Or add Columbia’s kids’ events to your calendar: subscribe once and new weeks appear on their own. (Google Calendar: paste that link’s address into “Other calendars → From URL”.) We keep your email and the city, nothing else; every note has a one-click stop.
Days with a number have events. Tap one to filter the list below.
100 ideas near “Columbia, MO”
Subscribe once and new weeks appear on their own. Google Calendar: copy that button’s link address into “Other calendars → From URL”.
Local musicians provide a musical backdrop at the Columbia Public Library on the second Sunday of every month. This month enjoy Cliff White on hammered and mountain dulcimer. Adults, teens, school-age children.
Bring your little ones for rhymes, stories and fun. Families, ages birth-3.
Monthly play time and diaper distribution at Lend & Learn North
Join us for rhymes, stories and fun! Families, ages birth-5.
Drop in after “Baby and Toddler Time” for a holiday pie-themed paper craft. Families, ages 2 and older.
For our youngest library friends and their caregivers, join us for a short story time, and then stay to enjoy open play and social time with other families. Ages birth to 12 months with an adult.
Drop in and create your very own squishy toy using paper, markers, tape and fluffy stuffing! Kids can design and customize their own squeezable squishy to take home. Ages 5-14.
Children will read for 15 minutes to one of Ann Gafke's Teacher's Pet Therapy Dogs while a handler oversees them. It's a fun way to improve children's literacy skills. All dogs are certified therapy dogs. Please note, depending on attendance, your family may need to wait for a dog. Kindergarten age and older.
Using computer-aided design (CAD) software and 3D printers, you can take your ideas from digital drawings to physical objects. We'll introduce you to the process of CAD modeling and slicing so you can make digital models of your own to 3D-print. Attendees will create a small keychain that will be 3D-printed. Adults and teens. Please register starting October 26.
Play at Lend & Learn! Lend & Learn is a free & fun program of First Chance for Children that supports children ages 0-5 and their families to grow essential skills through play.
Join library staff for rhymes, songs, stories and fun. Ages 2½ (30 mos.) to 5 years with an adult.
Bond with your little one through books, songs and play! Ages birth-36 months.
Bring your child for a free KidSight vision screening. It only takes a few seconds, and you'll receive the result instantly. Ages 6 months and older.
On board, you'll find books, music, DVDs and other services for all ages. You can browse several thousand titles or pick up items you've requested online or over the phone.
Visit our computer lab to enhance your technology skills. Library trainers can help you with the basic functions of your Windows, Chrome, Android or Apple laptop or device. You can also use self-paced tutorials to work on keyboarding skills. Staff are unable to troubleshoot or repair malfunctioning equipment. Adults.
Turn strips of festive, patterned paper into beautiful holiday cards! In this class, we’ll combine pretty papers and a simple layout to create two cards. No experience necessary! All supplies and instructions are provided. Please bring paper-crafting scissors and adhesive if you have them. Adults and teens. Register starting October 27.
🧇 First Chance families with a young child are invited to join us for Wacky Waffle Wednesdays! On November 4, 11 & 18 from 9am-12pm, we will serve a light waffle breakfast during Lend & Learn playtime.
Play at Lend & Learn! Lend & Learn is a free & fun program of First Chance for Children that supports children ages 0-5 and their families to grow essential skills through play.
Join our staff for rhymes, stories and fun! Families, ages 3-5.
Explore the world around us through the lens of science. We'll read books, sing songs and share fun learning activities. Ages 3-5 with an adult.
Bring your photos, documents, artwork, slides and negatives to this weekly session to digitize them using our up-to-date scanning equipment. Orientation to the equipment and assistance from staff is available during this lab time. Bring a USB drive or a login for a cloud storage account. Adults and teens. Register for November sessions starting October 26, one person per session.
On board, you'll find books, music, DVDs and other services for all ages. You can browse several thousand titles or pick up items you've requested online or over the phone.
Unleash your creativity and develop your fine motor skills with LEGO bricks. We'll provide the bricks; you provide the imagination! Ages 5 and older.
Join us for a free screening of "Manchu: A Brotherhood of Sacrifice," a documentary by Matthew Wilcox exploring the history of America’s involvement in Vietnam as told by veterans of the U.S. Army Manchus who served in-country 1966-70. Panel discussion to follow. (116 min., TV-14) Adults and teens 14 or older. Pick up free tickets starting at noon the day of the show at Ragtag or at the library.
Play at Lend & Learn! Lend & Learn is a free & fun program of First Chance for Children that supports children ages 0-5 and their families to grow essential skills through play.
Join library staff for rhymes, songs, stories and fun. Ages 12-30 months (walking confidently) with an adult.
Join us for rhymes, stories and fun! Families, ages birth-5.
On board, you'll find books, music, DVDs and other services for all ages. You can browse several thousand titles or pick up items you've requested online or over the phone.
Bring your photos, documents, artwork, slides and negatives to this weekly session to digitize them using our up-to-date scanning equipment. Orientation to the equipment and assistance from staff is available during this lab time. Bring a USB drive or a login for a cloud storage account. Adults and teens. Register for November sessions starting October 26, one person per session.
Unlock the science of your senses with an assortment of hands-on activities! This program environment is designed for children with low-sensory needs. Ages 5-9 and caregivers.
Learn how to turn old t-shirts, socks and other clothes ready for the rag box into skeins of cloth "yarn" and then crochet them into rugs. Both the cloth strips and regular yarn will be used to crochet the rug. Basic crochet skills are a prerequisite for this class. Some supplies provided. Bring some clean used clothes to include in your rug. Adults & teens. Please register starting October 29.
Play at Lend & Learn! Lend & Learn is a free & fun program of First Chance for Children that supports children ages 0-5 and their families to grow essential skills through play.
Visit our computer lab to enhance your technology skills. Library trainers can help you with the basic functions of your Windows, Chrome, Android or Apple laptop or device. You can also use self-paced tutorials to work on keyboarding skills. Staff are unable to troubleshoot or repair malfunctioning equipment. Adults.
Tonight, the distant planet Uranus joins golden Saturn in our skies! Saturn glows gold while Uranus shines aquamarine. Weather permitting, view both through a large telescope. We'll begin indoors with a brief slideshow, then head outside if skies are clear. Hosted by Val Germann, Central Missouri Astronomical Association. Enter at west end of main parking lot. Ages 10–adult. Please register.
At this workshop, children play games, sing, dance and act out books. Presented by TRYPS Children's Theater, Columbia's professional theater group for young audiences. Ages 3-8.
Join us for a vibrant story time featuring books and songs that highlight LGBTQ+ families. We’ll share a collaborative activity, with time to meet new friends at the end. All families are welcome!
The Boone County Early Childhood Coalition offers a quick, free screening to assess your child's well-being and social-emotional health. For Boone County families with ages 2 mos. to 5 yrs.
Bring your little ones for rhymes, stories and fun. Families, ages birth-3.
Join us for rhymes, stories and fun! Families, ages birth-5.
For our youngest library friends and their caregivers, join us for a short story time, and then stay to enjoy open play and social time with other families. Ages birth to 12 months with an adult.
Learn how to make simple, yet stunning prints using found botanical and mineral specimens! We'll have some curated natural items for you to use, but feel free to bring your own leaves, flowers, rocks, shells, seeds, etc. (Tip: the fresher the item, the better the print!) This session is designed for people with low-sensory needs. Adults and teens. Registration not required, but space is limited.
Are you curious about uses for the artificial intelligence platform ChatGPT? In this beginner's course, you'll learn some interesting and relevant applications as well as some of the downsides to these new AI programs. No previous experience with ChatGPT is required. Adults and teens. Please register starting November 2.
Play at Lend & Learn! Lend & Learn is a free & fun program of First Chance for Children that supports children ages 0-5 and their families to grow essential skills through play.
Join library staff for rhymes, songs, stories and fun. Ages 2½ (30 mos.) to 5 years with an adult.
Bond with your little one through books, songs and play! Ages birth-36 months.
On board, you'll find books, music, DVDs and other services for all ages. You can browse several thousand titles or pick up items you've requested online or over the phone.
Visit our computer lab to enhance your technology skills. Library trainers can help you with the basic functions of your Windows, Chrome, Android or Apple laptop or device. You can also use self-paced tutorials to work on keyboarding skills. Staff are unable to troubleshoot or repair malfunctioning equipment. Adults.
This event will connect students with scientists from MU’s Science on Wheels program. There will be STEM learning stations with hands-on opportunities for young people to explore. Families, ages 8 and older. (Not suitable for younger children.)
🧇 First Chance families with a young child are invited to join us for Wacky Waffle Wednesdays! On November 4, 11 & 18 from 9am-12pm, we will serve a light waffle breakfast during Lend & Learn playtime.
Play at Lend & Learn! Lend & Learn is a free & fun program of First Chance for Children that supports children ages 0-5 and their families to grow essential skills through play.
Join our staff for rhymes, stories and fun! Families, ages 3-5.
Join us for a special story time all about fantastic food! You'll enjoy a comfortable, positive environment with soft lighting, music, stories and activities. Ages 3-6 and caregivers.
Bring your photos, documents, artwork, slides and negatives to this weekly session to digitize them using our up-to-date scanning equipment. Orientation to the equipment and assistance from staff is available during this lab time. Bring a USB drive or a login for a cloud storage account. Adults and teens. Register for November sessions starting October 26, one person per session.
On board, you'll find books, music, DVDs and other services for all ages. You can browse several thousand titles or pick up items you've requested online or over the phone.
Come discuss “My Lady Jane” by Brodi Ashton, Cynthia Hand and Jodi Meadows. Edward, the king of England, is 16 and dying. To secure his family's line of succession, he arranges for his cousin Jane to marry Gifford. However, Gifford is an Eðian who becomes a steed every morning and wakes as a man at dusk. The plot thickens as the three are drawn into a dangerous conspiracy. Teens in grades 8-12.
Meet at the library to hang out and share your love of Pokémon by playing the Pokémon Trading Card Game. Don’t know how to play? No worries; we'll learn together. All skill levels welcome. Ages 8-12. Registration is not required, but space is limited.
Play at Lend & Learn! Lend & Learn is a free & fun program of First Chance for Children that supports children ages 0-5 and their families to grow essential skills through play.
Join library staff for rhymes, songs, stories and fun. Ages 12-30 months (walking confidently) with an adult.
Join us for rhymes, stories and fun! Families, ages birth-5.
At First Chance For Children. Check the venue for prices and tickets.
On board, you'll find books, music, DVDs and other services for all ages. You can browse several thousand titles or pick up items you've requested online or over the phone.
Drop in and get creative while making your own natural decoration! Turn pine cones into a fun mobile using colorful yarn, beads and other natural items. All supplies provided. Ages 5–14.
Children will read for 10 minutes to a certified therapy dog while a handler oversees them. It's a fun way to improve children's literacy skills. Kindergarten age and older. Please note, depending on attendance, your family may need to wait for a dog.
Bring your photos, documents, artwork, slides and negatives to this weekly session to digitize them using our up-to-date scanning equipment. Orientation to the equipment and assistance from staff is available during this lab time. Bring a USB drive or a login for a cloud storage account. Adults and teens. Register for November sessions starting October 26, one person per session.
Talking animals, mysterious beings, clever characters and encounters with the supernatural — traditional Native American stories are filled with the unexpected. Join Suzanne Jones, a tribal member or descendant of the Choctaw, Cherokee and Delaware Nations/tribes to hear traditional stories in celebration of Native American Heritage Month. Adults and families with school-aged children.
Play at Lend & Learn! Lend & Learn is a free & fun program of First Chance for Children that supports children ages 0-5 and their families to grow essential skills through play.
On board, you'll find books, music, DVDs and other services for all ages. You can browse several thousand titles or pick up items you've requested online or over the phone.
Visit our computer lab to enhance your technology skills. Library trainers can help you with the basic functions of your Windows, Chrome, Android or Apple laptop or device. You can also use self-paced tutorials to work on keyboarding skills. Staff are unable to troubleshoot or repair malfunctioning equipment. Adults.
Join us for an evening of artistic expression at this after-hours event, whether you have something to share or just prefer to listen. Refreshments provided. Doors open at 6:45 p.m. Please arrive by 7:15 p.m. All music-makers and poets welcome, high school age to adults. To perform, please register.
The Boone County Early Childhood Coalition offers a quick, free screening to assess your child's well-being and social-emotional health. For Boone County families with ages 2 mos. to 5 yrs.
Make fun felt bookmarks using autumn shapes like pumpkins, acorns and leaves. Adults and kids ages 8 & older. Please register.
Discover the art of needle felting, a creative textile process that transforms wool fibers into beautiful shapes using barbed needles. In this beginner-friendly, hands-on class, artist Meg Bartlett of Kinfolk Fiber will guide you through the basics while you create a seasonal wool-felted project of your own. All materials are provided. Adults and teens, ages 13 and older. Please register.
Join us for a vibrant celebration of Native American culture with the Badhorse family from the American Indian Center of Springfield. This interactive program will feature traditional dancing, singing and regalia sharing, along with stories about the history and meaning behind these cultural traditions. All ages.
Bring your little ones for rhymes, stories and fun. Families, ages birth-3.
Join us for rhymes, stories and fun! Families, ages birth-5.
For our youngest library friends and their caregivers, join us for a short story time, and then stay to enjoy open play and social time with other families. Ages birth to 12 months with an adult.
Bond with your little one through books, songs and play! Ages birth-36 months.
To donate, bring your photo ID. You should feel well the day of donation and have plenty to eat and drink. Make an appointment: www.redcrossblood.org. Donors must be age 17 or older and weigh at least 110 lbs.
Come celebrate our 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program, in which children can earn 10 books, a reading buddy, a kindergarten starter kit and their very first backpack! Whether you're already signed up or wanting to start, we'll provide supplies to bedazzle your 1,000 Books backpack with rhinestones, ribbons and more. If you're already signed up, bring your backpack. Ages birth-5 with a parent.
On board, you'll find books, music, DVDs and other services for all ages. You can browse several thousand titles or pick up items you've requested online or over the phone.
Visit our computer lab to enhance your technology skills. Library trainers can help you with the basic functions of your Windows, Chrome, Android or Apple laptop or device. You can also use self-paced tutorials to work on keyboarding skills. Staff are unable to troubleshoot or repair malfunctioning equipment. Adults.
Join us to use gem art techniques to decorate the cover of your favorite book or an ornament for your tree! All bedazzling supplies and ornaments will be provided, but if you want to bedazzle a book, please bring your own. Adults and teens. Please register starting November 10.
Join our staff for rhymes, stories and fun! Families, ages 3-5.
The Boone County Early Childhood Coalition offers a quick, free screening to assess your child's well-being and social-emotional health. For Boone County families with ages 2 mos. to 5 yrs.
Bring your photos, documents, artwork, slides and negatives to this weekly session to digitize them using our up-to-date scanning equipment. Orientation to the equipment and assistance from staff is available during this lab time. Bring a USB drive or a login for a cloud storage account. Adults and teens. Register for November sessions starting October 26, one person per session.
On board, you'll find books, music, DVDs and other services for all ages. You can browse several thousand titles or pick up items you've requested online or over the phone.
Bring your little one for some quality parent/child time. Meet other parents and children, read to your child and get ideas for activities you can do at home to develop learning skills. Parents with children ages 5 and younger.
Join us for rhymes, stories and fun! Families, ages birth-5.
For our youngest library friends and their caregivers, join us for a short story time, and then stay to enjoy open play and social time with other families. Ages birth to 12 months with an adult.
Columbia is the University of Missouri's town, midway between St. Louis and Kansas City, and the MKT and Katy trails run from downtown into the countryside. Rock Bridge Memorial State Park's caves and the Columbia Children's Museum are the family fixtures. Daniel Boone Regional Library serves Columbia and the surrounding counties.
Holiday events for kids in Columbia, 2026: tree lightings, light displays, Santa visits and gingerbread workshops, day by day.
41 children’s events are on in Columbia in the next seven days, read every night from the calendars of Daniel Boone Regional Library (14 branches, 219 upcoming programmes), plus First Chance For Children. Library programmes are free. Museum and zoo events say “admission may apply”; check the venue for prices.
The same calendars serve Fulton and Holts Summit, so searching any of those names finds the same events.
43 places to collect. Tap “I'm here” when you're at one and the stamp goes in your book; collect 5 and print the certificate.
Stamps live on your phone. Open your passport to see them all, print the certificate, or save them to your email.
Yes and no. Every event, time, address and link is open to anyone. An account only lets you save outings you plan to go to.
Each library and venue calendar is re-read every night, so a cancelled storytime disappears within a day. Times are shown in Columbia’s own time zone.
Babies and toddlers, preschoolers, early grades, tweens and teens. Pick an age range above to narrow the list; leave them all off to see everything.
More in Missouri: Branson, Cape Girardeau, Jefferson City, Joplin, Springfield, St. Charles, St. Louis.