Family events in Wilkes-Barre, PA

Every Friday, families can relax on the library lawn for a casual picnic. Bring your own lunch, and blankets will be provided. The gathering depends on the weather and is open to families with children of all ages. This takes place at the Lackawanna County Children’s Library.

Settle in at The Back Mountain Makery for an open studio painting session where creativity is easy and stress free. Simply walk in, choose a pre fired ceramic piece, take a seat, and paint at your own pace. Acrylic paints and a brush on top coat are provided, and friendly guidance is available for techniques like dry brushing and antiquing. Pricing is straightforward because each piece is marked, with options to fit a wide range of budgets. There are plenty of kid friendly selections starting at $5 for mini makers. Vintage ceramic Christmas trees are offered year round starting at $118 and include bulbs, a star, and light kits. All supplies are included, and there are no extra fees for paint, palettes, sitting, or kiln use. A kiln is not required. Stay as long as you like. If you do not finish, take your work home and bring it back during another open paint session with no additional charges. You can also purchase a ceramic to complete entirely at home. The selection is refreshed regularly with seasonal and holiday themed items. Reservations are encouraged to help ensure seating. Call 570-468-2719 or send a Facebook message with your name, number of attendees, and expected arrival time. Walk in seating and specific seating arrangements cannot be guaranteed. Snacks are welcome. College students receive a 10 percent discount with valid ID. The studio is a licensed BYOB establishment. For questions, call 570-468-2719 or message on Facebook. The aim is to bring friends, family, and the community together through making.

If your child missed a previous session, this combo class gathers favorite moments from across Music and Me and welcomes song and activity requests. Designed for children up to age 4, it offers singing, dancing, and hands-on instrument play in a caregiver and child friendly setting. Each class accommodates up to 15 children with their caregivers. Registration is processed in the order received, and tickets are nontransferable.

Enjoy a relaxed paint-your-own-pottery session where walk ins are welcome and reservations are encouraged. Choose a pre-made, already fired ceramic piece, let the team know what you selected, glaze your design, drop it at the front desk, and pick it up fully fired about two weeks later. If you are short on time or cannot return, you can take your project home to paint with a complimentary acrylic kit. Friendly guidance is available for all skill levels, including help with planning your design and techniques like double loading brushes and creating ombre effects. Stencils are on hand and their outlines disappear in the kiln, leaving only your artwork. Pricing is simple. Each item is individually labeled and the listed price includes glazing, firing, and add ons such as lights, stoppers, or corks. There are no extra charges for glaze, seating, palettes, or kiln use. The selection ranges from simple to ornate pieces, with options starting around $4 and many items commonly in the $15 to $25 range. The studio restocks often and makes many ceramics in house, including vintage pours from early 1900s molds, seasonal flats for decor or magnets with more than 50 themed sets, dishwasher and microwave safe tableware once fired, hand thrown and hand built pottery ready for your touch, and handmade ornaments available year round. Holiday and spooky designs are offered throughout the year. You may bring snacks and nonalcoholic drinks. Your time in the studio is only limited by open hours. Reservations made at least 12 hours in advance are recommended and can be arranged by sending a Facebook message or emailing relax@peacefulpotter.com. The studio also hosts parties, organizes off site events, offers wholesale for organizations, and provides clay classes.

Spend creative time at The Back Mountain Makery during an Open Paint session, where the process is simple and relaxed. Choose a pre-fired ceramic, settle in, and paint with acrylics at your own pace, then seal it with a brush-on topcoat. Friendly staff can share tips and techniques such as dry brushing and antiquing, making it comfortable for beginners and seasoned makers alike. Pricing is based on the marked cost of each piece, with options for every budget, including children’s items starting at $5 and vintage Christmas trees available year-round from $118, complete with bulbs, a star, and a light kit. All supplies are included, and there are no extra charges for a kiln, paint, palettes, or seating. Stay as long as you like. If you do not finish, take your piece home and bring it back during another Open Paint at no additional cost, or purchase a ceramic to complete entirely at home. Seating for walk-ins is not guaranteed, so reservations are recommended by calling 570-468-2719 or sending a Facebook message with your name, date, number of attendees, and arrival time. Snacks are welcome, and college students receive a 10% discount with valid ID. The studio restocks frequently for seasons and holidays, welcomes all ages and abilities, and is licensed for BYOB. For questions, call 570-468-2719 or message on Facebook. Please do not block the alley near the side entrance or any doors, and avoid parking in front of Gina Storrs Lmt, as vehicles in those spots will be asked to move. The aim is to spark creativity while bringing friends, families, and the community together.

Cuts for Kittens is a fundraiser at Loyalty Barber Shop and Shave Parlor of Scranton celebrating the one year anniversary of The Barbuti Kitten Academy & Charm School. Haircuts and beard trims are offered by appointment, and 100 percent of proceeds from barber services benefit the academy’s work providing food, medical care, and second chances for vulnerable kittens. Guests can meet rescue kittens, browse special event merchandise, and enter raffles. Appointments are required and availability is limited. Loyalty Barber Shop Scranton is donating time and talent to support this milestone for the rescue.

Paint your own pottery during an open glazing session at Peaceful Potter. Choose a piece that has already been crafted and fired to bisque, let the team know what you picked, add your glaze design, then leave it at the front desk to be fired again. Finished pieces are typically ready for pickup in about two weeks. Guidance is available for all experience levels, including help with double loading brushes, creating ombre effects, planning a design, and using stencils that burn away in the kiln so only your artwork remains. Each item has a marked price that includes glazing, firing, and common add ons like lights, stoppers, or corks. The assortment ranges from simple to intricate pieces starting around $4, with many options commonly in the $15 to $25 range. There are no additional charges for glaze, seating, palettes, or kiln use. If you are short on time or cannot return, you can take your project home to paint with an acrylic kit provided at no extra cost. Time in the studio is limited only by open hours. Snacks and nonalcoholic drinks are welcome, but alcohol is not permitted. The selection is restocked often, with holiday and spooky themes available year round and many pieces made on site. Highlights include Vintage Pours cast from early 1900s molds, Seasonal Flats for decor, magnets, or photo frames with over 50 sets spanning themes from Christmas to dinosaur bones, functional tableware that becomes dishwasher and microwave safe after glazing and firing, hand thrown and hand built pottery by the studio’s artists, and handmade ornaments offered throughout the year. Walk ins are accommodated, and reserving a spot at least 12 hours in advance is recommended by sending a message on Facebook or by email. Parties, off site events, and wholesale options for organizations are also available.

Swoyersville Summer Wheels Car Show brings car lovers together at Roosevelt Field, Home of Swoyersville Legion Baseball. No preregistration is required. Registration is donation based, and all proceeds support the Swoyersville Parks and Recreation Center to help fund upgrades to park and playground equipment for the local community. Awards will be presented, with winners selected through participant voting. Food will be available, with specific vendors and menus to be announced.

H2O Glow is a seasonal favorite, celebrating all things bright at Kingston Community Pool. Everyone who enters receives a glow bracelet while supplies last, and bringing your own glow items is encouraged to help light up the night. Members receive free admission, and guests are $8 per person. A waiver is required for anyone entering the Kingston Community Pool, so please bring a valid driver’s license or state ID to complete it.

Beat the summer heat with water play at the Lackawanna County Children’s Library. The outdoor splash pad and water toys are available on Mondays and Saturdays, weather permitting, offering a fun way for kids to splash and play. Designed for families with children of all ages.

Getting ready for kindergarten can feel like a big transition for the whole family. This six-week series helps children build skills they will use in the classroom, including listening and sitting during circle time, engaging in creative play, and following everyday school routines. Sessions take place in a friendly, supportive environment, with each week built around a theme connected to Pennsylvania’s state learning standards and key readiness skills for starting kindergarten. Designed for children who will begin kindergarten in the fall of 2026.

F.M. Kirby Center hosts Space Jam, with free entry for kids 12 and younger.

Teens entering grades 6 through 12 in Fall 2026 can team up in small groups to tackle a dinosaur-themed murder mystery, piecing together clues to discover who killed the paleontologist. The first team to crack the case earns prizes. To participate, sign up by calling 570-474-9313 or by stopping by the library circulation desk.

Explore the Ice Age and the creatures that lived during it through a hands-on craft and a themed scavenger hunt. Registration is required; call 570-474-9313 to sign up.

Celebrate the end of summer with colorful tie-dye fun designed for children in grades 4 through 6. Hats and socks will be available to dye, with a limited number of T-shirts offered while supplies last, and participants may bring their own items to personalize. Activities are planned to take place outside if the weather allows. Presented by the Lackawanna County Children’s Library. Registration is requested.

Make a craft inspired by Harry Potter with instruction from Ms. Kelly. This creative, hands-on session requires advance registration. To reserve a spot, call 570-474-9313.

Build, create, and collaborate with LEGO bricks at the Lackawanna County Children’s Library. Kids can take on an open-ended design of their own or try a fun challenge provided at the event. Participants may work independently or team up with friends. All experience levels are welcome, from first-time builders to seasoned LEGO fans. Intended for ages 5 to 12.