Arts & Entertainment

Join us for an afternoon of Pizza and Sledding at the beautiful Wesley Woods Camp + Retreat Center. Bring your sleds (or borrow ours) and friends and enjoy pizza, sledding, crafts and hot chocolate. $5 per person, max $25 per family.

Take a bite! Try something new! In this yummy storytime, we will be taste-testing foods and reading stories about how they are made. Kids must register at johnstonlibrary.com/events to attend. Children ages 8 & under must be accompanied by an adult for this program. Drop offs will not be permitted.

Fashion meets danger at this deadly masquerade. Dress your best, but don’t let your mask hide the truth—someone at this party is a killer. You can play a part or attend as an investigator. Pizza will be served. Registration at johnstonlibrary.com/events is required. 6th grade and up.

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 at a special edition of Anime Club to celebrate National Pokemon Day! Enjoy Pokemon trivia, snacks, shows, and MORE! Then, stick around to battle it out with your favorite Pokemon in the Pokken Tournament video game at 5:00.

Watch out! We are making our own Minecraft Slimes in this after-school program for kids in grades 3-5. Registration at johnstonlibrary.com/events is required.

Celebrate National Pokémon Day by stepping into the arena! Join us for a thrilling session of Pokkén Tournament, where you can battle it out with your favorite Pokémon in intense 3D battles. Whether you're a seasoned fighter or a newcomer, it’s your chance to claim the title of Pokémon battle champ!

Come record your song at Girls Rock! Des Moines! Community Record Day is an all-day recording session serving emerging musicians. Solo or duo acts aged 12-24 can apply to have a song recorded for only $50 at the GR!T records studio! Musicians will receive a professional live recording of their song.

Step into a world of wonder and creativity at the Des Moines Art Center’s Entirely Kids Day: Art of Illusions! This exciting, free event is perfect for families looking to explore the fascinating world of optical illusions and artistic magic.

Do you have a passion for songwriting? Want to be the next great songwriter? Join us at the UNPLUGGED songwriter's retreat! UNPLUGGED is a weekend retreat where participants learn about writing and performing original songs as a singer-songwriter. UNPLUGGED is from 3/28/25-3/29/25.

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.

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.