Pride Month Programs, 2026

Join us for these events to celebrate Pride Month.

 

Thursday, June 4, 2026, 4pm-7pm, in-person: Annual Pride Block Party.

Join us across the street on the lawn of the West Avon Congregational Church from 4:00-7:00 to celebrate pride month!  Visit booths from local organizations, make pride crafts, collect free books, stickers, and swag, and enjoy lawn games.

 

Tuesday, June 9 at 7:00 pm, via Zoom: Rainbow Wisdom: 18 LGBTQ+ Life Lessons for Everyone/Virtual Event with Mischa Oak

Join us for a moderated conversation with Mischa Oak, to celebrate the release of Rainbow Wisdom: 18 LGBTQ+ Life Lessons for Everyone. These are joyful life lessons from the LGBTQ+ community to help you move through the world with more harmony, authenticity, and possibility.  Register here

 

Wednesday, June 10 at 3:00 pm, for TEENS, in person: LGBTQ+ Resistance. Protest Pin/Button Making

A large part of resistance movements, pins and buttons provided an outward show of protest against oppression, and an outlet for creatively depicting one’s resistance. Whether it was obvious or coded, these pins were a way to communicate. This program will provide the opportunity to join this history of resistance for teens.  For Grades 7-12.

 

 

Wednesday, June 10 from 6:00-7:00 pm, for TEENS, in-person: LGBTQ+Teen Talks Club. Details here

 

 

 

Thursday, June 11 at 6:30 pm, in person, From Struggles to Strength: Addressing Today’s Challenges and Fostering Hope in the Trans Community.

Join us for an in-person program to educate and bring awareness regarding the transgender/gender-expansive population. Jillian will explore topics and issues based on her education, experience in the field, and lived personal experience. The audience will become familiar with what affirming care looks like and the truths and misconceptions of gender affirming care to develop an understanding of the transgender community. Register here

 

Thursday, June 18 at 7:00 pm, in person, for ages 12+,  A Reading of Ryan La Sala, an In Person Author Event. Author interview and book signing of famed YA author Ryan La Sala! Details here

America’s 250th

The Avon Library is working in conjunction with Avon’s 250th Coordinating Committee to plan events and programs to celebrate this anniversary.

(Avon resident Shane Leighton created Avon’s 250th logo)  For a complete list of town-wide events, click here

 

For a reading list, click this link: America’s 250th AFPL Reading Guide

Completed 2025/2026 events:

From Trenton to Yorktown: Virtual Author Event with John R. Maass; virtual event was held on 2/19/25

Shots Heard Around the World: Virtual Author Event with John Ferling; virtual event was held on 4/9/25.

Angelica: Author Event with Molly Beer (in-person); held on 7/14/25

The American Revolution is Coming! Three part history lecture series with Dr. Matthew Warshauer, CCSU. These lectures included: The British Invasion!! // Reading the Connecticut Courant: A Window into Revolution //The Declaration of Independence: A Minute Reading into Meaning, Memory, and Fantastical Misunderstanding! These programs were held on Thursday evenings in July.

The American Revolution: Artifacts & Stories from Across Connecticut, was on display in the Art Gallery from 7/1/2025-7/31/2025.

War at Home: The Battle of Ridgefield (In-Person Event). History lecture by educators from Keeler Tavern Museum & History Center was held on 8/12/2025.

“Forming a New Government in the Midst of War: The Articles of Confederation” was held on 9/23/25

“The Critical Period: From Articles to Constitution” was held on 10/1/25.

“The New Nation: Washington Takes the Reigns…and Gets a Headache!” was held on 10/6/25.

Tuesday, October 7 at 7:00 pm. War Without Mercy: Author Event with Mark Edward Lender. (Virtual) was held on 10/7/25.

History display case exhibit at the library, We Are The Sons of Freedom, was presented from March–November 2025.

Ken Burns: The American Revolution Discussion Group met twice in November, 2025

At the Canton Library: To Form a More Perfect Union: American Law was Created in Canton, CT was held on 11/20/25 .  Learn about this series here

The Boston Tea Party (virtual event) was held on 12/9/25.

Founding Mothers: Women of the American Revolution (In-person) was held on 12/10/25.

Revolutionary War Roundtable was held on Thursday, January 8, 2026.

Being Thomas Jefferson: Virtual Author Event with Andrew Burstein. (virtual) was held on 1/15/2026.

Environmental History: From Theodore Roosevelt to Modern Environmental Law with Professor Joseph MacDougald (in-person, offsite) was held on 1/29/26 at the Simsbury Library.

 Reed Hearts Workshops (in-person) were held on 2/4/26.

Kid Readers Unite Book Discussion of Billions To Burn by Taylor Banks (for children in grades 4-6) was held on 2/12/26.

Civil Rights and Housing with Nadiyah Humber (in-person) was held on 2/12/26.

Fun With Fashion: A Paper Doll Workshop (in-person, for children) was held on 2/28/26.

Ultima Ratio Regum:” Henry Knox and the Noble Train (in-person) was held on 3/10/26.

Historical Pottery Demonstration with Steinhagen Pottery (in-person) was held on 3/10/26.

The Three Sisters Garden (in-person). was held on 3/19/26. 

Elizabeth ‘MumBet’ Freeman: One Minute a Free Woman (in-person, dramatic event) was held on 3/21/26

“Pot Herbs, Sallads and Roots”: Kitchen Gardens in Early America (in-person) was held on 3/24/26.

Avon Then & Now: Art Contest. The contest begins on January 21, 2026, and all art must be submitted by March 30, 2026. Submissions will be displayed at the Avon Library in May 2026. Avon Then & Now is a community art challenge and part of Avon’s America 250 celebration of the semi-quincentennial anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.  Residents are tasked with creating their own original art piece based on a topic from the Farmington Valley’s rich history. There are five categories of submission, with prizes! Students in grades K-4, 5-6, 7-8, 9-12, and adults are all encouraged to enter. Learn more here

The History of Chocolate: 18th c. Chocolate-making Demonstration (in-person) was held on 3/30/26

 Teen event America 250th Teen: Black Resistance, was held on 4-9-26

 Founding Mothers Storyteller was held on 4/25/26.

“Remember Liss: A New American Founding Figure” was held on 4/25/26.