Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library is a destination for summer fun
The Summer Reading Challenge, entertainment, activities and the Dr. Drab's Lab Art Exhibit for Children are all happening at the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library during June and July 2025.
Everyone is welcome to take part in the Summer Reading Challenge. Kids birth to 17 years old earn a prize for every 2 hours of reading (up to 8 hours). Adults earn two great prizes for reading 6 books in June and July. Registration is open at tscpl.org/summer.
Saturday, May 31, 2025, Summer events launch with a Kickoff Party from 10 a.m. to Noon in the library parking lot and in the library. Families can groove with the cover band Delta Haze, get faces painted, touch big trucks, play games and watch demos from the Great Plains Balloon Club.
There will be events every day in June and July, including the following featured events:
Grown-Up Fun (Adults) – Sundays | 1 p.m. & Fridays | 7 p.m. | Play, create and laugh with other adults (some Grown-Up Fun events do require registration)
Teen Activities – D&D Sundays & Tuesdays 5-8 p.m. | Teen Art Club Mondays 3-5 p.m. | Online to IRL Thursdays 5-7 p.m.
Fun at 10 (elementary age) – Mondays, Tuesdays & Thursdays | 10 a.m. - Noon | Create, play and discover with a entertaining activity.
Fun at One (elementary age) – Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays & Saturdays | 1-3 p.m. | Create, play and discover with a cool activity.
Stories & More (3-5 year olds) – Tuesdays & Thursdays | 10-10:30 a.m. | Hear stories, sing songs and create a fun activity.
Blockbuster Wednesdays (family) – 10-11 a.m., 1-2 p.m. & 6-7 p.m. | Watch amazing performers: Magician Jack Reid, Cruzline Drumline, Reggie Regg The Magic Man, What If Puppets Cirque du Wiener Dog, Victoria Lafean and the Jingle Dress, Sugar Free Allstars rock show, Science Heroes, Amazing Arthur magic and comedy, Operation Wildlife, and Juggler Brian Wendling.
Friday Flicks (family) – 10 a.m - Noon & 1-3 p.m. | Watch a different fabulous movie every Friday.
When there isn't an event, there will always be fun activities in the Alice C. Sabatini Gallery.
May 31 - August 24 explore the family-friendly exhibit Dr. Drab's Lab. Dr. Drab, a scientist turned artist, has stolen all the paint colors in the library's Alice C. Sabatini Gallery! You can help rescue the paint colors from Dr. Drab's Lab May 31 - Aug 24, 2025. Each week in the gallery we will work together to get the paint colors back with art and craft projects for kids to be creative. Find more details at tscpl.org/gallery.
The annual art exhibit for children is made possible in part by The Library Foundation through contributions from the Sabatini Family Foundation.
