Drive Thru & Treats: Trick-or-treating will be held at the Willmar Community Center on Oct. 28 from 3 to 5 p.m., with at least five candy canes available. All ages are welcome (including pets).
Trunk or Treat: Oct. 29, 4-5:30 p.m., Hope Presbyterian Church parking lot, Spicer. I decorated my trunk with candy and non-candy sweets. Free cookies and hot chocolate. We welcome donations of toilet and window cleaners to the Care Pantry.
Trick or Treat: On Oct. 31, kids can stop by the Willmar Public Library for a snack.
WILLMAR — The League of Women Voters of the Willmar Area will host “Community Hot Topics” at the Willmar Public Library on select Wednesdays from 12:15 to 1:15 p.m. Anyone can participate in conversations about issues affecting our community. Please bring your own lunch/snacks. Coffee and water provided. Upcoming sessions include:
- October 18th: Local leadership from Willmar City Administrator Leslie M. Valiant and Kandiyohi County Administrator Kelsey Baker.
- November 15th: He will talk about housing and challenges in Willmar and Kandiyohi counties with Kandiyohi County Commissioner Steve Gardner and Kandiyohi County and Willmar Economic Development Commission Executive Director Aaron A. Bachman.
WILLMAR — Willmar Community Center events are free unless otherwise noted. The phone number is 320-262-5288. For reservations, please call or go online at willmarparksandrec.recdesk.com.
Willmar Area Seniors Club: October 18th, 2pm, music by Terry Nelson.
Blood pressure check: October 18th, 3-4pm, free.
Sara’s Foot Care Clinic: October 19th from 10am to noon. Call 320-557-6142 to schedule foot care with a certified nurse.
Community Kitchen Kids: Oct. 19, 3:45 to 5 p.m., open to children ages 4-14. One class is $14 and a punch card for five classes is $60. Kids can make fun and easy dinners and snacks. Learn the basics of simple measurements and safe snacks to make on your own at home. Two different recipes are created for each session. Please register by the Tuesday before your session at willmarparksandrec.recdesk.com or call 320-262-5288. Additional dates are November 7th, November 16th, December 7th, and December 21st.
Friday Afternoon Dance: Oct. 20, 1-4 p.m., Jerry’s Band, dancers $7, listeners $2.
Jolly Twirler’s Square Dance: October 21st, 7-9pm Everyone is welcome to join us for this night of square dancing.
Community Book Club: October 23, 3:30pm Join our community book club for a fun discussion about a new book chosen each month.
Community Kitchen — Homemade noodles and chicken soup: Oct. 23, 3:30 p.m., $10. Make raw noodles to go with the soup base. Register by 4 p.m. Oct. 20 at willmarparksandrec.recdesk.com or call 320-262-5288.
Community Bingo: Oct. 24, 5-7 p.m., $3 per person.
Willmar Area Seniors Club: October 25th, 2pm, music by Mikko Cowdery.
Court hoist tournament: Oct. 26, 12:30 p.m., advance registration required, $2 admission.
Community Kids: Oct. 26, 3:45 to 5 p.m., ages 4 to 10, $10. Please apply by Tuesday the day before your session. After-school fun that focuses on a different theme each month, including crafts, games, cooking, science, and more. Register in advance online at willmarparksandrec.recdesk.com or call 320-262-5288. Additional dates are November 9th and November 30th.
Friday Afternoon Dance: Oct. 27, 1-4 p.m., Michael James, dancers $7, listeners $2.
Dog’s day out: Oct. 28, noon, $10. Have a fun Halloween afternoon with your pups. Crafts, costume contests, snacks, and more. Space is limited, so please apply in advance.
Drive Thru & Treats: Trick-or-treating will be held at the Willmar Community Center on Oct. 28 from 3 to 5 p.m., with at least five candy canes available. All ages are welcome (including pets).
Amateur pool league: Wednesdays, 4-8 p.m., through Nov. 22. Shoot in the pool, meet new people and improve your game. Register as an individual for $15 and pair up with a teammate or as a team for $30. Eight teams can participate and he is guaranteed one game per week. Please call to register.
Drum circle: Every Wednesday from 5pm to 6pm Learn fun rhythms and have fun making beats with other musicians. This free event is open to all ages and abilities.
Jitterbug Jams Swing Dance Night: Wednesdays, 7-8 p.m., through Nov. 15. He has no classes on October 11th and November 8th. He costs $20 per session for online registration and $80 for a punch card for 5 classes. Join in with a partner or find someone new to dance with as Madison Stovall teaches various swing her dance forms through the swing era. We welcome all talent and skill levels.
Weekly events: Chess Club, Yahtzee, Farkle, Hand & Foot Cards, Cribbage, Puzzle Exchange, Exercise Classes, Jolly Twirler Square Dance Lessons, Woodworking Shop Open (including select evenings and Saturdays). Contact the Community Center for more information and pricing.
WILLMAR — The Willmar Library is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The website is www.willmarpubliclibrary.org. Call us at 320-235-3162. Curbside pickup is available during regular business hours. Programs are available directly at the library. Advance registration is required for some events. WiFi is accessible 24/7 using your library card or Overdrive from the parking lot behind the library or from your car parked in front of the building.
Little People Storytime: Every Wednesday at 10am, for ages 0 to 3. No registration required.
Homeschool time: Oct. 18, 2:00 p.m. Homeschoolers ages 5 to 12 are invited to learn about German cuckoo clocks. Make your own cuckoo clock using materials you have at home.
Little Art Gallery Session: October 18th, 3pm, multipurpose room. Create a little art for small galleries around Willmar, hosted by the Willmar Community Center.
Teen movies: Oct. 18, 5:30 p.m., ages 12-18, no registration required, popcorn and snacks will be provided.
Adult book club: Oct. 19, noon, multipurpose room, discussion on “The Two Lives of Lydia Byrd.” New members are always welcome.
Movie matinee: October 20th, 2pm, multipurpose room.
Monster bash: October 21st at noon. Music, games, and snacks for all ages. Registration is not required.
junk journal art: October 24th, 1:30pm Make bubble paper with watercolors and assemble an envelope journal. Most supplies are provided, but please bring everything you need.
Pajama Llama Storytime: October 24th, 6:30pm Come in your pajamas, bring a blanket, and listen. After that, I went home and had milk and cookies before going to bed.
Mario Kart Tournament: October 25th, 5:30 p.m. From 12 to 18 years old. Put your kart racing skills to the test. Top players win gift cards. Light snacks and drinks will be provided. Registration is not required.
Memory cafe: Oct. 26, 2-4 p.m., Multipurpose Room. Caregiver Support Group by Lutheran Social Services.
Library ECFE: Oct. 27, 10 a.m. Sing songs, read books, and make crafts with Willmar’s early childhood and home education teachers.
Teen gaming club: October 27, 3:30pm Play games on Xbox One or play board games and card games from our collection. Food and drinks will be provided. Some games are suitable for ages 13 and up.
Trick or Treat: On October 31st, kids can stop by the library for a snack.
Teen take & make: Witch Doll will open on October 16th and Tassel Tree will open on November 6th. If you are between the ages of 12 and 18, there is a limit of one item per person due to limited supplies. Please register on the library website.
Adult take and make: Fall Puzzle Tree opened on October 2nd and Fabric Pumpkin opened on October 16th. For ages 18 and up, quantities are limited and limited to one per person. Please register on the library website.
Teen Lit Booty: When you sign up, you’ll receive a bag of library books based on your interests and accompanying goodies. Re-registration is required once a month. October’s theme is “Creepy & Cute.”
Brainfuse HelpNow: Free online tutoring service, 1-on-1 live homework support with online tutors from 2:00 PM to 11:00 PM daily for Kindergarten through 12th grade. English or Spanish. Math, Science, English/Language Arts, Social Studies, Reading Assistance. App available on mobile.