Manitowoc, WI, November 14, 2025—Manitowoc Public Library’s December 2025 Adult Events are scheduled on the following dates and times.
 
Best Gift Ever Book Drive @ Manitowoc Public Library                 Through Friday, December 5
Help build a lifetime of reading enjoyment by giving the gift of reading! Manitowoc Public Library is running our "Best Gift Ever" campaign to collect new children's books for local families in need. From November 3 through December 5, you can donate new, unwrapped books by placing them in the donation box near the First Floor Service Desk. All book donations will be given to three local nonprofits for distribution over the holiday season:

• Incourage
• Lakeshore Foster Family and Friends
• Salvation Army of Manitowoc County

All types of books are welcome—picture books, board books, chapter books, young adult books, anything you feel a child or teenager would enjoy reading! You can also make a monetary donation that will go towards purchasing new children's books to be donated. For checks please make it to the "Friends of the Manitowoc Public Library," with "Best Gift Ever" in the notes line. Make sure monetary donations are submitted by November 24, so we can have the books ready for delivery in December.
Owning something as simple as a book can have a tremendous impact on a child’s self-esteem and help boost their spirits. We ask that you work with us to provide new children’s books to these needy kids. The benefits will last a lifetime.
 
Enchanted Evergleams at MPL                                             Through Sunday, January 4, 2026
'Tis the Season for the “Gleam Team”—Manitowoc Aluminum Kitsch-Mas Inc., or MAKI, for short—to present "Evergleams on Eighth" in Downtown Manitowoc! Over 100 glittering aluminum Evergleam trees in over forty different styles, sizes, and colors will be featured in participating downtown businesses, with an impressive number showcased in the Enchanted Evergleam Forest at Manitowoc Public Library! Give into the sparkle of the rare trees on display! Returning this year—an incredible custom-made 14-foot Evergleam marvel that has been donated to Manitowoc Aluminum Kitsch-Mas Inc. by a very generous pair of sisters from Kansas!
 
DWD Employment Assistance & Career Counseling             Tuesdays in December, 9 AM-4 PM
The Department of Workforce Development staff is providing onsite services in MPL’s Franklin Street Room for both Employment Assistance and Career Counseling. Here are some of the specifics:

• Drop-In Employment Assistance: Department of Workforce Development staff will provide onsite services, including resume writing, assistance with online applications, assistance registering in Job Center of Wisconsin, and more! No appointment needed.
• Career Counseling: Dealing with a Job Loss or considering a Career Change? Career and Employment Counseling may help! Our licensed career counselor can assist with providing support and encouragement, assisting with the exploration of career and self-assessments, assisting with reviewing labor market information, removing and overcoming obstacles, and creating an individualized employment plan to help you turn your career vision into a reality. Our Career Counselor can also provide you with the tools, feedback and resources you need to be successful in your job search. For in-person career counseling, contact Ellen Hope at 920-930-6553 or ellen.hope@dwd.wisconsin.gov to make an appointment.

 
To see all the hours and date specifics, head to www.manitowoclibrary.org/events/month/2025/12?keywords=DWD.
 
Genealogy Help with the Genealogical Society                           Tuesdays in December, 3-5 PM
Members of the Manitowoc County Genealogical Society can be found in MPL’s Manitowoc Collection every Tuesday from 3-5 PM to help people with their genealogy research.
 
Drop-In Chess Club @ MPL                                                  Wednesday, December 3, 6-7:30 PM
Want to improve your memory and concentration or practice logical thinking skills? Make a smart move and join us for Drop-In Chess Club at Manitowoc Public Library’s Second Floor Balkansky Community Room from 6-7:30 PM on Wednesday, December 3! The game of chess offers many brainy benefits—and it's just fun! Those of all abilities and ages (6-years plus, please) are welcome, but staff will not offer formal instruction. Chessboards are provided and library materials are available for further learning. No registration is required, but please remember that children under the age of 8 (even prodigies!) must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times.
 
Sparkle! The History of Aluminum Trees                               Thursday, December 4, 6-7:45 PM
Aluminum Specialty’s dazzling Evergleam Aluminum Trees are still adding sparkle to the Holidays! Join your guides--aluminum tree enthusiast and aficionado of all things wonderfully wacky and tacky, Barb Bundy-Jost, and fellow Manitowoc Aluminum Kitsch-Mas Inc. devotee and Collector Extraordinaire, Jordan Kabat—at 6 PM on Thursday, December 4, as they take you on an in-person stroll through the Enchanted Evergleam Forest at MPL. You'll learn the story behind this Manitowoc company’s Atomic Age innovation and design. Insights, rarities, and interesting trivia on the glitzy wonder will be shared at every turn! Your tour through the holiday razzle-dazzle will convene at the Library’s Main Service Desk and proceed from there Please be aware that while there will be some seating, standing room will be more available. So, if you would prefer to be seated, show up early to secure a chair. Above all, prepare to SPARKLE and be amazed!
 
Holiday Movie Fest @ Manitowoc Public Library                                    Various Dates & Times
Get cozy at Manitowoc Public Library during the Holidays! Join us for our Holiday Movie Fest, featuring family favorites and festive classics on the Balkansky Community Room’s big screen.
 
Schedule:

• December   4, 6-8 PM: “Babes in Toyland (1960s Version), Rated G
• December 13, 11 AM-1 PM: “Scrooge,” Rated G
• December 14, 1-3 PM: “Prancer,” Rated G
• December 18, 6-8 PM: “Miracle on 34th Street” (1990s Version), Rated PG
• December 22, 11 AM-1 PM: “Unaccompanied Minors,” Rated PG
• December 29, 11 AM-1 PM: “Krampus.” Rated PG-13

 

Glowforge Badging Session                                                        Friday, December 5, 2-3:30 PM
Join us in the Idea Box makerspace for a demonstration of our Glowforge on December 5. The Glowforge uses a laser to engrave designs into different material types like acrylic and wood. Library Staff will show you how to use our Glowforge and upon completion of the training, you'll be "Badged" so you can use the Glowforge at your leisure. Space is limited and registration is required. Registration opens on Friday, December 21, at 9 AM. Head to www.manitowoclibrary.org/event/glowforge-badging-session-24183 at that time to secure your spot! You must be 18-years old or older to participate in this program.
 
Mini Job Fair                                                                                 Tuesday, December 9, 1-3 PM
Manitowoc Public Library and Wisconsin Job Service would like to invite job seekers to a multi-employer hiring event taking place in MPL's Balkansky Community Room!
 
Space to Write                                                            Tuesdays, December 9 & 23, 5:30-7:30 PM
Do you have a novel or short story you want to write? How about a screenplay or a memoir? Poetry? Graphic novels? Then you need—Space to Write! Every second and fourth Tuesday evening from 5:30-7:30 PM, the Franklin Street Room will be open to writers of all descriptions, from professional to novice. Come find your people in a community of fellow adventurers. Sit in the Chair of Inspiration! Take a risk in the Forest of Dares! Browse for new directions in the Prompt Marketplace! Seek wisdom from occasional wandering speakers and guest presenters! Above all, get comfortable with your creativity. This is your Space to Write.
 
Stocking Stuffer Book Sale at Manitowoc Public Library                       Various Dates & Times
It’s never too early to get started on last-minute holiday gift shopping! Join us for the Stocking Stuffer Book Sale at Manitowoc Public Library, being held Wednesday, December 10, through Sunday, December 14, in the First Floor Teen Space, where we’ll be offering New-To-You materials at absolutely amazing prices. Shop a curated selection of themed book bundles, DVDs, and CDs. Browse items priced from $1 to $5 to find your perfect holiday gifts!
 
The Daily Hours of Operation for the Stocking Stuffer Book Sake are as follows:

• Wednesday, December 10: 10 AM-7:30 PM
• Thursday, December 11: 9 AM-7:30 PM
• Friday, December 12: 9 AM-5:30 PM
• Saturday, December 13: 9 AM-2:30 PM
• Sunday, December 14: 12 PM-3:30 PM

 
Festively Sweet: Holiday Cookie Decorating with Fern & Flour
Thursday, December 11, 6-7:30 PM
Fern & Flour Bakery is a local gourmet bakery that offers expertly handcrafted desserts suited for any celebration. During this cookie decorating class taking place in Manitowoc Public Library's Idea Box Makerspace on Thursday, December 11, from 6-7:30 PM, Fern & Flour's owner, Stephanie Fulton, will guide participants through different piping techniques using Royal Icing to create 6 different delectable designs. Please bring a container with you to "Festively Delicious" for the safe transport of your cookies on their journey from MPL to your home. Registration is required and space is limited! Registration opens at 9 AM on Friday, November 28. Head to www.manitowoclibrary.org/event/festively-sweet starting at 9 AM on Black Friday to secure your spot! Please Note: You must be 18-years old or older to participate in this program.

 

Tales from the Taproom 5: A Storyslam for Adults (21+) at PetSkull Brewing Company Thursday, December 11, 6-8 PM
It’s time for the final "Tales from the Taproom" of 2025! No props, no notes. Just five minutes and a true, personal, favorite story. It’s your last opportunity of the year to step-up to the microphone in Manitowoc’s premiere True Story Zone! The theme for this year-end finale at PetSkull, sponsored by Seehafer News, from 6-8 PM on Thursday, December 11, is "Whoopsies!!!" Because sometimes even the best laid plans don't exactly go according to, well, the plan. The only required element of whatever story you tell is that it has to be about a time where something didn’t quite work out the way you thought it would! Since 'Tis the Season, your story might be about a holiday gone wrong—Hannukah, Christmas, perhaps Groundhog Day. But, it certainly doesn't have to. You could even tell the tale of a misadventure that turned out to be better than the original plan! And as this is an Adults-Only event, nothing is off limits—if you're willing to tell it, it's a story worth hearing. You don’t have to come to “The Taproom” to tell a story—you can come to just listen, enjoy, and bask in the wonder of communal storytelling. However, should you want to step up to the mic to share a story that fits in with the evening’s theme, sign-up begins at 5:30 PM and we’ll fit in as many stories of life gloriously falling apart as possible during the allotted time. We can't wait to hear all about your whoopsie at the December installment of "Tales from the Taproom!"
 

Make It at MPL!—Glowforge Shaker Ornaments                   Monday, December 15, 5:30-7 PM

Join us in the Idea Box as we make winter-inspired shaker ornaments on the Glowforge! The Glowforge uses a laser to engrave designs into different material types like acrylic and wood. No prior experience on the Glowforge is required. Space is limited and registration is required. Registration opens December 1, at 9AM. Head to www.manitowoclibrary.org/event/shaker-ornaments-2025 at that time to secure your spot! You must be 18 or older to participate in this program.
 
Virtual Sparkle! The History of Aluminum Trees                      Thursday, December 18, 5-7 PM
Aluminum Specialty’s dazzling Evergleam Aluminum Trees are still adding sparkle to the Holidays! Join your guides--aluminum tree enthusiast and champion of all things wonderfully wacky and tacky, Barb Bundy-Jost, and fellow Manitowoc Aluminum Kitsch-Mas Inc. devotee and Collector Extraordinaire, Jordan Kabat—at 5PM on Thursday, December 18, as they take you on a virtual stroll through the Enchanted Evergleam Forest at MPL. You'll learn the story behind this Manitowoc company’s Atomic Age innovation and design. Insights, rarities, and interesting trivia on the glitzy wonder at every turn! As an added bonus, Evergleam aficionados from around the country will join Barb and Jordan virtually to share their sparkling treasures! A dazzling treat, to be sure! This Virtual Tour through the holiday razzle-dazzle will be livestreamed on Manitowoc Public Library’s Facebook page: www.facebook.com/manitowoclibrary. Prepare to SPARKLE and be amazed!
 
Flute-Cake!: A Melodious Celebration of the Holiday Season Performed by Flute Cocktail
Saturday, December 20, 10:30-11:30 AM
You can expect to find some wonderful live music from Manitowoc's premiere flute choir—performing near the Enchanted Evergleam Forest on the Library’s First Floor—to add even a bit more twinkle to the shimmer of the Evergleams this fine Saturday morn!
 
Manitowoc Public Library Closed for Christmas and New Year’s Holidays
Wednesday, December 24, Thursday, December 25, Wednesday, December 31, 2025, and Thursday, January 1, 2026
MPL will be closed December 24 & 25 for the Christmas Holiday. Regular hours will resume Friday, December 26, at 9 AM. MPL will also close on December 31, 2025 & January 1, 2026 for the New Year’s Holiday. Regular hours will resume in 2026 on Friday, January 2, at 9 AM.