Spooky Season: Community Activity Highlights for October 2024
You can get a copy of the full guide to classes and programs in our Community Center, which includes our Recreation Center, Library, Aquatic Center, Gerdin Conference Center and other spaces, published three times each year, in person at the Community Center, 520 W. Cherry St., or online. These highlights of the coming month are published on the third Thursday of each month. You can sign up to have this emailed to you at northlibertyiowa.org/subscribe.
News & Updates
Cooling temperatures means more use at the Recreation Department. Monthly and annual passes are the best deal for heavy facility users and North Liberty residents always have free access to the indoor track.
In Case You Missed It
Our Recsters program offers all-day care during school breaks, including dates in October, November and December. Register online now.
City Slate Events
There’s always something free and fun to do in North Liberty. The City Slate offers events all year long, and is made free with the support of A2Z Heating and Plumbing, Centro, Inc, Collins Community Credit Union, The Eastern Iowa Airport – CID, Hills Bank, MidWestOne Bank, South Slope Cooperative, University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics, Urban Acres Real Estate and Veridian Credit Union. More at northlibertyiowa.org/cityslate.
Halloween Trail
Oct. 11, 10 to 11 a.m. and 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Liberty Centre Pond, Free
Halloween descends on Liberty Centre. Bring your friendly ghouls for treats and candy around trail as friendly ghosts guide you along the way. Costumes are welcome and encouraged.
Other Upcoming Events
A Nightmare on Ale Street
Oct 19, ticketed time slots are available between 3 – 6 p.m., Centennial Park, $15
A Halloween event just for adults. Taste samples of beer, wine and cider while supporting the development of North Liberty’s Centennial Park.
Babies, Toddlers & Preschoolers
Pied Piper with Orchestra Iowa
Oct. 10, 9 a.m., Library, free
Join Orchestra Iowa’s talented string, percussion, woodwind and brass chamber ensembles as they introduce preschool-aged children to the instruments of the orchestra. Focused on fun and learning, Pied Piper concerts offer children the opportunity to enjoy an up-close and personal chamber concert. October’s strings concert last about 30 minutes.
Doodlebugs
Oct. 28, 10:30 a.m., library, free
Every Doodlebugs starts with a story and ends with imagination and creation! This session will feature artist Helen Frankenstein Frankenthaler who allowed paint to ooze and seep into the canvas to create abstract artwork.
School-Aged Youth
Youth Impact Initiative: Basic Skills Series
Sundays Oct. 6 to Nov. 17, 2 to 4 p.m., Library, Free
The Youth Impact initiative aims to give teens and tweens critical tools and information to be engaged, contributing members of the community. Participants will walk away from this 7 week program with a wealth of health, safety, and financial information and enhanced life skills.
Recsters All-Day Camp
Oct. 11, 14, 15 and 31, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Community Center, $60 per day
Recreational activities, supervision and guidance for children in kindergarten through sixth grade, during days off from school.
Register for Oct. 11 by Oct. 3 Register for Oct. 14 by Oct. 3 Register for Oct. 15 by Oct. 3 Register for Oct. 31 by Oct. 24Pumpkin Painting & Carving
Oct. 16, 6 to 8:30 p.m., Community Center, $15
Let the kids get your home ready for Halloween. Children ages 12 and under can pick out their own pumpkin to carve or decorate…or both! We will provide all materials needed to get the job done, with treats included.
Register by Oct. 13Spooky Papercrafts
Oct. 17, 4 p.m., Library, Free
Origamist Emily Mallory invites fourth through sixth graders to come create spooky origami. Fold a few creations during the program and take home the knowledge to make more.
Kids Campaign
Oct. 29, 4:30 p.m., Library, Free
Get ready for our Kids Vote! Campaign for your favorite candidate — whether it’s Bluey or Taylor Swift — by making signs to show your support. You can also register to vote in the Nov. 2 Kids Vote event!
Adults & Senior
Living Room Conversations: Polarization
Oct. 23, 6 p.m., Library, Free
This thought-provoking discussion aims to promote open dialogue and active listening around how political polarization is affecting our personal lives and world around us. Participants will explore personal experiences and perspectives in a respectful environment, fostering skills to tackle complex topics while suspending judgments.
Harvest Puzzle Hustle Fundraiser
Oct. 25, 7 p.m., Library, $60 per team
Get ready to hustle through a fun and challenging harvest-themed puzzle race with friends and family and support your library. Prizes awarded to the first three teams to complete. Refreshments provided. Participants may bring beer, wine or seltzers to this adult-only event. Proceeds benefit the Friends of the North Liberty Library.
Puzzle Sale
Oct. 26 to 29, Library Lobby
Stock up for the winter with the library’s first puzzle sale. All puzzles available on a pay-what-you-want basis. We are accepting donations of gently used puzzles for the sale up through Thursday, Oct. 24 to be used in the sale. Proceeds benefit the Friends of the North Liberty Library! Participants in the Harvest Puzzle Hustle will get early access to the sale at the event.
November Writers Group
Mondays Oct. 28 to Nov. 25, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m., Library, Free
Calling all writers! Novelists, play-writes, poets and non-fiction writers alike, come to the library for a month of writing support. Whether you are doing NaNoWriMo, Poem a Day (PAD), another writing challenge, or just want to connect with other writers, we’re here for you and will have snacks!
Vinyasa Yoga
Wednesdays & Thursdays, Oct. 2 to 31, 6:30 p.m., Community Center, $100
This class connects breath and movement to create a flowing, dynamic sequence of postures.
Families
Holiday Swim
Oct. 11, 1 to 4 p.m., Community Center, $3 child, $4 adult
Enjoy the pool for extended open swim hours on over days off from school.
Floating Pumpkin Patch
Oct. 27, 9:45 a.m. to 12 p.m., Aquatic Center, Free
Jump in and swim to your favorite pumpkin to take home, plus raffles, a pumpkin decorating station and goody bags. Registration opens on Monday, Oct. 20.
