Arts & Entertainment

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 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.

Join us for the 12th annual Kites on the Green festival at Johnston Commons Park on May 3, 2025. This family-fun event will be held in the green space near the Johnston Public Library from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visitors can enjoy giant show kite displays, kite fighting, free kite building, and more!

Do you love board games? Are you looking to meet some fellow board game enthusiasts? Join us at JPL’s Teen Board Game Club, where each month, we’ll introduce you to a new game and teach you how to play it. This program is for kids in 6th grade and up. Registration required at johnstonlibrary.com.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Members of the Des Moines Model Railroad Club will be on hand to share their knowledge of railroad history and passion for model trains. The club plans to have two to four trains running during opeen hours of the exhibit. The exhibit will be available for viewing May 17 and May 18.

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!

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 in the series.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Make your own zines, design custom buttons, and screen print shirts or bags with one of four bold, library-loving designs. We’ll be printing with white ink, so bring a dark-colored shirt or tote bag. A limited number of bags will be available if you don’t have your own. JPL summer reading kicks off!

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.

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.

Arrow Academy of Music's School Year session begins the week of August 17th! We offer accredited in-person and online piano lessons for ages 6-17, and guitar lessons for ages 10-17 all from our studio in Urbandale. Attend a free trial lesson to get started!