Ho, ho, holiday programs and more at the Library!

With the holiday season fast approaching we’ve got programs that will make the festive occasion even more special. Children 8 to 12 can enjoy a creative STEAM program, creating their own gingerbread-like house out of upcycled material. For younger kids 3 to 6 there’s a special holiday storytime with stories, songs and rhymes about Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa. You can also find us at the Upper Canada Mall for special storytimes, so stop by with the kids while you’re shopping. Plus, a Chanukah Drag Queen Storytime, free Film Fridays, the YA Pride Club, and more. Tis the season for fun times at the Library.

Register for Library programs
Create an Xplor Recreation account to register for Library and Town programs. Take a few moments to sign up for your account You can also register in person for Library programs at all NPL Service Desks. For more information call 905-953-5110 Ext. 4770 for Adult programs, 905-953-5110 Ext. 4690 for Children’s programs and 905-953-5110 Ext. 4860 for Community programs.

Library Storytimes at the Upper Canada Mall
Treat the kids to an hour of holiday stories and activities with staff from the Library’s children’s department. We’ll be at the Upper Canada Mall near Market and Co. and look forward to spending some time with you. It’ll be a fun time for all.

Fridays, December 1, 8, 15
Time: 11:00. a.m – 12:00 p.m.
Ages: Open to all families
Location: Near Market & Co.
Cost: FREE

York Cinemania
Presented by Newmarket Public Library and East Gwillimbury Public Library, York Cinemania brings independent and award-winning TIFF films to audiences in northern York Region showing at SilverCity Cinemas Newmarket. Ticket Prices: $15 per person, per film. Learn more about York Cinemania.

December’s Film: BlackBerry (2022)
The acclaimed film about the world’s first smartphone, created by the Canadian firm Research In Motion. Starring Jay Baruchel and Matt Johnson, it traces the phenomenal success of the BlackBerry and its subsequent decline.

Wednesday, December 13
Time: 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.
Get Tickets to BlackBerry

FUN FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES:
Register for programs with their titles at Xplor Recreation
NOTE: Registration ends one week before program date

Family Storytime: Drop-in
Let’s get together for a fun interactive time as we enjoy stories, songs, rhymes and finger-plays. No registration required.

Every Saturday, starting Sept. 9
Time: 9:45 – 10:15 a.m.
Ages: 6 months to 5 years
Location: Children’s Floor Picture Book Area
Cost: FREE

Chanukah Drag Queen Storytime: Drop-in
Join us for a special Chanukah Drag Queen Storytime with Jewish Drag Queen Superstar, Gila Munster. It’s a fun-filled time with classic children’s Chanukah stories from the PJ Library Collection. This program is open to all families. Presented by UJA Federation of Greater Toronto, PJ Library and Newmarket Library.

Sunday, December 3
Time: 2:00 – 3:30 p.m.
For families of young children and open to all
Multipurpose Room
Cost: FREE

Full STEAM Ahead Workshop: Gingerbread-like Houses
Gingerbread House Day is December 12, and we are going to celebrate.  Discover your engineering skills as we make dwellings that look like gingerbread houses but are made from upcycled materials. Registration required.

Tuesday, December 12
Time: 4:30 – 5:30 p.m.
Ages: 8 to 12 years
Location: Program Room
Cost: FREE

Holiday Storytime at the Library
Come celebrate the holiday season with this special story time.  We will be sharing stories, songs and rhymes about Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa and discussing how all these different occasions are celebrated. Registration required.

Saturday, December 16
Time: 2:30 – 3:00 p.m.
Ages: 3 to 6 years
Location: Story Room
Cost: FREE

Blox Builders Club: Drop-in
Bring your imagination and create your own world with LEGO and DUPLO. Children must be accompanied by an adult. No registration required.  

Saturdays, year round
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Ages: 3 to 12 years
Location: Story Room
Cost: FREE

Stamp It! Create Your Own Holiday Card
Have lots of fun with this craft program just for Tweens! We will be making Holiday cards to send to your loved ones with stamps and cardstock. Registration required.  

Tuesday, December 5
Time: 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Ages: 8 to 12 years
Location: Program Room
Cost: FREE

Chess in the Library – Drop-in program
Love playing chess? Want to learn? Here’s your opportunity to play a good game with your peers, or learn how to play. Chess in the Library is an organization whose mission is to promote chess across Canada through its student volunteer-run program at libraries. Parent/caregiver is to remain in the building if participant is under the age of 11. No registration required.
For more information, visit the Chess in the Library website.

Every Saturday September 2 to Dec. 30
Time: 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Ages: 8 to 18 years
Location: Program Room
Cost: FREE

READING CHALLENGES:

10 To Try Challenge
Read a book in each of 10 categories, keep track of your reading, and share your favorite discoveries with the Library and your fellow readers. Each badge you earn will give you a ticket to enter for a chance to win one of our great gift cards. Look for it on our Reading Challenges webpage.

Cookbook Challenge
Fall is a great time for baking and cooking and we're here to help motivate you to have fun delving into our marvelous cookbook collection and cooking up something wonderful. Each badge you earn will give you a ticket to enter for a chance to win one of our great gift cards. Look for it on our Reading Challenges webpage.

BOOK CLUBS:

Online Cookbook Club December 2023: Surviving the Holiday Season
If you’re looking for an opportunity to share your enthusiasm for the culinary arts with like-minded individuals, then join us for our online cooking club. We’ll select different recipe ideas ahead of our meetings, get cooking, then meet online to share and discuss the results.

Meeting on Thursday, December 21
Times: afternoon at 3:00 p.m.
Location: Via Zoom
Cost: FREE
For more information contact Adult Department at 905-953-5110 ext. 4770

Afternoon Book Club
Book lovers join us for fiction and non-fiction reads on alternating months. We've chosen some intriguing titles that you're sure to enjoy. December’s title is Ducks by Kate Beaton.

Meeting on Tuesday, December 12
Time: 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Location: Via Zoom
Cost: FREE
For more information contact Adult Department at 905-953-5110 ext. 4770

Dark Evenings Mystery Book Club
Mystery fans we’ve got intriguing titles to see you through the long, dark nights of fall and winter. December’s book is The Ice Princess by Camilla Lackberg. For more information contact Adult Department at 905-953-5110 ext. 4770

Meeting on Thursday, December 14
Time: 7:00 – 8:15 p.m.
Location: Via Zoom
Cost: FREE
For more information contact Adult Department at 905-953-5110 ext. 4770

COMPUTER SKILLS:

Minecraft Club: Build Your Own Minecraft Game World
If you know what enderman, drops, skelly, redstone and creeper are, then you obviously ‘dig’ Minecraft. Learn to create your own Minecraft game world, new characters and objects in the Minecraft Club from Code Ninjas East Gwillimbury and Newmarket Library. Gain skills in Minecraft Education MakeCode Arcade tutorials and MCreator. This is a drop-in program, limit of 12 participants so check-in early at the reference desk on the second floor. Parents/guardians of younger children must remain in the Library during the program.
Sunday, December 17
Time: 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Ages: 8 years and up
Location: Board Room
Cost: FREE

TEEN PROGRAMS:
Register for programs with their titles at Xplor Recreation
NOTE: Registration ends one week before program date

YA Pride Club: Drop-in
In the YA Pride Club, LGBTQ+ teens ages 13 to 20 can be themselves free from judgement and enjoy activities, discussions, and lots of fun. Whether you're questioning, out and proud, or anywhere in between, the club is an inclusive hangout where you will find acceptance, laughter and friendship. In biweekly Tuesday meetings, we’ll have respectful conversations about gender, sexuality and identity, and enjoy game nights, movie screenings, themed parties and creative workshops.
December 5, 19 
Time: 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Ages: 13 to 20 years
Location: Story Room
Cost: FREE

COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AT THE LIBRARY:
Drop in to meet and chat with representatives from community organizations 
and learn more about the services they offer. 

Settlement Services Walk-in Counselling
Catholic Community Services of York Region will assist you in creating a short-term plan that will make a difference for you, using the strengths, resources, and supports you have right now.

Wednesdays December 6, 13, 20, 27
Time: 9:30 a.m.
Ages: Adults
Location: Main Floor (room available for private meetings)

York Region Social Services Walk-In
Meet with outreach workers and connect with community services: referrals to housing services, food, health and wellness, and more.

Friday, Dec. 8
Time: 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Ages: Adults
Location: Main Floor

SENIORS PROGRAMS:
Register for programs with their titles at Xplor Recreation
NOTE: Registration ends one week before program date

Aging Healthy with CHATS
In partnership with CHATS, Aging Healthy programs will be held online or in-person at the Library.

Aging Healthy: Holiday Social and Movie
You’re invited to join us for an in-person get together to socialize and watch a movie. There will be a treat, but please bring your own lunch. Invite a friend, everyone welcome. Registration required.

Wednesday, December 20
Time: 11:00a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Location: Multipurpose Room
Cost: FREE
Register for Aging Healthy: Holiday Social and Movie

FILM FRIDAYS AT NPL
No registration required, just drop in and enjoy a free movie in the Library’s multipurpose room. All movies start at 2:00 p.m. Doors open at 1:45 p.m. Children must be accompanied by an adult. You can bring your own snacks.

Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part 1 (2023)
Ethan Hunt and his team are on their most dangerous mission yet, to track down a weapon that threatens all of humanity. Tom Cruise stars in this action-packed installment in the long-running series. Rated PG-13
Friday, December 1

All the Beauty and the Bloodshed (2022)
Documentary about artist/activist Nan Goldin who, after overcoming an addiction to oxycontin, began a personal fight to hold Purdue Pharma, which had marketed the drug as non-addictive, responsible for the opioid crisis. Rated R.
Friday, December 8

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)
Holiday hilarity ensues when Clark Griswold tries to orchestrate the perfect family Christmas. His attempts quickly go south with overcooked turkeys, a family tree going up in flames, and other mishaps. Rated PG-13
Friday, December 22


The library is open during its regular hours Tuesday to Thursday 9:00 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday 1 to 5 p.m.

Enquiries about adult programs 905-953-5110 Ext. 4770 and children’s programs 905-953-5105