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Marathon County Public Library
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Children's Events

boy painting art

Visit your local MCPL for children's activities for all ages, including story times, arts & crafts, family movies, early literacy programs, STEAM / STEM events, music and theatrical performances, hands-on learning, our summer library program and more!

Follow this webpage or subscribe to our e-newsletter for the most recent schedule of library events for kids at our locations in Wausau, Athens, Edgar, Hatley, Marathon City, Mosinee, Rothschild, Spencer and Stratford.

We also publish featured events on our social media channels, including Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

Please note: If you plan to bring a large group to a children's event at the library, please notify us using our group visit form. 

MCPL On-site For Children For Parents For Educators Events

boys running outside

Outdoor Family Story Time

Children Join us at the library in the warmer months for family story time outdoors!

  • Wed., 5/25/22, 10–10:30 a.m. @ MCPL Wausau
  • (more events in this series [49])

children preschool story time »

event example [10605]

Spring Poetry Contest for Youth

Kids & Teens Drop-in Young writers between the ages of 9-18 are invited to send us original, unpublished poems for our spring poetry contest! Winners will receive recognition and prizes! Must be Marathon County resident.

  • 1/1–5/27/22 @ All MCPL Locations

children teens tweens community poetry writing writing contest »

decorated rock photo holders

Grab & Go
ROCK'N Picture Stand

Children Drop-in Stop by any MCPL location in May to pick up a grab and go craft kit that not only encourages colorful creativity, but also functions as a picture holder!

  • 5/1–5/31/22 @ All MCPL Locations

children preschool crafts »

hands painting canvas

Little Art Show

All-Ages Drop-in Check out our display of creative "Little Treasures" artwork submitted by our patrons!

  • 5/23–6/6/22 @ MCPL Edgar
  • 6/13–6/27/22 @ MCPL Athens
  • 7/5–7/18/22 @ MCPL Spencer
  • 7/25–8/6/22 @ MCPL Stratford

adults teen children art crafts »

child and parent reading a book

Outdoor Family Story Time: Marathon City

Children Bring your family to a series of outdoor story times at the library!

  • Thu., 6/2/22, 10:30–11 a.m. @ MCPL Marathon City
  • (more events in this series [7])

children story time »

event example [10787]

Outdoor Family Story Time: Hatley

Children Bring your family or the little ones you care for to these special outdoor story times at the library!

  • Tue., 6/7/22, 10:30–11 a.m. @ MCPL Hatley
  • (more events in this series [7])

children story time »

parent and toddler reading

Story Time in the Park

Children Parents and caregivers are invited to bring the little ones for an outdoor story time at Veteran's Memorial Park next to the library!

  • Tue., 6/7/22, 11–11:30 a.m. @ MCPL Rothschild
  • (more events in this series [4])

children story time »

narcissus plant bulbs sprouting

Hawaiian Luau Story Time

Children Join us outdoors at the library for a Hawaiian luau story time with books, crafts and fun activities! Rain date will be June 15.

  • Wed., 6/8/22, 10–11 a.m. @ MCPL Stratford

children story time »

colored chalk

Sidewalk Chalk Art

Children Drop-in Help brighten up the sidewalk outside several of our MCPL branches this summer!

  • 6/6–6/11/22 @ MCPL Mosinee
  • 7/25–7/30/22 @ MCPL Hatley
  • 8/1–8/6/22 @ MCPL Marathon City

children tweens art activities »

event example [10698]

Tom Pease

Children Beloved children's entertainer Tom Pease is back in Marathon County for Summer 2022! Join us at any of the four locations for his unique mix of music and humor!

  • Tue., 6/14/22, 11 a.m.–12 p.m. @ 400 Block
  • Tue., 6/14/22, 2–3 p.m. @ MCPL Marathon City
  • Thu., 6/16/22, 11 a.m.–12 p.m. @ Legion Memorial Park
  • Thu., 6/16/22, 2–3 p.m. @ Lions Park (Spencer)

children grades k-5 music off-site »

octopus

Grab & Go
Octopus Week

Children Drop-in Celebrate one of the most intelligent creatures in the ocean (and our Summer Library Program) with a grab and go kit from the library to make your own yarn-wrapped octopus!

  • 6/13–6/18/22 @ MCPL Marathon City

children hands-on activities slp crafts »

event example [10733]

Mooooove Into Summer Stratford Story Time

Children Join us for an "udderly" great time at the library as we celebrate June Dairy Month with a special outdoor story time!

  • Wed., 6/22/22, 10–11 a.m. @ MCPL Stratford

children slp story time »

event example [10711]

Randy Peterson

Children Children's entertainer Randy Peterson, a longtime favorite of MCPL, is back in Marathon County with a whole new set of songs and fun!

  • Wed., 6/22/22, 11 a.m.–12 p.m. @ River Park
  • Wed., 6/22/22, 2–3 p.m. @ Oak Street Park
  • Tue., 7/12/22, 11 a.m.–12 p.m. @ 400 Block
  • Tue., 7/12/22, 2–3 p.m. @ MCPL Stratford

children grades k-5 outdoor recreation slp music »

event example [10712]

Three Kinds of Painting Fun!

Kids & Teens Express your creative side at the library this summer with a fun, outdoor painting program with three different types of styles!

  • Wed., 6/22/22, 2:30–4:30 p.m. @ MCPL Hatley

children teens diy hands-on activities slp crafts art »

parent and toddler reading

Outdoor Family Story Time: Mosinee

Children Families are invited to join the library staff at River Park in Mosinee for a special outdoor story time!

  • Wed., 6/29/22, 10:30–11 a.m. @ River Park
  • (more events in this series [1])

children story time »

CD fish craft

Grab & Go
CD Fish

Children Drop-in Throughout June, children and their parents or caregivers can stop by the library to pick up a SLP-theme fish craft kit!

  • 6/1–6/30/22 @ MCPL Mosinee

children crafts »

jellyfish crafts

Grab & Go
DIY Jellyfish

Children Drop-in Stop by any MCPL location in June to pick up a Summer Library Program craft kit: a DIY jellyfish with a few simple supplies for our youngest patrons and a terra cotta jellyfish for ages 8 and up!

  • 6/1–6/30/22 @ All MCPL Locations

children grades k-5 slp crafts »

decorated sea shells

Grab & Go
Mermaid Barrette

All-Ages Drop-in Stop by any MCPL location in June to pick up a grab and go kit to make your own barrette!

  • 6/1–6/30/22 @ All MCPL Locations

adults teens children slp art crafts »

T-shirt bags

Recycled T-Shirt Bags

All-Ages Join us on either of two dates to learn how to make your own bag from a recycled T-shirt and keep plastic bags out of landfills and oceans! Bring your own shirt and we'll take care of the rest!

  • Sat., 7/9/22, 10–11:30 a.m. @ MCPL Wausau
  • (more events in this series [1])

general adults teens children slp activities crafts hands-on learning »

event example [10775]

Bubble Science

Children To go along with our SLP theme "Oceans of Possibilities," children and their families and caregivers are invited to create something found all throughout the oceans - bubbles!

  • Fri., 7/15/22, 1–3 p.m. @ MCPL Hatley

children grades k-5 hands-on activities activities slp »

crab

Grab & Go
Rocking Crabs

Children Drop-in Children and their parents and caregivers are encouraged to stop by the library July 11-16 and pick up a rockin' SLP-themed craft!

  • 7/11–7/16/22 @ MCPL Spencer

children slp crafts »

blue whale

Grab & Go
Blue Whale Week

Children Drop-in Stop by the library in July to pick up a fun SLP craft kit and make your own blue whale with a few simple supplies!

  • 7/11–7/16/22 @ MCPL Marathon City

children slp crafts »

cartoon octopus, squid and jellyfish

Stories & Crafts From the Deep Blue Sea

Children Join us at Lions Park in Spencer for a fun morning of stories and crafts during our Summer Library Program!

  • Tue., 7/19/22, 10–11 a.m. @ Lions Park (Spencer)

children preschool hands-on activities slp crafts story time »

sharks

Shark Tales Story Time in Stratford!

Children There's some-fin special about shark stories! Join us for an hour of shark-tacular stories and crafts this summer at the library!

  • Wed., 7/20/22, 10–11 a.m. @ MCPL Stratford

children crafts slp story time »

boys running outside

Outdoor Obstacle Course

Children Children and their families and caregivers are invited to join us at River Park in Mosinee for an afternoon of activities to get them up and moving!

  • Thu., 7/28/22, 2–3:30 p.m. @ River Park

children tweens slp activities outdoor recreation »

treasure chest

Grab & Go
Jeweled Treasure Chest

Children Drop-in Discover "Oceans of Possibilities" during MCPL's Summer Library Program and pick up this grab and go kit at any location to make your own jeweled treasure chest!

  • 7/1–7/30/22 @ All MCPL Locations

children hands-on activities slp crafts »

magic wand craft

Grab & Go
Ollivander's Wand Shop

All-Ages Drop-in Calling all Harry Potter fans! Stop by the library in July to pick up a grab and go kit to make your own wand modeled after the great Ollivander!

  • 7/1–7/30/22 @ MCPL Mosinee

adults children teens crafts »

event example [10696]

Library Card Pool Day

Kids & Teens Drop-in Celebrate summer with free entrance to any Wausau pool on August 2 with your library card! One card will work for the whole family.

  • Tue., 8/2/22, 12 a.m.–11:59 p.m. @ Wausau Outdoor Pools

children grades k-5 teens slp off-site outdoor recreation »

event example [10735]

Stratford Bubble Bash Story Time

Children Kids and their families and caregivers are invited to the library for an hour of bubble-licious stories and crafts!

  • Wed., 8/3/22, 10–11 a.m. @ MCPL Stratford

children slp story time »

event example [10736]

Stuffed Animal Story Time & Campout!

Children Children and their families are invited to a special story time, and encouraged to leave their stuffed animals at the library for an overnight stay!

  • Wed., 8/17/22, 10–11 a.m. @ MCPL Stratford

children story time »

event example [10987]

Wausau Plant Swap

All-Ages Drop-in Stop by the library the week of Aug. 15-20 to take a plant home or leave extra or unwanted plants for someone else!

  • 8/15–8/20/22 @ MCPL Wausau

general children teen adult food gardening nature »

craft goldfish

Grab & Go
3D Goldfish

Children Drop-in Stop by any MCPL location in August for our final SLP grab and go kit of the summer as we explore "Oceans of Possibilities!" This month, our craft will be a 3D goldfish!

  • 8/1–8/31/22 @ All MCPL Locations

children grades k-5 slp activities crafts »

event example [10980]

Trail Tales

Children Drop-in Families are encouraged to walk through Oak Island Park this summer for another fun season of Trail Tales! Enjoy nature and the books "Chirp" and "The Bad Seed" at the same time!

  • 6/1–8/31/22 @ Oak Island Park

children outdoor recreation »