Big Prize Bingo
2026-07-10 15:00 - 16:30 (America/New_York) | Town Hall Auditorium, 1 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Friday, July 10th from 3:00-4:30PM in Town Hall Auditorium
Teens ages 12-18 are invited to the library’s fifth annual Summer Reading Bingo program on Friday, July 10th from 3:00-4:30PM. Teens will play bingo for the chance to win big prizes like gift cards, signed books and swag, puzzles, and more! All attendees will earn a raffle ticket for the Teen Summer Reading Program. Teens can sign up for the program at the library or by emailing clapplibrarytab@gmail.com. Teens must be registered for the Teen Summer Reading Program to attend. This program is funded by the Friends of the Clapp Memorial Library.

Cookbook Club (July 2026)
2026-07-10 18:00 - 19:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Do you like browsing cookbooks and trying new recipes? In the Cookbook Club, we each make a recipe from a cookbook and bring it for everyone to try. Taste, enjoy, and chat with your new cookbook friends! The July cookbook is Modern Comfort Food by Ina Garten
Registration & confirmation required. Sign up here: https://forms.gle/SHmqKTd8ZDVmxr6h8

Aquatic Macroinvertebrates at Lake Wallace
2026-07-11 09:00 - 10:00 | Foley Field, 66 State Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Saturday, July 11th, 9:00 AM
Ages 4-11
Join us to investigate fascinating creatures and critters in Lake Wallace. Local biologists/parents, Caralyn Zehnder and Will Duncan, will show us the life cycles of aquatic invertebrates like dragonflies and damselflies and sample the lake to see what we can find. Lake Wallace is located behind the police station next to Foley Field. Play clothes, rain or water boots, and bug spray are suggested.
Registration is required. Sign up here: https://forms.gle/C1Yd9v6CaevZbQwM6
Children should also be registered for our summer reading program, Plant A Seed, Read!
We will meet at the end of the ball fields. Play clothes, rain or water boots, and bug spray are suggested.

Stitched Journals Workshop
2026-07-15 16:00 - 17:30 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Wednesday, July 15th from 4:00-5:30PM
Teens and their adult loved ones are invited to the library on Wednesday, July 15th from 4:00-5:00PM for an Intergenerational Stitched Journal Workshop with Lisa Hersey of Antler Editions! At this beginner class, participants will make two blank journals with pockets in the back. Materials, tools, and instruction will be provided.
Space is limited, and preference will be given to teen/adult pairs from Belchertown. Registration required, sign up here: https://forms.gle/mG4WVFjUwdu12oeB9
This program is funded in part by a grant from the Belchertown Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.

Two Dinosaurs Are Better Than One
2026-07-15 18:00 - 19:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Talking Hands Theatre, a woman-owned puppet company based in Shutesbury, brings you this musical tabletop show featuring brightly colored dinosaurs. Meet different kinds of dinosaurs from the Jurassic Era, and find out what the dinosaurs plan to do about that big carnivore, Allosaurus, who is pushing everyone around!
No registration required. Children should be registered for Plant A Seed, Read! This event will take place on the Library lawn. Bring chairs, blankets, water, and bug spray. In case of rain, it will be moved to the Town Hall Auditorium.
Funded in part by The Belchertown Cultural Council, a local agency funded by Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.

Sourdough Workshop
2026-07-17 16:30 - 18:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Program Full & Wait List Full
Join Amanda of Morning Glory Bread to learn how to make sourdough bread using a basic and intuitive approach. You will learn simple strategies for maintaining a sourdough starter, a straightforward method for mixing and working with dough, and various methods to bake your own sourdough bread. All attendees leave the class with bread dough ready to proof and bake, a jar of starter, and a freshly baked loaf of bread. No prior experience required!
Registration required, program full.
This program is funded by the Friends of the Clapp Memorial Library.

Messy Outside Art Day
2026-07-18 10:00 - 10:30 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Join us at 10AM on July 18th for a morning of fun on the Library Lawn
Art fun for everyone who doesn’t mind getting messy! Visit the CML to create and explore with paint, glue, water, bubbles, shaving cream, and more. Wear play clothes, sunscreen, and bug spray and bring a towel. Activities are geared towards children ages 2-7, but all are welcome. No registration required. If we need to cancel due to inclement weather, we will post on our website and social media pages.
Messy Outside Art Day is part of our Summer Reading Program, Plant a Seed, Read! Join in on Summer Reading fun at https://clapplibrary.beanstack.org/ or through the beanstack app.

Emily and J.G.
2026-07-20 18:00 - 19:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Join us at the Clapp Memorial Library on Monday, July 20 at 6pm for Emily & J.G., a lively conversation that will touch the heart. For much of her life, Poet Emily Dickinson corresponded with Belchertown’s own J.G. Holland and his wife, sharing the intimate moments of their lives through language—currents of the 19th century, recipes, snippets of poems, news of children, the nature of friendship, love, art, longing and grief.
The conversation between Emily and Dr. Holland brings to life the ideas, humor and wisdom of the lifelong relationship between the poet who never married, the traditional Victorian woman raising a family (Mrs. Holland) and her husband—the renowned writer of his day, whose newspaper, The Springfield Daily Republican, printed the only poems Emily published in her lifetime.
This program is funded in part by a grant from the Belchertown Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.

Puzzle Competition
2026-07-22 16:00 - 18:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Are you ready to puzzle? Sign up in a team of two for a speed puzzling competition where pairs of contestants race to finish a 500 piece puzzle. The 1st place finishers receive a puzzle.
Registration required – sign your team up here for our July 22nd Puzzle Competition: https://forms.gle/2BAWCHRVQnDoPgZc7
The puzzles for this program were generously donated by Ravensburger.
Celebrate Summer Reading with us! Sign up at clapplibrary.beanstack.com or via the Beanstack app.

Games Night
2026-07-22 17:00 - 18:30 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
July 22nd at 5PM at the Clapp Memorial Library!
Come play at the Library! Board games, card games, and lawn games. Mathematics and literacy will be highlighted in several games for kids of all ages. The main floor and library lawn will have fun stations set up for families to explore. Stop by anytime but to have enough time to enjoy some games, please arrive by 6 pm. Some of the stations will teach families a new game and each family who participates will receive a free game to bring home. Games were donated by Learn2Play and are geared towards ages 4 to 8. No registration required.
Games Night is part of our Summer Reading Program, Plant a Seed, Read! Join in on Summer Reading fun at https://clapplibrary.beanstack.org/ or through the beanstack app.

Studio Ghibli Movie Night - Spirited Away
2026-07-24 18:00 - 20:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Friday, July 24th at 6:00PM
Teens and tweens entering grades 6-12 are invited to the Clapp Memorial Library for a Studio Ghibli Movie Night on Friday, July 24th at 6:00PM! Join us as we watch Spirited Away, a perfect film to pair with this year’s Summer Reading theme: Plant a Seed, Read! Free popcorn and beverages will be provided. Students can sign up for the program at the library or by emailing macona@cwmars.org.
Participants of the Teen Summer Reading Program will earn a raffle ticket for their attendance.
This program is funded by the Friends of the Clapp Memorial Library.

Teen Book Club (July 2026)
2026-07-29 15:00 - 16:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Wednesday, July 29th from 3:00-4:00PM
Are you a tween or teen age 12-18? The library has a Teen Book Club in conjunction with the MA Teen Choice Book Awards (MTCBA), the only book award in the state selected by teens. Each month teens will read and meet to discuss one book from the nominee list. July’s meeting will be Wednesday, July 29th from 3:00-4:00PM. Teens will discuss Into the Sunken City by Dinesh Thiru. Copies of the book are available for checkout at the library’s circulation desk and on the Libby and hoopla apps. Snacks will be provided at the meeting. Email clapplibrarytab@gmail.com with any questions.
All attendees will earn a raffle ticket for the Teen Summer Reading Program.

Princess Story Time with the Wayfinder
2026-07-29 17:30 - 19:00 | Town Hall Auditorium, 1 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Join us at 5:30PM on July 29th at the Town Hall Auditorium!
Meet our visiting princess from Alyssa’s Happily Ever Afters! Sing some of her favorite songs, hear her story, and take your picture with her. Wear a costume or come as you are! There will be some crafts and activities to do while you wait your turn to meet Wayfinder. This program will be held in the town hall auditorium and requires registration. All children who register for this program must be registered for Plant a Seed, Read!, our summer reading program. Ages 2 and up. Children can also register for the Moana movie, showing at the Library at 7 pm.
Sign up for the Princess Story Time or to join us for Moana here: https://forms.gle/79dN4uviMkqwskEK9
Funded by the Friends of the Clapp Memorial Library and our Community Sponsors.

Moana Movie Night
2026-07-29 19:00 - 21:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Join us at 7PM on July 29th at the Clapp Memorial Library to watch Moana!
An adventurous teenager sails out on a daring mission to save her people. During her journey, Moana meets the once-mighty demigod Maui, who guides her in her quest to become a master way-finder. Together they sail across the open ocean on an action-packed voyage, encountering enormous monsters and impossible odds.
Registration is required. All children who register for this program must be registered for Plant a Seed, Read!, our summer reading program. Ages 3 and up.
Sign up for our Moana Movie Night or to join us for the Princess Story Time here: https://forms.gle/79dN4uviMkqwskEK9

Comic Workshop with Jarrett J Krosoczka
2026-07-30 18:00 - 19:00 | Town Hall Auditorium, 1 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
July 30th at 6PM in the Town Hall Auditorium!
Join us at the Town Hall auditorium for an engaging live webinar with New York Times-bestselling graphic novelist Jarrett J. Krosoczka! Learn how to make comics and collaborate live with JJK to create characters and get a look around his art studio! This program is for ages 7 and up. No registration required but students must be registered for either our children’s or teen’s summer reading program.
Funded by the Friends of the Clapp Memorial Library and our Community Sponsors.

Teen Crafternoon: Upcycled Planters
2026-08-03 16:30 - 17:30 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Monday, August 3rd from 4:30-5:30PM
Teens ages 12-18 are invited to the library to upcycle tea tins into planters to celebrate the 2026 Teen Summer Reading Program theme, “Plant a Seed, Read!” This program will take place rain or shine on Monday, August 3rd from 4:30-5:30PM in the library’s Activity Room. This program is drop-in; teens can come by any time over the hour to create their planter as supplies last.
Participants of the Teen Summer Reading Program will earn a raffle ticket for their attendance.
This program is funded by the Friends of the Clapp Memorial Library and thanks to the generosity of our community spider plant donors.

Carrie Ferguson and The Grumpytime Club
2026-08-05 18:00 - 19:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Put on your dancing shoes and come sign and dance with us. The Grumpytime Club offers children and families welcoming and inclusive messages about accepting feelings, celebrating differences, and loving ourselves exactly as we are.
As a queer and gender queer artist, Carrie learned that inner strength derives from knowing, accepting, and loving yourself. They also learned how important it is to use that strength to celebrate and show up for other people and the world in general. No registration required. This event will take place on the Library lawn. Bring chairs, water, bug spray, and blankets. In case of rain, it will be moved to the Town Hall Auditorium.
Funded in part by The Belchertown Cultural Council, a local agency funded by Mass Cultural Council, a state agency, and by the Friends of the Clapp Memorial Library and Library sponsors.

Live Animal show with Joys of Nature
2026-08-07 10:00 - 10:45 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
10AM session is full. Please sign up for the 11AM session.
Join us on Friday, August 7th, with sessions at 10AM and 11AM as Joys of Nature present Amazing Animals: Surviving Life in the Wild.
Ever wonder how a creature tracks down its dinner, or how a simple plant can keep an entire habitat alive? Come find out! Join us for an action-packed, hands-on program where science comes to life. Discover the fascinating secrets of animal diets and the power of plants, ask your wildest questions, and meet animals up close!
Registration is required. Ages 3 to 11. All children who register for this program must be registered for Plant a Seed, Read!, our summer reading program.
Register for Amazing Animals here: https://forms.gle/97efw1cr17QoxkgD7
Funded by the Friends of the Clapp Memorial Library and our Community Sponsors.

Live Animal show with Joys of Nature
2026-08-07 11:00 - 11:45 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Join us on Friday, August 7th, with sessions at 10AM and 11AM as Joys of Nature present Amazing Animals: Surviving Life in the Wild.
Ever wonder how a creature tracks down its dinner, or how a simple plant can keep an entire habitat alive? Come find out! Join us for an action-packed, hands-on program where science comes to life. Discover the fascinating secrets of animal diets and the power of plants, ask your wildest questions, and meet animals up close!
Registration is required. Ages 3 to 11. All children who register for this program must be registered for Plant a Seed, Read!, our summer reading program.
Register for Amazing Animals here: https://forms.gle/97efw1cr17QoxkgD7
Funded by the Friends of the Clapp Memorial Library and our Community Sponsors.

Teen Tie-Dye!
2026-08-10 16:30 - 17:30 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Monday, August 10th from 4:30-5:30PM
RAIN DATE is Friday, August 14th from 4:30-5:30PM
Teens ages 12-18 are invited to celebrate the end of the Teen Summer Reading Program by tie-dying their Summer Reading shirts on the front lawn of the library! This program will take place Monday, August 10th from 4:30-5:30PM on the front lawn of the library, except in the case of rain in which the program will be rescheduled to Friday, August 14th at the same time.
This program is drop-in; teens can come by any time over the hour to tie-dye as supplies last. Attendees will earn a raffle ticket for the Teen Summer Reading Program
Teens are asked to bring their own, pre-washed shirt to tie-dye. Extra shirts will be extremely limited.
This program is funded by the Friends of the Clapp Memorial Library.

Music & More with Brett “Ooch” Outchucunis
2026-08-12 18:00 - 19:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Join us for Yo-Yos, Music & More with Brett “Ooch” Outchucunis on August 12th at 6PM on the Clapp Memorial Library Lawn! (In the case of rain, Town Hall Auditorium)!
Brett is a professional entertainer, motivator, dancer and DJ rolled into one! Come enjoy his family show for all ages on the Library’s front lawn. This show full of fun and exciting yo-yo tricks, awesome music and more. Lots more! Bring chairs and blankets.
No registration required but children must be registered for Plant A Seed, Read!, our summer reading program.

Teen Book Club (Aug 2026)
2026-08-19 15:00 - 16:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Are you a student entering grades 7-12 this fall? The library has a Teen Book Club in conjunction with the MA Teen Choice Book Awards (MTCBA), the only book award in the state selected by teens. Each month teens will read and meet to discuss one book from the nominee list. August’s meeting will be Wednesday, August 19th from 3:00-4:00PM. Teens will discuss The Thrashers by Julie Soto. Copies of the book are available for checkout at the library’s circulation desk and on the Libby and hoopla apps. Snacks will be provided at the meeting. Email clapplibrarytab@gmail.com with any questions.
For a full list of the nominees, visit: https://www.mateenchoicebook.org/

Summer Reading Finale!
2026-08-19 18:00 - 20:00 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
All the children that complete Plant A Seed, Read! (logging 8 hours in Beanstack) are invited to join the fun at our finale.
Back by popular demand, Ed Popielarczyk, will present his comical magic show. Many in Belchertown know Ed as the “Balloon Guy” that has attended the Belchertown Fair for many years. Join us for laughs and amazement geared to people of all ages.
After the show we will celebrate more with a cookie decorating station, games and activities. All children will get to pick out their free book and will receive some local coupons, such as Claymates and Cindy’s Drive-In.
This is a rain or shine event. Families will receive an email from Jennifer Whitehead about a week before the event to ask families to let us know if you plan to attend and how many in your family.
Program is funded by Friends of the Clapp Memorial Library and our Community sponsors

Friends' Puzzles, DVDs, & CDs Sale!
2026-08-22 08:00 - 13:30 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
The Friends of the Clapp Memorial Library are holding a one day sale featuring assorted puzzles, DVDs, and CDs! Check it out in the Activity Room on Saturday, August 22, 8:00AM to 1:30PM
Everything is $1, cash only.
We are not collecting items for this sale and are unable to store new donations of books, media, or puzzles.

Library Closing: Labor Day 2026
2026-09-07 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
The Library will be closed in observation of Labor Day

Fall Foraging Walk
2026-09-16 16:30 - 17:30 | Foley Field, 66 State Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Fall Foraging Walk, 4:30-5:30pm
Gain greater food security by learning wild and feral edible and medicinal plants and fungi. On Wednesday, September 16 at 4:30pm using the Wallace Lake Sensory Trails, we will learn how to identify and prepare foods using common wild edibles that you can find near where you live. Join naturalist and wild edibles enthusiast Arianna Alexsandra Collins of Offerings for Community Building on our foraging walk. She will discuss flora and fungi characteristics for proper identification as well as meal and medicinal preparation. Trailside nibbling during this 1-hour walkabout is encouraged.
Registration is required; sign up here: https://forms.gle/EUBcUDVYge1g2Wso8
All ages welcome. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.
The Lake Wallace Sensory Trail is located at 70 State Street, behind the Police and Recreation Departments buildings.
Sponsored by the Friends of Clapp Memorial Library.

Early Closing: Belchertown Fair 2026
2026-09-25 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
The Library will close at 4pm.

Library Closing: Belchertown Fair 2026
2026-09-26 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
The Library will be closed during the Belchertown Fair

Mindfulness Meditation
2026-10-01 19:00 - 20:15 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
Clapp Memorial Library is offering a Stress Reduction Awareness course. The eight-week introductory course starts on Thursday, October 1 at 7 PM and runs every Thursday through November 19. The course is designed to teach and practice mindfulness-based skills. Mindfulness meditation skills teach us to be fully present in the moment and, when practiced regularly, help decrease stress levels and improve general well-being and health. Skills covered in the course are gentle and free of judgment. Because each session of this course builds on the previous week, we ask that you register only if you are able to attend all sessions. Sessions will take place on the main library floor.
Registration required, sign up here: https://forms.gle/p86MRBhwWEEePnet6
If you have any questions, please email clapp@cwmars.org
This course will be taught by Magda Bechar, a retired nursing professor who has taught mindfulness meditation skills to many groups, including at the Clapp Memorial Library, for many years.

Library Closing: Indigenous Peoples’ Day 2026
2026-10-12 | Clapp Memorial Library, 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007, United States
The Library will be closed in observation of Indigenous Peoples’ Day
