Arts & Entertainment

Beginners and experienced adventurers welcome! Bring a character or use one of our premade characters. We will meet monthly. Registration at johnstonlibrary.com/events is required. If you register for this event, you will be automatically registered for all of the following events.

Let's go! Drive, dodge, and maneuver your way to a first-place finish in our Mario Kart Tournament! Prizes for the winners. 6th grade and up.

Test your skills! Prizes and bragging rights for the winners. Tournaments held every Wednesday. 6th grade and up.

Join JPL's Anime Club each week for Japanese snacks, anime trivia, and art projects! All fans welcome! Registration is not required, but you will receive reminder emails about meetings if you register at johnstonlibrary.com/events.

Learn the basics of needle felting as we make a cute, fuzzy creation! Needle felting is a way to sculpt objects and make art with wool. Registration at johnstonlibrary.com/events is required for this class and is open to kids in 3rd-5th grade. This month, we're making a cute, fuzzy mushrooms!

Join us for a Dragon Ball FighterZ throwdown every Thursday in the Teen Space! Choose a team of three fighters from the game’s 44 characters and battle it out to become the champion! The tournament will be a one-round, single-elimination tournament using the Nintendo Switch version of the game.

This architectural sketching course, taught by Kelsey Wilson, introduces perspective drawing and graphite techniques to capture the space and architectural details of Hoyt Sherman Place. Focused on line and form, it provides a foundation for creating realistic depth and objects that feel solid.

Diamond painting is similar to painting by numbers. You use small, sparkly gems that stick to a special sticky canvas to make a beautiful design. Diamond painting helps to decrease stress & anxiety, enhance decision making skills, improve fine motor skills, and improve focus.

Ready to test out the wildest DIY hacks straight from the "5-Minute Crafts" YouTube channel? Join us for a night of fast-paced crafting fun where you'll attempt to recreate some of the channel's most popular craft projects! All materials will be provided. Register at johnstonlibrary.com/events.

Let's go! Drive, dodge, and maneuver your way to a first-place finish in our Mario Kart Tournament! Prizes for the winners. 6th grade and up.

Test your skills! Prizes and bragging rights for the winners. Tournaments held every Wednesday. 6th grade and up.

Schools out, so we've set up an Earth Day themed seek and find in the library. Stop by April 24th and 25th to follow the clues and riddles to win a prize. Recommended for kids in grades K-5.

We'll transform plain seashells into works of art while watching the hit movie Moana 2.

We are making recycled art, reusing plastic bags to make a custom tote bag or wallet. The choice is yours! Feel free to bring your own plastic bags to use in this craft if you want. Bright colors are best. This program is open to grades K-5. Registration at johnstonlibrary.com/events is required.

Join JPL's Anime Club each week for Japanese snacks, anime trivia, and art projects! All fans welcome! Registration is not required, but you will receive reminder emails about meetings if you register at johnstonlibrary.com/events.

Join us for a Dragon Ball FighterZ throwdown every Thursday in the Teen Space! Choose a team of three fighters from the game’s 44 characters and battle it out to become the champion! The tournament will be a one-round, single-elimination tournament using the Nintendo Switch version of the game.

Kindermusik is a German phrase that translates to “children’s music”. The program aims to help children learn and grow through music-making during the years when their brains are most critical for development. Children will explore music through instruments, movement, singing, and play.

Celebrate National Poetry Month with your favorite tortured poet, Taylor Swift! Play Taylor Swift music BINGO, make your own magnetic poetry set, and MORE! 6th grade and up. Registration at johnstonlibrary.com/events appreciated.

Let's go! Drive, dodge, and maneuver your way to a first-place finish in our Mario Kart Tournament! Prizes for the winners. 6th grade and up.

Get ready for the ultimate test of adaptability and skill at our Super Smash Bros. Random Mayhem Tournament! In this unique twist on the classic brawl, all characters and stages are chosen entirely at random! Everyone has an equal chance to claim victory in this wild and unpredictable competition.

Join us for Take a Bow, a theater-style skating show celebrating 15 years of AFSC performances! Enjoy breathtaking spins, daring jumps, and nostalgic routines. April 26 @ 6 PM & April 27 @ 2 PM. Tickets: $10/adult, $5/student and seniors, kids under 5 free. Don’t miss this unforgettable event!

et ready to put viral TikTok hacks to the test! We’ll watch the viral recipes, make them in mugs, and taste-test the results. Registration at johnstonlibrary.com/events is required. Please contact staff before the program if your child has any food allergies or diet restrictions.

Let's go! Drive, dodge, and maneuver your way to a first-place finish in our Mario Kart Tournament! Prizes for the winners. 6th grade and up.

Test your skills! Prizes and bragging rights for the winners. Tournaments held every Wednesday. 6th grade and up.

Join us for a relaxing class where you’ll learn watercolor and drawing techniques while creating a sunflower still life. You’ll focus on one sunflower from an arranged vase, drawing it in detail before bringing it to life with watercolor. All supplies are included—just bring your creativity!

Discover how to transform raw canvas into a captivating work of art in this hands-on class designed for all skill levels. You’ll learn to create dynamic abstract backgrounds using watered-down acrylics, layering techniques, and textural elements like modeling paste on the unique surface of canvas.

We are offering accelerated piano and guitar lessons for the summer! Our accredited program is called Straight Shot, because lessons occur twice a week so students can achieve more during the summer months. Beginner guitar lessons are for ages 10-15, and beginner piano lessons are for ages 6-17.

Rock out with us at Girls Rock! Des Moines! Rock camp is a two week day camp experience where campers form bands, learn an instrument, play and write music, attend educational workshops, enjoy performances, and perform in a showcase at the end of camp! June rock camp is from 6/16-6/29 this year.

The annual Drake University Voice Intensive (DUVI) is a summertime camp designed for young singers ages 14+ to develop their voices and build confidence in performing and auditioning.

Kindermusik is a German phrase that translates to “children’s music”. The program aims to help children learn and grow through music-making during the years when their brains are most critical for development. Children will explore music through instruments, movement, singing, and play.

Do you want to learn how to record music? Do you want to learn how to produce music? Join us at GR!T Camp from 7/7-7/18! GR!T offers youth a unique experiential learning opportunity in recording artistry, audio engineering, audio technology, and production through working with an actual record label

Rock out with us at Girls Rock! Des Moines! Rock camp is a two week day camp experience where campers form bands, learn an instrument, play and write music, attend educational workshops, enjoy performances, and perform in a showcase at the end of camp! June rock camp is from 7/21-8/3 this year.

Travel around the world through movies! Earn a new stamp for your passport each day as we watch a movie from a different country then explore that country’s culture through fun activities. Campers will receive a free t-shirt, plus a light snack each day, including movie theater popcorn on Friday.

Singers who have finished grade K through 8 will enjoy five days of singing and fun that ends with a musical performance! Participants will experience choir rehearsals, musicianship, sectional rehearsals, and movement activities.