit the North Garland Branch Library from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, April 1, and paint feathers with watercolors. The painted feathers will be mounted on foam board and included in a sculpture designed to look like wings. Adults can become artists too! Adults, ages 18 and older, can stop by the Central Library from 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Saturday, April 1, and paint their own 3-by-3 inch canvases.