Published 4th October 2022
Can you hear that? It's those sleigh bells ringing again!
It's time to get in to the festive spirit with us as we bring you a whole host of Christmas-themed activities and events at your local library. From craft fairs, to children's activities, to Christmas carols, we're sure we have an event to even get the family Scrooge in to the festive spirit!
Find out what's happening at your local library below, and stay tuned as more festive events are added!
Looking for unique and handmade gifts this Christmas? Come along to our Christmas Markets at selected libraries, from Saturday 19 November
| Library | Event | Date and Time | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arnold | Christmas Market | Saturday 10 December 10am-2pm | Come along for a jolly good time at one of our Christmas markets. Support local businesses, and get stuck into your Christmas shopping! |
| Beeston | Christmas Market | Saturday 3 December, 10am – 3pm | Come along for a jolly good time at one of our Christmas markets. Support local businesses, and get stuck into your Christmas shopping! |
| Here We Are Again - A Very Brief History of Pantomime | Wednesday 23 November, 2pm | Dr Ann Featherstone explores the very earliest performances in the 17th and 18th centuries, the glory days of the 19th century, and modern times - taking in spectacular scenery, celebrities and pantomime dames on the way. Booking advised, £3 per ticket. | |
| Bingham | Christmas Market | Saturday 19 November, 10am - 3pm | Come along for a jolly good time at one of our Christmas markets. Support local businesses, and get stuck into your Christmas shopping! |
| Burton Joyce | Cool Christmas Cards | Saturday 3 December, 10:30 - 12:30 | Drop in between 10:30 and 12:30 to make a funky Christmas card! No booking required. |
| Carlton | Christmas Crafts | Thursday 1 December - Saturday 10 December, during normal opening hours | Make your own beautiful Christmas scenes and cards using the die cutting machine. No booking necessary. |
| Carlton Hill | Chinese Lanterns | All December - drop in during normal opening hours! | Come along and make a Chinese lantern and light up our Christmas tree. FREE |
| Reindeer Hunt | All December - drop in during normal opening hours! | Hunt for Santa's reindeer's hidden around our library. FREE | |
| East Leake | Children's Christmas Craft | Thursday 22 December, 2pm - 3pm | Craft activity for children, free of charge and no booking required. |
| Huthwaite | Christmas Card Crafting | Friday 2 December, 3:15pm - 4:45pm | Make your own Christmas card - FREE, no booking required! |
| Paper Gingerbread Houses | Friday 16 December, 3:15pm - 4:45pm | Make and decorate your own gingerbread house (inedible, we're afraid!) FREE, no booking required! | |
| Christmas Scavenger Hunt | 1 - 17 December, during normal opening hours | Take part in our festive scavenger hunt - prize draw to follow! | |
| Keyworth | Christmas Crafting for Kids | Saturday 10 December, 10:30am - 12pm | Join us to create some sparkling Christmas crafts and tree decorations. FREE, no booking required but adult supervision required |
| Kirkby in Ashfield | Christmas Festival at the Library | Thursday 24 November, 1pm - 4pm | As we prepare for Kirkby's Christmas Festival, join us for Christmas craft stalls, Children's activities, and refreshments. Mr Claus himself will be making an appearance, with chance for parents to take their own photos, and a gift to take away. |
| Reindeer Food and a Sweet Treat! | From Saturday 17 December until Friday 23 December, during normal opening hours | Any child borrowing a book will receive a FREE pack of reindeer food for Rudolph (plus a sweet treat for themselves!) | |
| Mansfield | Christmas Market | Saturday 26 November, 10am - 2pm | Come along for a jolly good time at one of our Christmas markets. Support local businesses, and get stuck into your Christmas shopping! |
| Mansfield Woodhouse | Christmas Fayre | Thursday 1 December 9.30am - 12.30pm | Celebrate Christmas with us at our special festive morning. Mince pies and refreshments, local crafters displaying their skills on our craft stalls and Christmas carols form a local school. |
| Christmas Decorations | Saturday 10 December 10.30 - 11.30am | Get ready for Christmas with our family-friendly craft. Make a hanging Christmas decoration that you can put on your tree. For ages 5-11 years | |
| Christmas Letter Hunt | 1 to 17 December | Search our library for festive pictures that spell out a Christmassy message. Give your entry in by 17th December to be in with a chance of a prize! Suitable for children. | |
| Mapperley | Christmas Crafting for Kids | Friday 23 December, 2:30pm - 4pm | FREE drop-in session, no need to book |
| Radcliffe | Merrily on High! | Thursday 8 December, 10:30am | Join us for a miscellany of seasonally inspired poetry and prose readings. FREE, but numbers are limited so call 0115 9332312 for tickets. |
| Retford | Ukuleles in Libraries | Saturday 3 December, 11am - 12:30pm | Come and listen to Dukeries Ukeries play some festive songs to celebrate uke loans at Retford Library. FREE |
| Ruddington | Children's Advent Crafts | Saturday 26 November, 10:30am - 12pm | Create some exciting advent calendars to help you count down to Christmas. FREE and no need to book, but adult supervision required. |
| Christmas Crafts | Saturday 10 December, 10:30am - 12pm | Join us to make Christmas games and other festive crafts. FREE and no booking required, but adult supervision necessary. | |
| Skegby and Stanton Hill | Santa Masks Craft | Saturday 17 December, 10-11:30am | Get your Santa Selfies ready! Start your Christmas holidays with us at our Christmas craft event. FREE, no booking required. |
| Stapleford | Carol Singing with the Stapleford Churches Forum | Monday 19 December, 10:30am | Carol singing, with a free coffee or tea and a mince pie. No booking required. |
| Decorate our door for Christmas | Drop in during December | Decorate a Christmas wreath for our "Christmas door" display - FREE | |
| Christmas Treasure Hunt | Drop in during December | Hunt for the Christmas characters hidden around our Children's library - FREE | |
| Reindeer Craft | Drop in during December | Make your own hanging Rudolph the Reindeer - FREE | |
| Sutton in Ashfield | Christmas Market | Saturday 19 November, 10am - 2pm | Come along for a jolly good time at one of our Christmas markets. Support local businesses, and get stuck into your Christmas shopping! |
| Let's Get Festive! | Saturday 19 November, 10am - 2pm | Get the kids involved in your visit to our Christmas market, with a fun craft. FREE, just drop in. | |
| Bauble colouring | All December | Come along during normal opening hours to decorate your own bauble | |
| Santa Storytime! | Wednesday 7 December, 10am - 10:30 | Join us for a jolly good singsong to take us into the festive season - and there may even be a special visitor! | |
| Christmas Lanterns | Saturday 3 December, 11am - 12pm | Back by popular demand, bring your little ones along to make their very own Christmas lantern. Reuse those glass jars, and let's get crafting! | |
| Warsop | Christmas themed Rattle, Rhyme and Roll | Tuesday 13 December, 10am - 10:30am | This will be our last sing along before the new year so grab your festive outfits and join us for a merry sing along. No booking necessary. |
| Make your own angel peg | Saturday 3 December, 10am - 12:30pm | Come along and make your very own angel peg. This could be used as a decoration or bookmark. No booking necessary. | |
| Snowman decoration | Saturday 10 December, 10am - 12:30pm | We will be using old CDS to create a snowman. We have ribbons, felt, sequins, buttons you name it to make the perfect snowy friend! No booking required. | |
| Pom Pom trees | Saturday 17 December, 10am - 12:30pm | Pom Poms to the ready! We are going to decorate our very own Christmas tree just in time for the festive season! No booking is required | |
| Christmas Coffee Morning | Wednesday 21 December, 10am - 12:30pm |
Let’s get merry and bright, share a mince pie or 2 with friends and family. We will be hosting a Christmas quiz approx. 11am Colouring and card making supplies for younger ones and of course Tea’s and coffee all round! Everyone is welcome, no booking is required. |
|
| West Bridgford | Festive Lanterns | Saturday 17 December, 2-3pm | Join us for one of our fun FREE drop-in craft activities! No need to book, but materials are limited to please arrive as close to the start time as possible to avoid disappointment. |
| Hanging Tree Decorations | Thursday 22 December, 10-11am | Join us for one of our fun FREE drop-in craft activities! No need to book, but materials are limited to please arrive as close to the start time as possible to avoid disappointment. | |
| Woodthorpe | Festive Hunt | Drop in during December | Hunt for Santa’s Little Helpers - FREE |
| Deck the tree | Drop in during December | Colour in a bauble and add it to our tree - FREE | |
| Worksop | Christmas Badges and Colouring | Friday 23 December, 2pm-3pm | FREE, no booking required |
If you would rather curl up with a book as it gets colder outside, don't forget our libraries are home to a variety of festive stock to entertain and delight over the festive period. Pop in to your local library or browse the library catalogue online.
For the little ones in your life, encourage a love of reading this Winter by taking part in the Winter Mini Challenge! Reunite with the Gadgeteers as they use their creative skills to keep everyone entertained during a snowstorm!
The festive period truly begins at Inspire with our annual An Inspired Christmas Concert on Tuesday 6 December. Join us at the Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham for a showcase of talented young singers from Nottinghamshire schools and choirs - more info to follow!
The festive fun never ends with our Inspire Learning courses! Come along for Christmas creative writing, Christmas Card making, and the fabulous Christmas Wreaths course at our all new Newark Buttermarket!
For more information about our festive events, visit your local library or get in touch with Ask Inspire on 01623 677 200 or ask@inspireculture.org.uk.
We look forward to welcoming you soon!
