By Cecilia Nasmith/Today’s Northumberland
Hard to believe the Cobourg Santa Claus Parade is coming up soon – but the Cobourg Public Library hopes you’ll remember to stop in after the big event on Nov. 17.
As usual, it’s the post-parade place to be, a chance to warm up with hot chocolate and cookies, and enjoy a visit with Santa and some of your favourite Cobourg Cougars. And from 1 to 5 p.m., the Youth Services department will be set up for ornament making so you can take home a memento of a wonderful day.
Even apart from parade day, the library has a variety of fun fall programs planned this month:
Nov 7 from 11 a.m. to noon, there’s Sleep! (a seminar for parents of infants and toddlers, featuring certified infant and toddler sleep consultant Holly Jefferd of Tiny Sleepers Big Dreamers.
Nov. 16 from 2 to 4 p.m., young people are invited to celebrate the season Grinch-style. Wear something green with your best Whoville hairdo, and enjoy some fun activities and the showing of the original How The Grinch Stole Christmas (registration required).
Nov. 23 from 2 to 3 p.m., meet author Barbara Dickson for a multi-media presentation on her book Bomb Girls: Trading Aprons For Ammo (which inspired the TV show of the same name). Registration is required.
Nov. 23 from 2 to 4 p.m. is also a special family time in Youth Services, with a Nightmare Before Christmas viewing plus crafts and popcorn.
Nov. 25 from 6:30 to 8 p.m., meet author Adam Shoalts for a reading of his newest book Beyond The Trees: A Journey Alone Across Canada’s Arctic.
Special youth programming includes Disney Weekend Nov. 2 to 3, with activities and games based on some of your favourite characters.
There’s also a PA Day cursive-writing workshop Nov. 33 from 2 to 3 p.m. (registration required).
The Teen Advisory Group meets on the first Wednesday of the month at 6 p.m. for drop-in fun. On Nov. 6, how about a game of Dungeons & Dragons. And homeschooling families have a program of their own Nov. 20 from 2 to 3 p.m., with the theme Winter Holidays and Traditions Around The World.
The Share Your Stories contest wraps up Nov. 30 with a party from 10 to 11 a.m. Awards will be handed out, door prizes will be won and another great year of this traditional contest will be celebrated.
Also in November, at the Bewdley branch, Adult Craft Night is Nov. 21 from 7 to 8 p.m. (make your own tin-can lantern – registration required). And young people are invited to Fly Guy Fun Fanatics Nov. 22 from 10 to 11 a.m. for some PA Day fun.
The Gore’s Landing branch invites teens to their CD Scratch Art program Nov. 9 – drop in and see what you can create.
All branches have declared Nov. 18 to 24 Candy Cane Reindeer week to give you a chance to make one of these yummy creatures for your own.
Ongoing weekday programming continues, with busy Mondays for all ages. Needle Nuts Yarn Circle (10:30 a.m. to noon) gathers knitters, crocheters and other needle nuts in the Reading Room to share projects and information, while Laughing With Baby (11 to 11:30 a.m.) is a drop-in program for little ones up to age two (and their care givers).
All ages are invited to play Magic the Gathering from 5 to 7:30 p.m. every second Tuesday – Nov. 5 and 19 this month.
It’s Family Story Time Wednesdays from 10:30 to 11:15 a.m., where preschoolers and their care givers have fun while developing early skills. November themes include bears, pigs, bath time, alphabet stories and games.
On Fridays, Boomers & Beyond (for those aged 55 and up) is back by popular demand from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Rotary Room, a time for fun, speakers, fellowship and a light lunch. Special November programs include the Cobourg Cougars and Just Brew It teaming up to present Cozy Cups and Cougars Nov. 8, one of the actual goats from Haute Goats visiting Nov. 15, chair yoga with Karma Lifestyle Yoga Nov. 22, and a tech-safety seminar by Dave from My Tech Help on Nov. 29.
And at the Bewdley branch, Friday from 10 to 10:45 a.m. is Family Story Time, designed to develop early-school skills for young future readers.
And don’t forget the month’s book clubs.
The new Trending Topics Book Club for adults meets Nov. 13 from 6 to 7 p.m., where you choose a book related to the topic of the month for discussion. This month’s topic is humanitarianism.
Both township branches also have book clubs meeting this month – Nov. 5 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at Gore’s Landing and Nov. 27 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in Bewdley.
As well, a book club for intellectually challenged adults meets Mondays from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. in Cobourg.
You can register for library programming at http://calendar.cobourg.ca/library/.
As well, the library invites you to sign up for reminders of upcoming programs by visiting their main webpage and clicking on Program Updates under e-newsletters.