October 2, 2024
October marks the season of ghoulish good times at St. John the Baptist Parish Library. Get into the spirit of the spooky season with in-person programs and grab-and-geaux kits at every library branch. Children can join our monsteriffic friend, Dubi, for a family-friendly Halloween puppet show, followed by haunted gingerbread house decorating. River Parish Community Theatre is bringing your favorite villains to the library for a special story time, while St. John Parish 4-H invites youth to participate in a Fall Cookery and Pumpkin Painting Party. Teens and adults can try their hand at the thrifted ghost painting trend. Take a closer look at the Halloween programs we have planned this month for patrons of all ages.
Children & Family
Dubi says BOO! LIVE & Haunted Gingerbread House Decorating
Family: Join Dubi for a spooktacular Halloween show, featuring sing-alongs and family friendly fun. Meet & take pictures with Dubi after the show! Then use tasty treats and graham crackers to make a Haunted Gingerbread House! Registration is required as supplies are limited. Register using the links listed below.
Edgard: Monday, October 14 at 6 PM – https://stjohnlib.librarycalendar.com/event/dubi-days-boo-live-haunted-gingerbread-house-decorating-3085
Reserve: Saturday, October 19 at 1 PM – https://stjohnlib.librarycalendar.com/event/dubi-days-boo-live-haunted-gingerbread-house-decorating-3086
LaPlace: Saturday, October 26 at 1 PM – https://stjohnlib.librarycalendar.com/event/dubi-days-boo-live-haunted-gingerbread-house-decorating-3087
Garyville: Monday, October 28 at 6 PM – https://stjohnlib.librarycalendar.com/event/dubi-days-boo-live-haunted-gingerbread-house-decorating-3088
Let’s Make Spooky Snacks
Family: Looking for fun Halloween snack ideas for your next get-together or just looking to feed the kids something other than candy? Come make Healthy Halloween snacks with us! We’ll provide some healthful ingredients (fruit, cheese, and maybe a little candy) and show you how to make them into Halloween-themed snacks. Please let us know if you are planning to attend by registering here: https://stjohnlib.librarycalendar.com/events/month/2024/10?keywords=snacks
LaPlace and Garyville: Monday, October 14 at 10 AM
Reserve and Edgard: Tuesday, October 15 at 10 AM
4-H Fall Cookery & Pumpkin Paint Party
Calling all inspired chefs! Join us for our Fall Cookery Contest on Tuesday, October 15, 2024. This contest is open to both 4-H members and Cloverbud members. Drop off your dishes for judging between 5 and 5:30 PM. In conjunction with the Cooking Contest, we will also host a Pumpkin Painting Party while the dishes are being judged. This is a free event open to the public. You do not have to be a member of 4-H or participate in the Cooking Contest to participate in the pumpkin paint party. Each individual is responsible for bringing their own pumpkin; all paint supplies will be provided.
Reserve: Tuesday, October 15 at 5:30 PM
Glowing Jack-o-lantern Craft
Ages 6-11: Using plastic cups, markers, sharpies, and LED lights, make glowing jack-o-lanterns to decorate your house for Halloween!
LaPlace: Monday, October 21 at 4 PM
Edgard: Wednesday, October 23 at 4 PM
Garyville: Thursday, October 24 at 4 PM
Reserve: Monday, October 28 at 4 PM
Villains Academy Spooky Storytime
Ages 0-5, 6-11: Get ready for a thrilling adventure this Halloween season with River Parish Community Theatre. Your favorite villains are breaking into the library to share a spooky story with you!
Reserve: Saturday, October 12 at 3 PM
Adults/General
Laser Cut Your Pie!
All Ages: Bring your own sweet potato or pumpkin pie to the Reserve Library’s MakerSpace to engrave a Halloween design on it! This is one sweet introduction to using the library’s Epilog Laser Cutter/Engraving machine, which in addition to pastries, can also be used to cut leather, metal, acrylic, wood, and other materials.
Reserve: Thursday, October 24 at 6 PM
Pumpkin Patch Contest & Decorating
All Ages: Are you among the many people who got pumpkin seeds from the library this summer and grew them at home? As promised, we’re having our pumpkin judging in October. Winners will be recognized for various categories. Once the fanfare ends, we’ll decorate our pumpkins. Even if you didn’t grow it yourself, anyone is welcome to bring a pumpkin to decorate with us!
Reserve: Thursday, October 24 at 6 PM
Craft Community: Busted Canvas Art
Adults: Have you seen the viral busted/exploding canvas trend? Create a 3D effect by cutting parts of a canvas to reveal another canvas underneath. We’re customizing this art project to complement your fall décor! Grab your friends, enjoy light refreshments, and leave with a unique work of art. Registration is required with an active library card. Register using the online calendar – https://stjohnlib.librarycalendar.com/events/month/2024/10?keywords=busted%20canvas
Reserve: Thursday, October 17 at 6 PM
Garyville: Monday, October 21 at 6 PM
LaPlace: Thursday, October 24 at 6 PM
Edgard: Monday, October 28 at 6 PM
Halloween Thrifted Ghost Painting Class
Teens & Adults: In this take on the thrifted ghost trend, we will turn ordinary landscape artwork into spooky spectacles by adding our own ghosts, bats, witches, black cats and other Halloween-inspired creatures.
LaPlace: Wednesday, October 23 at 6 PM
Grab & Geaux Kits
- Creepy Notebooks and Inkpens: October 14-19, LaPlace Branch
Teens & Tweens: Turn an ordinary notebook into a spooky creation that you can use for this creepy holiday season. - Halloween Crystal Ball: October 21-26, Edgard Branch
Teens & Tweens: Pick up a grab and geaux kit with everything you need to create a spooky crystal ball. - Thrifted Ghost Grab & Geaux: October 21-26, Garyville Branch
Teens & Tweens: Stop by the Garyville Branch to pick up a ghost painting kit inspired by the thrifted ghost art TikTok trend.
Activity Tables – All Library Branches
- Painted Monster Rocks: October 7-12
Ages 6-11: Using acrylic paint pens, rocks, and googly eyes, patrons will draw scary monster faces! - Fall Wagon Wheel Trees: October 14-19
Ages 0-5: Using tacky glue, wagon wheel pasta, and a brown crayon, decorate your own womping wagon wheel handprint tree! - Paper Bag Monster Masks: October 21-26
Ages 0-5: Make an amazing monster mask using a variety of craft materials.
Hanging Handprint Bat Craft: October 28-31
Ages 0-5: Using construction paper, glue, googly eyes, and markers, children will trace their hands and make a hanging handprint bat craft!