Battle of the Books
2025-03-22 09:30 - 12:00 (America/Indiana/Indianapolis) | Downtown Library, 300 S. Second St., Elkhart, IN, 46516, United States
A quiz-bowl-style reading competition for fifth and sixth graders from participating local schools to instill reading for fun. Who will take home the trophy?

Prop Swap
2025-03-22 11:00 - 13:00 | Downtown Library, 300 S. Second St., Elkhart, IN, 46516, United States
A plant hobby doesn’t have to be expensive. Join other green thumbs to swap cutting and add new members to your family. Bring a plant to trim and propagate or take one of ours. Pots and dirt available while supplies last.

Indie Lens Pop-Up
2025-04-05 15:30 - 17:00, 2025-05-03 15:30 - 17:00, 2025-06-07 15:30 - 17:00 | Downtown Library, 300 S. Second St., Elkhart, IN, 46516, United States
Enjoy free popcorn and soft drinks while we watch PBS documentaries. A group discussion will follow each screening.
June – Free for All: The Public Library

Ox Bow Books and Boots
2025-04-11 13:00 - 15:00, 2025-05-09 13:00 - 15:00, 2025-06-13 13:00 - 15:00 | Dunlap Branch, 58485 C.R. 13 East, Elkhart, IN, 46516, United States
Miss Debbie from the Dunlap Branch and Miss Krista, an interpretive naturalist manager with the Elkhart County Parks, lead this book discussion at Ox Bow County Park’s Cottonwood Shelter. Books and Boots is for the whole family, but specifically geared to ages 8-12. Dress for the weather. In April, this club moves to second Fridays.

April 11 – “Better Together (Heartwood Hotel)” by Kallie George
May 9 – “The Sign of the Beaver” by Elizabeth George Speare
June 13 – “Rascal” by Sterling North
July 11 – “Home Again (Heartwood Hotel)” by Kallie George

60th Anniversary of the Palm Sunday Tornadoes
2025-04-11 16:00 - 17:00 | Downtown Library, 300 S. Second St., Elkhart, IN, 46516, United States
On the 60th anniversary of the tragic and destructive Palm Sunday Tornadoes, join author Janis Thornton to discuss her book about the tornadoes. Her book, “The 1965 Palm Sunday Tornadoes in Indiana” is a detailed and well-researched book about the largest natural disaster in Indiana history.

Easter Party for Littles
2025-04-15 10:00 - 11:00 | Downtown Library, 300 S. Second St., Elkhart, IN, 46516, United States
Music, stories and games before a shared egg hunt with something for everyone to take home (regardless of how many eggs you find).

Easter Egg Hunt
2025-04-17 16:30 - 17:30 | Downtown Library, 300 S. Second St., Elkhart, IN, 46516, United States
Everyone goes home with a gift bag after our age-grouped egg hunt. Watch our Facebook page for more information.

Sippin' Into Summertime - Elkhart Young Professionals
2025-04-24 17:00 - 19:00 | Downtown Library, 300 S. Second St., Elkhart, IN, 46516, United States
Summertime in Downtown Elkhart is near! Join the Young Professionals for live music from Buddy Pearson as a preview of Elkhart Public Library’s Curbside Concerts.
Light appetizers and beverages will be available as you expand your network and learn more about the library. Weather permitting, tours including a view from the rooftop concert stage may be possible.
Hosted by the Chamber’s Young Professionals Council – open to anyone over 21. Free to attend, but please pre-register on the Chamber site by April 22 to reserve tickets.

Teen Fair Job
2025-04-29 16:30 - 18:30 | Downtown Library, 300 S. Second St., Elkhart, IN, 46516, United States
Start your summer job search here with local businesses looking for great employees.

Día del Niño
2025-04-30 17:00 - 19:00 | Pierre Moran Branch, 2400 Benham Ave, Elkhart, IN, 46517, United States
Join a fiesta that’s all about the kids. Piñatas, games, prizes, snacks and free books!

DIY All-Purpose Cleaner
2025-05-14 16:00 - 17:00 | Downtown Library, 300 S. Second St., Elkhart, IN, 46516, United States
Create an all-purpose cleaner that’s effective but less harsh and better for the environment and allergies.

Curbside Concerts: The Buddy System
2025-05-16 19:00 - 21:45 | Downtown Library, 300 S. Second St., Elkhart, IN, 46516, United States
The Buddy System, fronted by Buddy Pearson and featuring Brendyn Cane, kicks off the 2025 season of Curbside Concerts!

Curbside Concerts are free and outdoors. Bands play on the rooftop stage, people watch from the parking lots below. Come hungry for the food, come thirsty for the beverages. Come smiling and we’ll protect that ready-for-the-weekend mood. More details here.

That Guys Gourmet Ribs will be cooking, and Tropicana will have your sweet treats.

In Search of Bigfoot
2025-05-17 12:00 - 13:00 | Downtown Library, 300 S. Second St., Elkhart, IN, 46516, United States
Bigfoot investigator Michael Familant shares tales of his search for bigfoot. This family-friendly presentation is free and open to skeptics and believers alike.

Curbside Concerts: Society's Child
2025-05-23 19:00 - 21:45 | Downtown Library, 300 S. Second St., Elkhart, IN, 46516, United States
They’re the guys who seem like they never found a song they liked after 1989. Society’s Child is back to rock the roof at Curbside Concerts.

Shows are free and outdoors. Bands play on the rooftop stage, people watch from the parking lots below. Come hungry for the food, come thirsty for the beverages. Come smiling and we’ll protect that ready-for-the-weekend mood. More details here.

That Guys Gourmet Ribs will be cooking, and Tropicana will have your sweet treats.

What to Watchlist
2025-05-29 17:30 - 18:30 | Downtown Library, 300 S. Second St., Elkhart, IN, 46516, United States
Share the latest on your favorite TV shows and movies. Discuss fan theories and hidden gems. Plus, we’ll watch trailers for what’s coming up.

Curbside Concerts: High Gravity
2025-05-30 19:00 - 21:45 | Downtown Library, 300 S. Second St., Elkhart, IN, 46516, United States
The house band is back. We love ’em, couldn’t have got here without ’em. High Gravity is one you make sure you circle on the calendar each year.
Curbside Concerts are free and outdoors. Bands play on the rooftop stage, people watch from the parking lots below. Come hungry for the food, come thirsty for the beverages. Come smiling and we’ll protect that ready-for-the-weekend mood. More details here.

Loupa’s Chicken and Tropicana Ice Cream will have the food for this night.

Curious Creatures
2025-05-31 11:00 - 13:00 | Cleveland Branch, 53715 C.R. 1, Elkhart, IN, 46514, United States
The Potawatomi Zoo is bringing animals for you to meet and learn about. Plus, a display of biofacts, like fur, bones and more, to see up close.

Fun in the Sun
2025-06-02 15:30 - 17:00, 2025-06-09 15:30 - 17:00, 2025-06-16 15:30 - 17:00 | IN
Join us at each EPL branch for games, activities, snacks, the free Book Bus and more. These are rain or shine events.
June 2 – Osolo
June 9 – Pierre Moran
June 16 – Cleveland
June 23 – Dunlap

Roz Puppets presents "Percy the Purple Cow"
2025-06-05 16:00 - 17:00 | Pierre Moran Branch, 2400 Benham Ave, Elkhart, IN, 46517, United States
Meet Percy, a cow that’s turned purple form her love of eating grapes during this charming and funny puppet show for the whole family.

Curbside Concerts: Lalo Cura
2025-06-06 19:00 - 21:45 | Downtown Library, 300 S. Second St., Elkhart, IN, 46516, United States
Lalo Cura delivers every time they take the stage. They’re back to rock the roof again at Curbside Concerts.

Shows are free and outdoors. Bands play on the rooftop stage, people watch from the parking lots below. Come hungry for the food, come thirsty for the beverages. Come smiling and we’ll protect that ready-for-the-weekend mood.

That Guys Gourmet Ribs will be cooking, and Tropicana will have your sweet treats. More details here.

Messy Play Day
2025-06-10 10:00 - 11:00 | Downtown Library, 300 S. Second St., Elkhart, IN, 46516, United States
Little ones learn a lot through messy sensory play. Let them make a mess here and we’ll handle the cleanup.

Quilts and the Importance of Storytelling
2025-06-11 16:00 - 17:00 | Downtown Library, 300 S. Second St., Elkhart, IN, 46516, United States
Learn the history of quilting and how it relates to storytelling, specifically in the Black community, from Dr. Tony Jean Dickerson. Dr. Dickerson is the Dean of Education at Martin University in Indianapolis and the founder of Akoma Nitoso Modern Quilt of Central Indiana. See beautiful quilts up close and hear the stories behind the patterns and fabrics.

Taller de Ojos de Dios
2025-06-12 17:30 - 18:30 | Downtown Library, 300 S. Second St., Elkhart, IN, 46516, United States
Conozca la historia y la artesanía de los Ojos de Dios, un arte tradiocional mexicano. Crea el tuyo propio mientras exploras su significado cultural. Todos los materiales están includos.
Ojos de Dios is a traditional Mexican art. Learn its history and cultural significance and create your own using our materials.

Juneteenth Celebration featuring Darryl Buchanan
2025-06-19 17:00 - 20:00 | Downtown Library, 300 S. Second St., Elkhart, IN, 46516, United States
Celebrate Juneteenth, a historic day that marks the emancipation of the last enslaved African Americans in the United States.
This family-friendly event presented by Indiana Black Expo – Elkhart Chapter will feature local nonprofit organizations, vendors, food trucks, and a free concert showcasing Darryl Buchanan.

Juneteenth (short for “June Nineteenth”) commemorates June 19, 1865, when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas—two and a half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation—to ensure that all enslaved people were freed. It is the longest-running African American holiday and became a federal holiday in 2021.

This event will also serve as the kickoff to the 2025 Elkhart Jazz Festival.
