Community Calendar

Come One, Come All!
Books on First once again is sponsoring "Find Waldo Local" in Dixon, all the month of July. Based on the children's Where's Waldo books in which we seek and find Waldo and friends in various locations around town and the world within the pages, children from anywhere can seek and find Waldo in 25 locations around Dixon, IL, including the Parks District building, the Next Picture Show art gallery, Discover Dixon Main Street Chamber of Commerce HQ and other fun places including of course, Books on First.
We have lots of prizes for those participating, those seeing Waldo in at least 10 spots and those becoming eligible for entry into drawings for Where's Waldo books as well as contributed prizes from There's Fun Inside and more. Get involved in a Dixon-wide search for Waldo and experience the Local Small Businesses all around town. The hunt ends in a "Bye, Waldo" party on Saturday, 1 August!

Get ready to make some fireworks — on paper! In this hands-on art workshop, participants will create their own dazzling fireworks display using salt, glue, and watercolors. It's a simple and magical technique that produces stunning results and is perfect for celebrating the Fourth of July. This free program is geared toward ages 5 and up. All materials will be provided, and each participant will receive a glow stick bracelet to take home.

For thousands of years, farming ran on muscle — human or animal. Then came the steam engine, the steel plow, and the reaper, and suddenly the race was on to mechanize agriculture. This documentary traces that evolution, focusing on the fierce competition between John Deere, Ford, and International Harvester to build the first reliable all-purpose tractor. By 1929, the field had narrowed dramatically, but the machine we recognize today had finally emerged — and it would go on to transform farming forever. This free program is open to the public. It is approximately 56 minutes, not rated, and made possible through PBS.

Come One, Come All!
Books on First once again is sponsoring "Find Waldo Local" in Dixon, all the month of July. Based on the children's Where's Waldo books in which we seek and find Waldo and friends in various locations around town and the world within the pages, children from anywhere can seek and find Waldo in 25 locations around Dixon, IL, including the Parks District building, the Next Picture Show art gallery, Discover Dixon Main Street Chamber of Commerce HQ and other fun places including of course, Books on First.
We have lots of prizes for those participating, those seeing Waldo in at least 10 spots and those becoming eligible for entry into drawings for Where's Waldo books as well as contributed prizes from There's Fun Inside and more. Get involved in a Dixon-wide search for Waldo and experience the Local Small Businesses all around town. The hunt ends in a "Bye, Waldo" party on Saturday, 1 August!

Before smartphones and darkrooms, there was sunlight. Join us for a hands-on introduction to cyanotype printing — a technique invented in 1842 and used by Anna Atkins, considered the first woman photographer, to create botanical images still held in museum collections today. Participants will watch a short video from the Victoria and Albert Museum, then make their own prints using cyanotype paper, natural objects, and the sun. Free and open to the public. Recommended for ages 10 and up

Get ready for the Fourth of July with this fun and festive craft. Using ribbon, tulle, and a few simple materials, participants will create a colorful patriotic windsock to hang at home. Easy to make and beautiful in the breeze, it's the perfect way to celebrate the season. This free program is geared toward ages 8 and up. All materials will be provided, and each participant will receive a glow stick bracelet to take home.

Over three days in July 1863, war-weary Union and Confederate soldiers met at a quiet Pennsylvania crossroads and fought the bloodiest battle ever waged on American soil. The Gettysburg Story recounts the pivotal events and intimate human stories behind the clash that helped decide the fate of a nation, the same battle Abraham Lincoln would immortalize in his famous address. Narrated by actor Stephen Lang, the documentary uses sweeping cinematography to capture the full scale of the 6,000-acre battlefield, bringing legendary sites like Little Round Top, Devil's Den, Cemetery Ridge, and the fields of Pickett's Charge vividly to life. This free program is open to the public. It is approximately 56 minutes, not rated, and made possible through PBS.

Come One, Come All!
Books on First once again is sponsoring "Find Waldo Local" in Dixon, all the month of July. Based on the children's Where's Waldo books in which we seek and find Waldo and friends in various locations around town and the world within the pages, children from anywhere can seek and find Waldo in 25 locations around Dixon, IL, including the Parks District building, the Next Picture Show art gallery, Discover Dixon Main Street Chamber of Commerce HQ and other fun places including of course, Books on First.
We have lots of prizes for those participating, those seeing Waldo in at least 10 spots and those becoming eligible for entry into drawings for Where's Waldo books as well as contributed prizes from There's Fun Inside and more. Get involved in a Dixon-wide search for Waldo and experience the Local Small Businesses all around town. The hunt ends in a "Bye, Waldo" party on Saturday, 1 August!

Lean into your creative side and practice drawing wildlife step-by-step while learning about native species. This weekly series is geared for ages 6 through adult. Paper, pencils, and crayons provided. Bringing your own drawing supplies is encouraged! No session on June 19th or July 3rd.

Come One, Come All!
Books on First once again is sponsoring "Find Waldo Local" in Dixon, all the month of July. Based on the children's Where's Waldo books in which we seek and find Waldo and friends in various locations around town and the world within the pages, children from anywhere can seek and find Waldo in 25 locations around Dixon, IL, including the Parks District building, the Next Picture Show art gallery, Discover Dixon Main Street Chamber of Commerce HQ and other fun places including of course, Books on First.
We have lots of prizes for those participating, those seeing Waldo in at least 10 spots and those becoming eligible for entry into drawings for Where's Waldo books as well as contributed prizes from There's Fun Inside and more. Get involved in a Dixon-wide search for Waldo and experience the Local Small Businesses all around town. The hunt ends in a "Bye, Waldo" party on Saturday, 1 August!