The Friday Grab Bag is a weekly series that highlights fun, unique, and interesting happenings in Colorado libraries, and includes news from the Colorado State Library. Let’s open the Friday Grab Bag!
Library Events & Programs
Trick-or-Treat and Meet
Grand County Library District announces two community events perfect for the season: Trick or Treat Main Street A Wicked Good Time on October 31 from 4:00 to 6:00 pm at Granby Library, and Day of the Dead / Día de los Muertos family celebration and remembrance on November 1 at Juniper Library.
Aurora Public Library’s Halloween Costume Parade is October 31 at Tallyn’s Reach Library. After storytime, kids are invited to march around the library in their costumes and do some trick-or-treating.
Estes Valley Library invites tweens and teens to solve the Murder Mystery at the Pizzeria, an interactive dinner theater style event on October 30 at 5:00 pm. Everyone’s a suspect when a rival chef is found dead on the opening night of Bella Morte’s new Italian restaurant. Can you piece together the clues?
Delta County Libraries will be at the Trunk or Treat in Hotchkiss on October 31 from 4:30 to 6:30 pm. Visit them at the Elks Lodge parking lot for bookmarks, stickers, and candy.
Silverton Public Library’s 4th Annual Library Halloween Costume Contest Party is October 25 at 6:00 pm. Dress up in your best Halloween costume and compete for prizes in both kids’ and adults’ categories.
Garfield County Libraries’ Monster Mash is October 31 at Bea Underwood Elementary School in Parachute. The spooky bash will feature live DJ beats, creepy crafts, and a costume contest!
High Plains Library District is hosting a Halloween Trivia Night on October 24 at Platteville Public Library. Bring some snacks and flex your oddly specific knowledge during this exciting night of trivia.
Ouray Public Library’s Culinary Club will be making a Spooky Charcuterie Board on October 29 at Artisan Bakery. Learn to construct a snack tray that will be the centerpiece of your Halloween gathering.
Pick ‘n’ Mix
Jefferson County Public Library is launching a 4-part Adulting 101 class for teens beginning October 25, 12:30 pm, at Lakewood Library. Each week, participants will learn skills like budgeting, vehicle maintenance, and interviewing.
Pueblo City-County Library District hosts Calligraphy 101, a weekly series for beginners and beyond taught by Leslie Barstad of the Colorado Calligraphers’ Guild. The next meeting is October 30 at Pueblo West.
Alamosa Public Library’s Guild of the Tabletop is a monthly opportunity for adults to experience new tabletop role playing games during a one-shot campaign. The next meeting is October 25 at 10:30 am.
Durango Public Library is hosting a Japanese Tea Ceremony on October 25 at 2:00 pm. Sochi Nomoto, Japanese tea ceremony teacher, will provide instruction about the tea ceremony’s history, philosophy, and wellness qualities.
Boulder Public Library is offering Archiving for Artists and Creatives on October 25 at NoBo Library. Learn from archival professionals how to curate and organize your artistic journey.
Basalt Regional Library invites you to a live recording of the acclaimed literary podcast First Draft, hosted by Mitzi Rapkin, as she sits down with rising literary star Ruben Reyes Jr. The conversation and reception will happen October 25 from 4:00 to 6:00 pm.
What’s New from the Colorado State Library
Colorado Historic Newspapers
Colorado State Publications Blog
Colorado’s governors: John C. Vivia
Resource Sharing
Community Project Ideas for Libraries
Learning Opportunities
All events are online except where a location is noted.
- Talking Teen Services – Understanding Teens: Building Positive Relationships (part 3 of 3)
- October 29, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
- Youth Services Regional Learning Community Workshops – High Prairie Library (PPLD)
- October 30, 9:00 am – 3:30 pm
- Make Your Students the Stars: Practical Ways to Increase Engagement
- November 4, 4:00 – 5:00 pm
- Data-Informed Advocacy for School Libraries
- November 18, 4:00 – 5:00 pm
- Youth Services Regional Learning Community Workshops – Ignacio Community Library
- November 19, 9:00 am – 3:30 pm
- Find even more learning opportunities:
- Libraries Learn Calendar from Colorado State Library
- Continuing Education Calendar from Maine State Library (note: all MSL events are listed in Eastern time). A different view of these events is available at Free Online Learning Opportunities for October 2025.
Library Jobline
Are you considering a job change this year? Check out Library Jobline for hot new library employment opportunities, like this selection from around Colorado.
- Associate Director of Customer Experience (Spanish speaking candidates preferred) – Anythink Support Services at Wright Farms
- Programming Coordinator – Lake County Public Library
- Library Manager 2 – Pikes Peak Library District
- Customer Experience Supervisor – Douglas County Libraries
- Library Specialist , Detention Center Library – Arapahoe Library District
This post is part of the Spotlight on Sharing initiative, which aims to increase the visibility of Colorado library programs and resource sharing. Do you have a story from your library to share? Email Amy Hitchner, [email protected].
All images are from the Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection, a service of Colorado State Library.
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