Here at Nashville Public Library, we have so many FREE events for children and families year round, but summer is an especially fun-filled few months. Among the children's events in our calendar, we have our Summer Reading Challenge, ballet performances and story times, magic shows, science demonstrations, foam parties, Zooventures from Nashville Zoo, special puppet shows, and more!
Library Events for Children This Summer!
Summer Reading Challenge 2024 & Summer Reading Kickoff Party!
Summer Reading Challenge begins June 1st and runs through July 31st!
Read, complete activities, and earn prizes! No library card required. Visit the SRC Landing Page for more details.
Friday, June 7th from 5-7 PM at Amqui Station
Let's get this summer started with a party at Amqui Station! Food trucks, outdoor play, music, and a 6:00 PM performance by the one and only Opryland Magician, Rodney Kelley! Children who sign up for summer reading at the event will take home a free book! This event is free and open to the public. Perfect for families. I, myself, will be there celebrating and representing Bringing Books to Life!
New Donelson Branch Opening Day Celebration
Monday, June 24th at 9:30 AM
Nashville Public Library and the Donelson community are creating a neighborhood space for joy, learning, creativity, and community building with the new Donelson branch. Festivities include a Puppet Truck performance, Story Time with Nashville Symphony, a dance performance from Nashville Irish Step Dancers, and more! Check out the landing page for the celebration here to RSVP and see the official schedule of events!
String City at The Country Music Hall of Fame
Monday, June 24th through Saturday, June 29th at 10:30 AM & 11:30 AM
Marionettes, rod puppetry, shadow animation, and an ever-changing set tell the story of country music as it relates to Nashville's transformation into Music City USA. Experience nearly one hundred puppets, ranging from the Staple Singers to Johnny Cash to Taylor Swift. String City: Nashville's Tradition of Music and Puppetry is a co-production by the Nashville Public Library and the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. String City was created and is presented by the Nashville Public Library's Wishing Chair Productions.
Book Giveaway Day at Edmondson Pike Branch
Saturday, July 20th from 2-4 PM
Live out your free book fair fantasy! Come by the library's Teen Room for free books, bookmarks, buttons, pencils, erasers, and more! For all ages.
Ballet Story Times
Rejoice Ballet Story Time at East Branch - May 25th at 10:30 AM
Join us for a very special story time with a teaching artist from Rejoice School of Ballet! The featured book A Story for Small Bear will be followed by movement to classical music. The program lasts 30 minutes and is for ages 3-5.
Nashville Ballet Presents: "Sleeping Beauty"
Edmondson Pike Branch: June 4th at 10:30 AM
Goodlettsville Branch: June 5th at 10:30 AM
Join a Nashville Ballet Teaching Artist for this fairytale classic! Hear the story of how the Lilac Fairy reverses evil fairy's curse on a beautiful young princess doomed to sleep until love's kiss breaks the spell. Children will dance their way through this fun tale and learn how the ballet has become a cherished performance through its enchanting music and movement.
Nashville Ballet Dance Party Story Time at Madison Branch - June 7th at 10:30 AM
Join us and our friends from Nashville Ballet as we dance our Friday morning away! Best for ages 2-5 years.
Scott Ellis School of Irish Dance at Madison Branch
Friday, July 12th at 10:30 AM
Join us for a dance-filled story time celebrating the art of Irish Dance! The Scott Ellis School of Irish Dance promotes the Irish culture and focuses on the dance and the music. They are a very family-oriented bunch who like to have lots of fun! Come dance with us!
Library Pete and the Storytime Band Rock and Roll Puppet Show Extravaganza!
Fridays & Saturdays from June 7th onward, at 10:30 AM at Main Library
A musical romp of sights and sounds. The fun-filled sweetness of humor and adventure every heart longs for. A childlike wonder of the celebration of reading. Puppets, guitars, the sun, the moon, the stars. The Theater! The Circus! A joyous resurgence! Every Friday & Saturday in June & July, except for the last weekend in June & first weekend in July.
Fiesta Time with SeƱora Rachel
Monday, June 10th at 10:30 AM at the East Branch
Little ones learn about the vibrant Latino culture through stories, music and movement. Rachel Rodriguez is a singer, songwriter, mother, and teaching artist. Her presentations are bilingual and extremely interactive. Children listen to a story, sing, dance, AND learn Spanish!
Magic Shows & Science Demonstrations
STEM Adventure with the Science Guys!
Saturday, June 1st at 11 AM at the Inglewood Branch
In this thrilling show, young scientists will embark on a STEM adventure! Kids will explode right into a mission that reveals challenges of defying gravity and electrifying obstacles, all while exploring science principles to navigate an escape. This adventure includes the powerful forces of physics, stunning reactions of chemistry, and much much more. Great for all ages and group sizes!
Adventure Science Center presents: Upload Your Code
Thursday, June 13th at 2 PM at Looby Branch
Team Mission: Write block-based or JavaScript code to program a small robot through a series of basic to complex obstacles. Students will code, test, observe, assess, and repeat as they work through the scientific process with their robot challenges. Recommended for ages 8-12, but all are welcome.
Mr. Bond and his Science Guys: Summer of Science
Friday, June 14th at 10:30 AM at the Madison Branch
Mr. Bond's Science Guys' mission is to make science fun, cool and easy for kids! With over 20 years of experience in Tennessee and beyond, our mission is still to get kids excited about science! No matter what the circumstances, we will find a way to bring exciting and educational programs to kids.
Rodney Kelley Magic Show
Saturday, June 22nd at 12 PM at the East Branch
Join Nashville Magician Rodney Kelley for a show that is a little bit comedy, a little bit magic, and a whole lot of fun! Rodney Kelley spent 11 years performing at OPRYLAND USA Theme Park and Hotel in Nashville and he'll be in East for one morning only! Perfect for ages 2-9 years.
Adventure Science Center presents: Splitting Molecules
Thursday, June 27th at 2 PM at Looby Branch
Channel your inner mad scientist as you use the power of electricity to split water molecules! Kids will test various liquids to discover the best way to harvest hydrogen for an explosive finale. Recommended for ages 6-14, but all are welcome.
Animal Fun!
Nashville Zoo-Ventures
Monday, June 3rd at 10:30 AM at the Madison Branch
Join our friends from the Nashville Zoo as we hear a favorite animal story and meet an ambassador animal! Best for Pre-K -- 2nd grades, but all are welcome.
Starry Night Story Time presents: Music City Pet Partners
Thursday, June 6th at 6 PM at Thompson Lane Branch
Since Ms. Magda will be out of town, our friends from Music City Pet Partners will bring a couple of their canine friends to read with your young ones! These dogs are well-trained and used to serving for therapy for all ages. Sign up for a 15-minute time slot at the Front Desk. No more than 2 children per session, please. For ages 7-18, but all ages are welcome.
Nashville Zoo-Ventures: A Day in the Life
June 8th at 10:30 AM at Edmondson Pike & June 24th at 1 PM at Hermitage
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be a wild animal? In this interactive program, we explore how our animal ambassadors interact with their habitat and survive. (Recommended for all ages and grades)
Read with Metro Animal Care and Control
Wednesday, June 26th at 2 PM at Looby
Join Metro Animal Care and Control for a special story time. Make an enrichment toy for the shelter animals and then meet and greet an adoptable shelter animal. For ages 6 and up, but all are welcome.
Animal Friends Story Time
Wednesday, July 24th at 10:30 AM at Goodlettsville
Our friends from Metro Nashville Animal Care and Control bring in a special doggy ambassador for story time! Join us for animal stories and crafts. For ages 3-5, families welcome.
Summer Feeding Program with Second Harvest Food Bank
Monday - Friday at 12 PM at the Southeast Branch (June 3rd through August 2nd)
All children and teens ages 18 and under can enjoy a free shelf stable meal from Second Harvest Food Bank. Meals will be available in the Storytime Room. Meals must be eaten onsite in the Storytime Room. For questions, please feel free to reach out to the incredible Paige Wilson.
Bubble Blast Foam Parties!
Saturday, June 1st at 11 AM at the Hermitage Branch
Join us for our Summer Reading Challenge kick off event and experience a one-of-a-kind foam party brought to you by Bubble Blast. Foam experts will create a mountain of clean refreshing foam in minutes that guests of all ages can play in. It's a high energy and fun experience with family friendly music, beach balls, pool noodles, and more!
Wednesday, June 5th at 10:30 AM at Church Street Park
Join us at Church Street Park for a fun foam party where we can play in a mountain of clean refreshing foam with beach balls, pool noodles, and more!
Saturday, June 8th at 2 PM at the East Branch
Kick off the summer with us outside for a fun foam party where we can play in a mountain of clean refreshing foam with beach balls, pool noodles, and more!
2:00 PM - Ages 0-4 playtime
2:20 PM - Ages 5-8 playtime
2:40 PM - Ages 9-12 playtime
A calmer bubble area will be available for little ones who need a sensory break. Please bring towels and wear water shoes and clothes that can get wet.
Story Time Foam Party
Friday, July 19th at 10:30 AM at Madison
What is a Foam Party? It's just that - a PARTY! But BETTER. Abrakadabra's foam cannon fills any area up to 6 feet high in cool, clean, and refreshing foam. We then crank up some tunes and have a party like you've never seen before! Come one, come all. Perfect for families with children ages 0-7 years.
Small World Yoga Story Time
Friday, June 28th at 10:30 AM at the Madison Branch
Join us and our friends from Small World Yoga for a movement-filled story time perfect for our youngest yogis. Best for ages 3-7 years.
Country Music Hall of Fame's Musical Instrument Petting Zoo
Tuesday, July 2nd at 2 PM at the East Branch
Bow a fiddle, pluck a banjo, and strum a ukulele! The Musical Instrument Petting Zoo offers budding musicians a chance to try new and familiar instruments. The program begins with a demonstration of the instruments by a professional musician, then instructors offer guidance as you try your hand at all the instruments at the zoo. For ages 6-17.
Code Academy
Come and learn coding concepts, app design, and programming with robotics. Open to rising 5th graders and above. Registration required. Also available for Williamson County residents (see website for details). It's FREE!
June 3rd - 7th from 1:30-4:30 PM at East & Edgehill Branches
June 10th - 14th from 10:30 AM-1:30 at Hermitage & 1:30-4:30 PM at East
June 24th - 28th from 1:30-4:30 PM at Madison & Edmondson Pike
July 8th - 12th from 1-4 PM at Thompson Lane & North Branches
July 15th - 19th from 9 AM - 12 PM or 1-4 PM at Main
As you can see, there is quite a lot going on here at NPL and our branches this summer. It is a very exciting time to be a Nashvillian with a (FREE) library card! Our doors are open to all, regardless of whether you have a card, and we're so excited to put on such wonderful programs for the children in our neighborhoods! Come visit us any time of the year to check out books, movies, and more, all for free. I leave you with an ancient photo of my childhood dog, Buddy, and me in the dog days of summer, having a grand ole time. H.A.G.S.! (If you know, you know).