Children’s Programs for both Marion and Old Fort Library
Welcome to our Children’s Program Page where you can find upcoming programs for children from Birth to 5th Grade. To see a full list of programs for all ages, check out our Program Calendar.
2026 Summer Reading Program: “Unearth A Story”
Summer Reading Ends Friday, July 31st!
-All reading logs, activity logs, and tickets need to be turned in by 5:30 pm on July 31st.
Diggery Diggers Dino Show
Thursday, July 30th from 3-4 PM at the Marion Library
Join us for our last Summer Reading event presented by “Diggery’s Dinosaur Adventure”.
-Get ready for a ROARING good time filled with fun, excitement, and a Dino-sized adventure!
Upcoming July Programs
Preschool Storytime (Ages 3-5) /La hora del cuento para preescolares (Edades 3-5)
Monday, July 6, July 13, July 20, and July 27 at 10:30AM | Marion Library
Join Ms. Megan for Preschool Storytime at the Marion Library. Books, songs, felt board stories, action rhymes, and fun for preschool-aged children.
Libros, canciones, historias en fieltro, rimas de acción y diversión para niños en edad preescolar.
Preschool Storytime with Ashley Greene/ La hora del cuento para preescolares con Ashley Greene
Monday, July 13 at 10:30AM | Marion Library
Regularly scheduled Preschool Storytime, featuring books read Ashley Greene.
Sesión regular de cuentacuentos para preescolares, con libros leídos por Ashley Greene.
Bilingual Preschool Storytime with Silvia Martín Del Campo Vargas/ La hora del cuento para los pequeños con Silvia Martín Del Campo Vargas
Monday, July 20 at 10:30AM | Marion Library
Come enjoy stories in both Spanish and English presented by Silvia Martin Del Campo Vargas with McDowell Tech .
Ven a disfrutar de las historias presentadas por Silvia Martin De Campos Vargas con McDowell Tech en español e inglés.
Tiny Tots Storytime (Age 2 and under) /La hora del cuento para los peques (2 años o menos))
Tuesday, July 7, July 14, July 21, and July 28 at 10:30AM | Marion Library
Join Ms. Megan for Tiny Tots Storytime at the Marion Library. Books, songs, felt board stories, action rhymes, and fun for toddler-aged children.
Libros, canciones, historias en tablero de fieltro, rimas de acción y diversión para niños pequeños.
Preschool Storytime /La hora del cuento para preescolares
Wednesday, July 1, July 8, July 15, July 22, and July 29 at 11AM | Old Fort Library
Come hear a story and try a craft together in our cozy Old Fort branch! This program is oriented towards preschool-age children, but kids of all ages are welcome.
¡Vengan a escuchar un cuento y a hacer una manualidad juntos en nuestra acogedora sucursal de Old Fort! Este programa está dirigido a niños preescolares, pero son bienvenidos niños de todas las edades.
Craft for Little Hands/ Manualidades para manos pequeñas
Preschool-aged children are invited to craft at the library. Dress for a mess because we will be using glue, scissors, paints, paper, markers, crayons and much more! Designed for ages 3- to 5-year old’s, but all are welcome.
Los niños de edad preescolar están invitados a hacer manualidades en la biblioteca. ¡Vístase para hacer un desastre porque usaremos pegamento, tijeras, pinturas, papel, marcadores, crayones y mucho más! Diseñado para niños de entre 3 y 5 años, pero todos son bienvenidos.
Monday, July 6, July 13, July 20, and July 27 at 11AM | Marion Library
Craft for Tiny Tots/ Manualidades para los más pequeños
Toddler-aged children are invited to craft at the library. Dress for a mess because we will be using glue, scissors, paints, paper, markers, crayons and much more! Designed for age 2 and under.
Los niños pequeños están invitados a hacer manualidades en la biblioteca. ¡Vístanse para ensuciarse porque usaremos pegamento, tijeras, pinturas, papel, marcadores, crayones y mucho más! Diseñado para niños de 2 años o menos.
Tuesday, July 7, July 14, July 21, and July 28 at 11AM | Marion Library
Programs for all ages/ Programas para todas las edades
Pioneer Day/Día de los Pioneros
Friday, July 3 at 10 AM | Old Fort
The Mountain Gateway Museum is having its first Pioneer Day since Hurricane Helene. It will have traditional Appalachian crafts, live music, food trucks, farm demonstrations, children’s games, and much more. It will also coincide with the state’s “America 250 NC” celebration on the July 4th weekend. As always, admission is free!
El Museo Mountain Gateway celebra su primer Día del Pionero desde el huracán Helene. Habrá artesanías tradicionales de los Apalaches, música en vivo, puestos de comida, demostraciones agrícolas, juegos para niños y mucho más. Además, coincidirá con la celebración estatal “America 250 NC” el fin de semana del 4 de julio. ¡Como siempre, la entrada es gratuita!
Movie Afternoon/Tarde de cine
Wednesday, July 8 at 3:30 PM | Marion Library
Join us for a family dinosaur movie. We will provide popcorn and juice but feel free to bring a snack. Also feel free to bring a blanket or towel to sit on.
For more information visit our website: mcdowellpubliclibrary.org
Acompáñanos a ver una película de dinosaurios en familia. Proporcionaremos palomitas y jugo, pero siéntete libre de traer tu propio refrigerio. También puedes traer una manta o toalla para sentarte.
Para obtener más información, visite nuestro sitio web: mcdowellpubliclibrary.org
Barefoot Baby Pool Day – PIRATE THEME/Día de piscina para bebés – ¡Temática de piratas!
Friday, July 10 at 12 PM | Marion Public Pool
Ahoy! Join Barefoot Baby Foundation for a Pirate Invasion at the Marion Public Pool. Families can enjoy pirate-themed activities with the library, volunteers dressed as pirates, and a treasure hunt at the bottom of the pool.
Pool entry is free from 12–5 PM, with pirate activities taking place 12–3 PM.
Ahoy! Acompáñanos a la Fundación de Barefoot Baby para una invasión pirata en la piscina pública de Marion. Las familias podrán disfrutar de actividades con temática de pirata en colaboración con la biblioteca, voluntarios disfrazados de piratas y una búsqueda del tesoro en el fondo de la piscina.
La entrada a la piscina es gratuita de 12 pm-5 pm, y las actividades piratas se desarrollan de 12 pm – 3pm.
Elementary Programs
Old Fort Art Explorers (Kindergarten- 5th Grade)/ Exploradores del arte (Kinder – 5to Grado): Origami Dino Finger Claws/ Garras de dedos de dinosaurio
Wednesday, July 1 at 1pm | Old Fort Library
Channel your inner velociraptor and create a handful of ferocious dinosaur claws using origami– the ancient art of folding paper!
Dino Explorers (Kindergarten- 5th Grade)/ Exploradores de dinosaurios (Kinder – 5to Grado): Jewelry Craft/ de julio. Taller de joyería
Wednesday, July 1 at 4pm | Marion Library
To get ready for the America 250 celebration, elementary school students are welcome to come and create their own jewelry.
Para prepararse para la celebración del 250 aniversario de Estados Unidos, se invita a los estudiantes de primaria a venir y crear sus propias joyas.
Old Fort Art Explorers (Kindergarten- 5th Grade)/ Exploradores del arte (Kinder – 5to Grado): Plaster-Cast Dino Tracks/ Huellas de dinosaurio de yeso
Wednesday, July 8 at 1pm | Old Fort Library
Learn about how scientists use plaster to preserve tracks left behind by animals, and then see how sand-casting plaster can even be used as an art form!
Old Fort Art Explorers (Kindergarten- 5th Grade)/ Exploradores del arte (Kinder – 5to Grado): Dinosaur Pop-Ups/Dinosaurios emergentes
Wednesday, July 15 at 1pm | Old Fort Library
Everyone loves a good pop-up book or card, and dinosaurs make excellent subjects. Learn how geometry and hinges work together to make your own interactive art piece!
Dino Explorers (Kindergarten- 5th Grade)/ Exploradores de dinosaurios (Kinder – 5to Grado): Paint by Sticker/ Pintura de dinosaurios por Sticker
Wednesday, July 15 at 4pm | Marion Library
Elementary students will construct a dinosaur by placing numbered stickers onto corresponding spaces.
Los alumnos de primaria construirán un dinosaurio colocando pegatinas numeradas en los espacios correspondientes.
Old Fort Art Explorers (Kindergarten- 5th Grade)/ Exploradores del arte (Kinder – 5to Grado): Camera Lucida/Cámara de la luz
Wednesday, July 22 at 1pm | Old Fort Library
The camera lucida, a “dinosaur” of the art world, was used by master artists of the Renaissance to help them sketch their subjects more quickly and accurately. Try it out for yourself and see what you can draw!
Dino Explorers (Kindergarten- 5th Grade)/ Exploradores de dinosaurios (Kinder – 5to Grado): Edible Soil Layers with the Master Gardners/ Capas de suelo comestibles con los Maestros Jardineros
Wednesday, July 22 at 4pm | Marion Library
Elementary students will explore soil layers with Master Gardener Stephanie Goudreau and create a delicious treat.
Los alumnos de primaria explorarán las capas del suelo con la maestra jardinera Stephanie Goudreau y crearán un delicioso postre.
Old Fort Art Explorers (Kindergarten- 5th Grade)/ Exploradores del arte (Kinder – 5to Grado): Dino-eye Magnets/Imanes con forma de ojos de dinosaurio
Wednesday, July 29 at 1pm | Old Fort Library
Make a refractive dinosaur eye that you can turn into a necklace or magnet!
Dino Explorers (Kindergarten- 5th Grade)/ Exploradores de dinosaurios (Kinder – 5to Grado): Cookie Excavation/ Excavación de galletas
Wednesday, July 29 at 4pm | Marion Library
Elementary school students will discover the world of archaeology through a hands-on cookie excavation! Participants will explore how professional archaeologists record and document dig sites while practicing these essential skills themselves as they excavate their own “site.”
Los alumnos de primaria descubrirán el mundo de la arqueología mediante una excavación práctica de galletas. Los participantes explorarán cómo los arqueólogos profesionales registran y documentan los yacimientos arqueológicos, a la vez que practican estas habilidades esenciales excavando su propio yacimiento.
Virtual Programs/ Programas virtuales
First Chapter Tuesdays at 7 p.m./ Primer Capítulo Martes- Martes a las 7pm
Join Ms. Megan for the first chapter of a new book that has been added to our collection.
Leeremos el primer capítulo de un nuevo libro que se ha añadido a la colección.
Bedtime Stories/ Cuentos para dormir
Fridays at 7:00 p.m./ Viernes a las 7 pm
Bedtime Story read at 7 p.m. by Ms. Megan in our CLOSED Facebook group (McDowell Children Library Services)
Cuento para dormir leído a las 7 p.m. por la Sra. Megan en nuestro grupo CERRADO de Facebook (Servicios de Biblioteca Infantil McDowell)
Have a question about a program posted? Call us at either 828-652-3858 for Marion./¿Tiene alguna pregunta sobre un programa publicado? Llámenos al 828-652-3858 para Marion.