Event List

Age Group
Age Group
Program Type
Registration Type

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Library Closed for Staff Training

Friday, December 5, 2025 at 9:00am - 1:00pm
Cary Area Public Library
Closing
Branches:
Cary Area Public Library
This event is in the "Teens" group
This event is in the "Elementary" group

Robotics Basics

Monday, December 8, 2025 at 6:30pm - 8:30pm
Flex Zone at Cary Area Public Library
Program Type:
STEM
Age Group:
Teens, Elementary

Grades 3-12. Intro to the LEGO SPIKE Prime robot’s hardware and software. You will also learn how to program the robots to move straight and turn. This class is the prerequisite for the Robotics Workshops.

Open
Registration Required
Library Branch: Cary Area Public Library
Room: Flex Zone
Age Group: Teens, Elementary
Program Type: STEM
Registration Required
Event Details:

Grades 3-12. Intro to the LEGO SPIKE Prime robot’s hardware and software. You will also learn how to program the robots to move straight and turn. This class is the prerequisite for the Robotics Workshops.

This event is in the "Teens" group

Teen Volunteer Board

Tuesday, December 9, 2025 at 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Flex Zone at Cary Area Public Library
Program Type:
Community
Age Group:
Teens

Grades 6-12

Join this fun service club to help with library volunteer projects. Participants will get volunteer hours for every meeting they attend. 

Open
Registration Required
Library Branch: Cary Area Public Library
Room: Flex Zone
Age Group: Teens
Program Type: Community
Registration Required
Event Details:

Grades 6-12

Join this fun service club to help with library volunteer projects. Participants will get volunteer hours for every meeting they attend. 

This event is in the "Adults" group
This event is in the "Teens" group
This event is in the "Multi-age & Family" group

Winter Trivia

Thursday, December 11, 2025 at 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Meeting Room at Cary Area Public Library
Program Type:
Entertainment, Gaming
Age Group:
Adults, Teens, Multi-age & Family

Welcome friends to this trivia competition!  Compete in teams of up to 4 people by correctly answering questions and we'll see which team has the most cheer.  Bonus points for coming dressed as your favorite winter sport or cold weather

Waitlist
Registration Required
Library Branch: Cary Area Public Library
Room: Meeting Room
Age Group: Adults, Teens, Multi-age & Family
Program Type: Entertainment, Gaming
Registration Required
Event Details:

Welcome friends to this trivia competition!  Compete in teams of up to 4 people by correctly answering questions and we'll see which team has the most cheer.  Bonus points for coming dressed as your favorite winter sport or cold weather

This event is in the "Teens" group

Finals Week De-Stress Kits

Monday, December 15, 2025 at 3:00pm - 3:00pm
Cary Area Public Library
Program Type:
@Home Kit
Age Group:
Teens

Grades 9-12

Library Branch: Cary Area Public Library
Age Group: Teens
Program Type: @Home Kit
Event Details:

Grades 9-12

This event is in the "Teens" group
This event is in the "Elementary" group

Magic The Gathering

Tuesday, December 16, 2025 at 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Meeting Room at Cary Area Public Library
Program Type:
Gaming
Age Group:
Teens, Elementary

Come and play Magic the Gathering at the library! Are you an experienced MTG player? Great! Never played before? That's great too, we'll teach you! 

Open
Registration Required
Library Branch: Cary Area Public Library
Room: Meeting Room
Age Group: Teens, Elementary
Program Type: Gaming
Registration Required
Event Details:

Come and play Magic the Gathering at the library! Are you an experienced MTG player? Great! Never played before? That's great too, we'll teach you! 

This event is in the "Teens" group

Button Art

Tuesday, December 16, 2025 at 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Flex Zone at Cary Area Public Library
Program Type:
Arts & Crafts
Age Group:
Teens

Grades 6-12

Create art using real buttons as the primary material. Buttons vary in size, shape, and color and are glued onto a canvas to form images or patterns. 

Open
Registration Required
Library Branch: Cary Area Public Library
Room: Flex Zone
Age Group: Teens
Program Type: Arts & Crafts
Registration Required
Event Details:

Grades 6-12

Create art using real buttons as the primary material. Buttons vary in size, shape, and color and are glued onto a canvas to form images or patterns. 

This event is in the "Adults" group
This event is in the "Teens" group

Relationships with the Land and the Peoples of McHenry County

Thursday, December 18, 2025 at 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Meeting Room at Cary Area Public Library
Program Type:
Presentation
Age Group:
Adults, Teens

Explore Indigenous and early Settler plant usage, once abundant in the area.

Open
Registration Required
Library Branch: Cary Area Public Library
Room: Meeting Room
Age Group: Adults, Teens
Program Type: Presentation
Registration Required
Event Details:

Explore Indigenous and early Settler plant usage, once abundant in the area.

This event is in the "Teens" group

Half Day Hangout

Friday, December 19, 2025 at 11:30am - 2:30pm
Meeting Room at Cary Area Public Library
Program Type:
Arts & Crafts, Gaming
Age Group:
Teens

Grades 6-12. Drop-in at the library and hang out with Switch games, board games, craft supplies, and snacks! What you do is up to you. CJH students have a half day of school on these dates.

Library Branch: Cary Area Public Library
Room: Meeting Room
Age Group: Teens
Program Type: Arts & Crafts, Gaming
Event Details:

Grades 6-12. Drop-in at the library and hang out with Switch games, board games, craft supplies, and snacks! What you do is up to you. CJH students have a half day of school on these dates.

This event is in the "Adults" group
This event is in the "Teens" group
This event is in the "Multi-age & Family" group

Gleeful Gift Wrapping

Saturday, December 20, 2025 at 10:00am - 12:00pm
Meeting Room at Cary Area Public Library
Age Group:
Adults, Teens, Multi-age & Family

Do you find it hard to wrap presents without curious eyes trying to peek around corners or from closets?  Then join us for an open house gift wrapping event!

Library Branch: Cary Area Public Library
Room: Meeting Room
Age Group: Adults, Teens, Multi-age & Family
Event Details:

Do you find it hard to wrap presents without curious eyes trying to peek around corners or from closets?  Then join us for an open house gift wrapping event!

This event is in the "Teens" group

Virtual Dungeons and Dragons Via Zoom

Saturday, December 20, 2025 at 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Virtual at Cary Area Public Library
Program Type:
Gaming, Virtual
Age Group:
Teens

Grades 6-12. Via Zoom. New and Returning players welcome. Come join in on this popular fantasy role-playing game, no experience necessary! Characters will be provided for you to play during the game.

Waitlist
Registration Required
Virtual Event
Library Branch: Cary Area Public Library
Room: Virtual
Age Group: Teens
Program Type: Gaming, Virtual
Registration Required
Event Details:

Grades 6-12. Via Zoom. New and Returning players welcome. Come join in on this popular fantasy role-playing game, no experience necessary! Characters will be provided for you to play during the game.

This event is in the "Teens" group

Teen Gaming

Tuesday, December 23, 2025 at 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Meeting Room at Cary Area Public Library
Program Type:
Gaming
Age Group:
Teens

Grades 6-12 

Play video games and board games with other teens! The library has a selection of Nintendo Switch and Wii U games that will be projected on the big screen. Registration preferred, walk-ins welcome.

Open
Registration Required
Library Branch: Cary Area Public Library
Room: Meeting Room
Age Group: Teens
Program Type: Gaming
Registration Required
Event Details:

Grades 6-12 

Play video games and board games with other teens! The library has a selection of Nintendo Switch and Wii U games that will be projected on the big screen. Registration preferred, walk-ins welcome.

Library Closed

All Day 12/24 - 12/25
Cary Area Public Library
Closing
Branches:
Cary Area Public Library

Library Closed

All Day 12/31 - 1/1
Cary Area Public Library
Closing
Branches:
Cary Area Public Library
This event is in the "Teens" group

Teen Volunteer Board

Tuesday, January 13, 2026 at 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Flex Zone at Cary Area Public Library
Program Type:
Community
Age Group:
Teens

Grades 6-12

Join this fun service club to help with library volunteer projects. Participants will get volunteer hours for every meeting they attend. 

Open
Registration Required
Library Branch: Cary Area Public Library
Room: Flex Zone
Age Group: Teens
Program Type: Community
Registration Required
Event Details:

Grades 6-12

Join this fun service club to help with library volunteer projects. Participants will get volunteer hours for every meeting they attend. 

This event is in the "Teens" group

Virtual Dungeons and Dragons Via Zoom

Saturday, January 17, 2026 at 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Virtual at Cary Area Public Library
Program Type:
Gaming, Virtual
Age Group:
Teens

Grades 6-12. Via Zoom. New and Returning players welcome. Come join in on this popular fantasy role-playing game, no experience necessary! Characters will be provided for you to play during the game.

Open
Registration Required
Virtual Event
Library Branch: Cary Area Public Library
Room: Virtual
Age Group: Teens
Program Type: Gaming, Virtual
Registration Required
Event Details:

Grades 6-12. Via Zoom. New and Returning players welcome. Come join in on this popular fantasy role-playing game, no experience necessary! Characters will be provided for you to play during the game.

This event is in the "Teens" group
This event is in the "Elementary" group

Build-A-Robot

Sunday, January 18, 2026 at 1:30pm - 4:00pm
Meeting Room at Cary Area Public Library
Program Type:
STEM
Age Group:
Teens, Elementary

Grades 3-12 Build one of the LEGO EV3 robot designs and then download the program to activate it. Adults not required, but this is a great chance for you to share a STEM activity with your child. 

Waitlist
Registration Required
Library Branch: Cary Area Public Library
Room: Meeting Room
Age Group: Teens, Elementary
Program Type: STEM
Registration Required
Event Details:

Grades 3-12 Build one of the LEGO EV3 robot designs and then download the program to activate it. Adults not required, but this is a great chance for you to share a STEM activity with your child. 

This event is in the "Teens" group

No Sew Heart Pillow

Tuesday, January 20, 2026 at 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Flex Zone at Cary Area Public Library
Program Type:
Arts & Crafts
Age Group:
Teens

Grades 6-12

Spread a little love this upcoming Valentine’s Day by creating a heart-shaped pillow using felt and stuffing. No sewing required. 

Open
Registration Required
Library Branch: Cary Area Public Library
Room: Flex Zone
Age Group: Teens
Program Type: Arts & Crafts
Registration Required
Event Details:

Grades 6-12

Spread a little love this upcoming Valentine’s Day by creating a heart-shaped pillow using felt and stuffing. No sewing required. 

This event is in the "Adults" group
This event is in the "Teens" group

Scholarships, Grants, and Loans [virtual]

Thursday, January 22, 2026 at 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Virtual at Cary Area Public Library
Program Type:
Job & Career, Virtual
Age Group:
Adults, Teens

This workshop will uncover the best college cost-reduction strategies and reveal little known asset, borrowing, and savings methods.

Virtual Event
Library Branch: Cary Area Public Library
Room: Virtual
Age Group: Adults, Teens
Program Type: Job & Career, Virtual
Event Details:

This workshop will uncover the best college cost-reduction strategies and reveal little known asset, borrowing, and savings methods.

This event is in the "Teens" group
This event is in the "Elementary" group

Robotics Workshop

Monday, January 26, 2026 at 6:30pm - 8:30pm
Meeting Room at Cary Area Public Library
Program Type:
STEM
Age Group:
Teens, Elementary

Grades 3-12. Develop your programming skills with the LEGO SPIKE Prime robots and apply them to various challenges. Each Workshop will have a different lesson and different challenges for you to try out.

Open
Registration Required
Library Branch: Cary Area Public Library
Room: Meeting Room
Age Group: Teens, Elementary
Program Type: STEM
Registration Required
Event Details:

Grades 3-12. Develop your programming skills with the LEGO SPIKE Prime robots and apply them to various challenges. Each Workshop will have a different lesson and different challenges for you to try out.

This event is in the "Teens" group

Teen Gaming

Tuesday, January 27, 2026 at 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Meeting Room at Cary Area Public Library
Program Type:
Gaming
Age Group:
Teens

Grades 6-12 

Play video games and board games with other teens! The library has a selection of Nintendo Switch and Wii U games that will be projected on the big screen. Registration preferred, walk-ins welcome.

Open
Registration Required
Library Branch: Cary Area Public Library
Room: Meeting Room
Age Group: Teens
Program Type: Gaming
Registration Required
Event Details:

Grades 6-12 

Play video games and board games with other teens! The library has a selection of Nintendo Switch and Wii U games that will be projected on the big screen. Registration preferred, walk-ins welcome.

This event is in the "Adults" group
This event is in the "Teens" group

Valentine's Trivia

Thursday, February 5, 2026 at 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Meeting Room North at Cary Area Public Library
Program Type:
Gaming
Age Group:
Adults, Teens

This is a trivia competition for all candy hearts!  Compete in teams of up to 4 people by correctly answering questions and we'll see which team loves love.  Bonus points for coming dressed in your finest reds, pinks, or other outfits th

Waitlist
Registration Required
Library Branch: Cary Area Public Library
Room: Meeting Room North
Age Group: Adults, Teens
Program Type: Gaming
Registration Required
Event Details:

This is a trivia competition for all candy hearts!  Compete in teams of up to 4 people by correctly answering questions and we'll see which team loves love.  Bonus points for coming dressed in your finest reds, pinks, or other outfits th

This event is in the "Teens" group

Teen Volunteer Board

Tuesday, February 10, 2026 at 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Flex Zone at Cary Area Public Library
Program Type:
Community
Age Group:
Teens

Grades 6-12

Join this fun service club to help with library volunteer projects. Participants will get volunteer hours for every meeting they attend. 

Open
Registration Required
Library Branch: Cary Area Public Library
Room: Flex Zone
Age Group: Teens
Program Type: Community
Registration Required
Event Details:

Grades 6-12

Join this fun service club to help with library volunteer projects. Participants will get volunteer hours for every meeting they attend. 

This event is in the "Teens" group

Half Day Hangout

Friday, February 13, 2026 at 11:30am - 2:30pm
Meeting Room at Cary Area Public Library
Program Type:
Arts & Crafts, Gaming
Age Group:
Teens

Grades 6-12. Drop-in at the library and hang out with Switch games, board games, craft supplies, and snacks! What you do is up to you. CJH students have a half day of school on these dates.

Library Branch: Cary Area Public Library
Room: Meeting Room
Age Group: Teens
Program Type: Arts & Crafts, Gaming
Event Details:

Grades 6-12. Drop-in at the library and hang out with Switch games, board games, craft supplies, and snacks! What you do is up to you. CJH students have a half day of school on these dates.