Community Calendar

Dale Chihuly is one of the world's most celebrated glass artists, with work displayed everywhere from the Louvre in Paris to the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. In this hands-on workshop, youth will explore Chihuly's iconic Macchia bowls — macchia is Italian for "spotted" — then create their own using coffee filters, washable markers, and spray starch. Each participant will take home a battery-powered tealight to illuminate their finished piece. Free and open to the public. Recommended for ages 6 and older.

Set on Virginia's Chincoteague Island, this heartwarming film invites you to experience the story of a centuries-old herd of wild ponies and the legendary Phantom — a mare famed for her mysterious ability to elude capture. As the community readies for its annual Pony Penning Day, you'll follow young siblings Paul and Maureen on their determined quest to catch Phantom, a journey that proves both transformative and unforgettable. Adapted from Marguerite Henry's beloved Newbery Honor-winning novel Misty of Chincoteague, this special screening commemorates the Chincoteague Pony Swim, held annually in July.

While enjoying the film, attendees are invited to craft their own wild pony — paint a wooden horse cut out and add a yarn mane to take home. This free public screening runs 91 minutes, not rated, and is made possible through Kanopy

Today, the United States is home to more than 26,000 miles of rail-trails — multi-use public paths built on former railroad corridors. How this remarkable network came to be is a story of massive economic change, breathtaking imagination, endless dedication, and tough political battles. From Rails to Trails captures the 60-year struggle, and transformative triumph, of one of America's most unlikely grassroots movements. From small-town showdowns to U.S. Supreme Court cases, the documentary unveils the legal, political, and cultural forces that shaped the rails-to-trails movement, exploring how community activists, visionary leaders, and passionate citizens fought to turn defunct railways into vibrant spaces for walking, biking, and recreation. The program is free and open to the public. It is approximately 56 minutes, not rated, and made possible through PBS.

Historian Lucy Worsley investigates the tensions and turning points that led to America's declaration of independence from Britain in 1776. With access to expert insights and original evidence, she asks whether this explosive split could have been avoided.

Lucy travels to New York's City Hall Park, where Washington's troops heard the Declaration of Independence read aloud, and rebels melted a statue of King George III into musket balls. She crosses to London to see the war through British eyes — King George's maps, Benjamin Franklin's home, and the punishing taxes that made revolution inevitable. From the Boston Massacre to the Tea Party, from John Wilkes to Thomas Paine, she traces the radical ideas that lit the fuse.

At Portsmouth Royal Dockyard, Lucy uncovers a shocking arson plot to cripple the Royal Navy. She follows Franklin's secret mission to Paris, exposes the British spy at the heart of it, and examines Britain's mounting fears as France and Spain entered the conflict. In London, riots. In Ireland, resistance. In Yorktown, defeat. In 1783, Britain formally recognized American independence. This free public screening runs 110 minutes, not rated, and is made possible through PBS.

Celebrate Harry Potter's birthday with an afternoon of inspired crafts, themed drinks, and snacks. Costumes welcome! Try your hand at four craft stations — make a wand, a Hogwarts House bookmark, a potion bottle, and decorate a photo frame — then snap a photo at our themed backdrop to slip inside. Crafts, drinks, and snacks are available while supplies last. We'll wrap up the afternoon with a screening of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, made possible through Swank Licensing.

Free and open to all ages. Recommended for ages 6 and up; children under 6 are welcome with a parent or guardian. No registration required.

Join us for a special storytime celebrating the annual Chincoteague Pony Swim. We'll share a reading of Misty, the Wonder Pony, an adapted version of Marguerite Henry's beloved novel Misty of Chincoteague. Following the story, attendees are invited to craft their own wild pony – paint a wooden horse cutout and add a yarn mane to take home. This program is free and open to the public. Recommended for ages 6 and up.

What does it mean to be American? Join us for a hybrid community book club exploring that question through the lens of the American Revolution. The evening opens with a preview screening from the PBS documentary The American Revolution by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein, and David Schmidt, followed by an informal group discussion.

This month's featured title is The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume I: The Pox Party by M.T. Anderson — a National Book Award-winning young adult historical novel set in 18th-century Boston. The story follows a young Black man raised by rationalist philosophers who discovers he is the subject of a cruel experiment, all while the American Revolution brews around him. Narrated by Octavian himself, the novel explores themes of slavery, identity, and the hypocrisy of the Enlightenment.

Copies of the book are available at the McNabb Branch. This free program runs approximately 60 minutes and is held in-person at the McNabb Branch and virtually via Zoom. To register for Zoom, visit: https://t.ly/iASwE.

In honor of the 100th anniversary of Route 66 and Granville Cruise Night, join us for a screening of Cars. In a world where cars are alive, hotshot rookie racer Lightning McQueen has his sights set on winning the biggest race of his career, until a detour lands him stranded in the sleepy town of Radiator Springs along Route 66. What starts as an unwanted pit stop turns into a journey about friendship, community, and what really matters. Featuring the voice talents of Owen Wilson and Paul Newman, Cars is a heartwarming Pixar classic the whole family will enjoy. This free public screening runs 117 minutes, rated G, and is made possible through SWANK.

What does it mean to be American? Join us for a hybrid community book club exploring that question through the lens of the American Revolution. The evening opens with a preview screening from the PBS documentary The American Revolution by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein, and David Schmidt, followed by an informal group discussion.

This month's featured title is Answering the Cry for Freedom: Stories of African Americans and the American Revolution by Gretchen Woelfle. Even as American Patriots fought for independence from British rule, thousands of enslaved and free African Americans waged their own fight for freedom — joining armies, speaking out against slavery, and establishing new settlements abroad. This collection spotlights thirteen remarkable individuals who answered the cry for freedom and shaped America both then and now, including Phillis Wheatley, James Armistead Lafayette, Sally Hemings, Richard Allen, and Ona Judge.

Copies of the book are available at the Condit Branch. This free program runs approximately 60 minutes and is held in-person at the Condit Branch and virtually via Zoom. To register for Zoom, visit: https://t.ly/C5SqL.

Carol’s Kindness will have a garage sale July 31, 9-4:30 and August 1, 9-3:00 at Beth Eden Methodist Church, 3201 Huffman Blvd., Rockford. There will be clothes, tools, household items, books, antiques, collectibles and more.

All proceeds will go to fund a scholarship in memory of Carol McFeggan, a beloved Auburn High School secretary who was lost to domestic violence in 2009. This scholarship with the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois will be awarded to students who demonstrate the kind of compassion and willingness to serve that Carol showed to all.