Community Calendar

Stop into the Idea Lab between 6:00pm and 7:30pm to see what the Idea Lab is up to!

Celebrate your Hometown Pride as a part of your America 250th festivities! Make a button inspired by Erie landmarks and hallmarks of our history. Need a bookmark for your reading on one of Presque Isle's Beaches? Color one of our designs based of Erie's story and use our heat press to make a metal bookmark with your unique art!

Free. One craft per person. Project available while supplies last.

No registration required - just drop in!

All ages. All children must be supervised by a guardian. If you think that you will need extra assistance to complete this project, please bring a support person to assist you. We will be using a hot iron to infuse your design to your flag - children will need assistance from an adult.

https://events.erielibrary.org/event/16936111

Step into a world of gods, heroes, monsters, and magic! The Teen The Mythology Guild is the perfect place for mythology enthusiasts to connect, create, and have fun. Each meeting dives into fascinating myths from around the world Greek, Norse, Egyptian, Japanese, and beyond through lively discussions, creative crafts, and epic games.

For teens ages 13-18. No registration required. This event is run by local teens from Classic Compass.

In this Session: Step into the light and explore how ancient cultures understood the power of the sun. From the Egyptian sun god Ra to the Norse goddess Sunna, this program uncovers the myths, stories, and symbolism behind solar deities around the world. Make a sunburst with string art to take home.

https://events.erielibrary.org/event/16658459

Can’t Decide what to read? Let the cards choose for you!

Welcome to the In the Cards Book Club, where every read is guided by fate. At each meeting, we’ll discuss a book inspired by a card drawn from the deck. One card might challenge you to read a book with a yellow cover, while another could send you searching for the most popular book from the year you were born. Whatever the card reveals: that’s the book! We will all use the same card, but read different books.

We meet on the third Wednesday of each month (excluding November and December).

THIS MONTH'S THEME WILL BE TO READ A BOOK WITH AN ANIMAL ON THE COVER.

The fate of your next read is all in the cards. Will you draw yours?

Can't make the book club, but still looking for something to read? Listen to the librarian's librarian, Nancy Pearl, and read Book Lust. It gives you a book to read for every mood!

Registration is required.

https://events.erielibrary.org/event/17028369

Come and design your own America 250th themed postcard at the Idea Lab!

Engage in the American tradition of post carding! Post carding dates back to the 1800s and is a time-honored American institution. Come and use the art supplies of the idea lab to make your own postcard commemorating America's 250th celebration! We will have American themed rub on transfers that you can add to your postcard design. Or maybe you want to press a pattern into your postcard with our embossing machine. Let your creativity run wild and make something special!

Interested in learning more about the tradition of post carding or seeing historic postcard designs? Inquire about our volumes of the Postcard History Series in our Heritage Room or search "Postcards" in the PA Photos and Documents database of the PA Power Library!

Free. Registration not required. All Ages. One per person while supplies last. The class will take place in the Idea Lab's Makerspace. Children under 15 must be supervised by a guardian. If you think that you will need extra assistance to complete this project, please bring a support person to help you with this class.

https://events.erielibrary.org/event/16842011

Experience the sounds that shaped our region with the new Music of Origin Series at Goodell Gardens & Homestead! This free community concert series celebrates Erie County’s rich cultural and musical heritage through live performances, storytelling, and community gatherings.

Each event explores the connections between geography, migration, and music—from regional folk traditions and Appalachian influences to Blues rhythms shaped by the Great Migration and global sounds that continue to influence our community today.

Plus, families can enjoy a special sensory-themed children's area with hands-on activities, while guests of all ages relax and enjoy an evening of music in the gardens.

Thanks to the generous support of ECGRA and ECF, all concerts are free and open to the public.

2026 Schedule:
• Friday, June 26th: Matthew Crays + Pollination Celebration
• Friday, July 17th: Simple Gifts + Sensory Fest
• Friday, August 21st: Three Way Street + Night Market

Gates open at 5 PM | Music from 6–8 PM

Guests are encouraged to bring picnic-style food and beverages to enjoy during the evening. Please note that food trucks will not be onsite for this year’s series.

We hope you’ll join us to gather, learn, and celebrate the music that defines our region!

A special thank you to ECGRA and ECF—their generosity is the reason we can keep this series accessible and free to all in our community.

Sacred Jazz is coming to Erie on Sunday, July 19 at 5:00 P.M. in the Cathedral. Incorporating the writings of Thomas Merton, this evening invites you into rhythm and meditation through jazz, and readings. This is where ancient and contemporary voices come together in conversation. Light refreshments will be provided. For more information, visit our website at: www.cathedralofstpaul.org.

Join us in celebrating 250 years of America by reading a book all about an important part of the Revolution!

For this book club we will read Revolutionary War on Wednesday by Mary Pope Osborne and the American Revolution Fact Tracker. We will discuss the Revolutionary War, eat some themed snacks, and play some fun games.

This program is intended for children ages 5-12, and families are encouraged to read together.

Participants will receive a free copy of the book to read and keep. Parents, please ensure the content of this story is a good fit for your reader before signing up! Visit our online event page or ask a librarian for more information.

https://events.erielibrary.org/event/16832214

Stop by to create your very own miniature capsule to take home with you. We will provide materials, while you provide the personal memorabilia. Whether you seal it to be opened in 5 years or 25, this program helps you curate memories to look back on. No registration required, available while supplies last. Ages 13-18.

https://events.erielibrary.org/event/16650933

The Smith Carillon Concert Series at Penn State Behrend features live Thursday evening performances in July and August on the lawn of the Larry and Kathryn Smith Chapel. The 2026 series includes guest artists:

-July 23 - Andrée-Anne Doane (St. Joseph's Oratory, Montreal, Quebec, Canada)
-July 30 - Sheryl Modlin (Church of the Saviour, Cleveland Heights, OH)
-August 6 - Julie Zhu (University of Michigan)
-August 13 - Michael Gancz (Stanford University)

Performances begin at 7 p.m. Attendees often bring blankets and lawn chairs to enjoy the music from the 4-octave instrument. This concert series is free and open to the public.

The Smith Carillon Concert Series at Penn State Behrend features live Thursday evening performances in July and August on the lawn of the Larry and Kathryn Smith Chapel. The 2026 series includes guest artists:

-July 23 - Andrée-Anne Doane (St. Joseph's Oratory, Montreal, Quebec, Canada)
-July 30 - Sheryl Modlin (Church of the Saviour, Cleveland Heights, OH)
-August 6 - Julie Zhu (University of Michigan)
-August 13 - Michael Gancz (Stanford University)

Performances begin at 7 p.m. Attendees often bring blankets and lawn chairs to enjoy the music from the 4-octave instrument. This concert series is free and open to the public.