Missoula Writes: 18th Annual Writing Contest
Our 18th annual writing contest kicks off Friday, January 2, 2026. We welcome fiction, non-fiction, and poetry submissions from writers in the following age groups: 8-10, 11-14, 15-18, and 19+. Cash prizes will be awarded to the first-, second-, and third-place winners in each category and age group. Full contest rules and submission link are available on our website (coming soon).
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Events for December
1
Annual ToileTree Hygiene Kit Drive
Level One
Youth Winter Reading Challenge
Level Two
10:00 am - 11:00 am
Art with a Purpose
Families First Classroom
3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
LEGO Club
Imaginarium
6:00 pm - 7:45 pm
Learn Computer Animation with Blender
MCAT
Events for December
2
10:30 am - 11:30 am
Infant to 3-Year-Old Playgroup
Imaginarium
11:45 am - 12:15 pm
Tiny Tales at EmPower Place
EmPower Place
2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Discovery Area Science Activity
spectrUM Discovery Area
3:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Read with Dogs!
Imaginarium
3:30 pm - 6:00 pm
Research Studies & Science Activities for Kids
UM Living Lab
3:30 pm - 6:00 pm
Teen Tuesdays
Art Box
4:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Big Sky Branch 3D Printing Services
Big Sky Branch Library
6:00 pm - 6:45 pm
Introduction to Podcasting
MCAT
6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Dads and Dialogue
Families First Classroom
Events for December
3
9:00 am - 8:00 pm
Spice It Up: Library Spice Club
Demonstration Kitchen
11:00 am - 2:00 pm
Kids STEM Building
Families First Classroom
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Story Time for Diverse Abilities
Art Box
2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Discovery Area Science Activity
spectrUM Discovery Area
2:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Open Hours/Sewing Drop In
MakerSpace
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Learn Computer Video Editing
MCAT
2:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Linux User Group
Blackfoot Room
3:30 pm - 5:00 pm
Middle School Writers’ Group
Art Box
3:30 pm - 6:00 pm
Research Studies & Science Activities for Kids
UM Living Lab
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Seeley Lake Branch Library: Student Reading Group
Seeley Lake Branch Library
4:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Big Sky Writers’ Group
Big Sky Branch Library
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Learn Computer Video Editing
MCAT
Events for December
4
10:30 am
Tiny Tales
Imaginarium
11:00 am
Seeley Lake Book Club
Seeley Lake Branch Library
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
YMCA Yoga at the Library
Cooper Room A
2:00 pm - 2:45 pm
Introduction to Podcasting
MCAT
2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Discovery Area Science Activity
spectrUM Discovery Area
2:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Teen Library Community
Art Box
3:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Cooking for Kids!Class is canceled on 12/4
Demonstration Kitchen
3:30 pm - 6:00 pm
Research Studies & Science Activities for Kids
UM Living Lab
3:30 pm - 5:00 pm
Missoula Scholastic Chess Club at MPL
Imaginarium
4:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Big Sky Branch 3D Printing Services
Big Sky Branch Library
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Big Sky Branch Tech Time
Big Sky Branch Library
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Families First: Circle of Security
Virtual Event
Events for December
5
10:30 am
Tiny Tales
Imaginarium
11:00 am - 2:00 pm
Swan Valley Branch Story Time
Swan Valley Branch
12:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Yarns @ MPL
Blackfoot Room
12:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Watercolor Painting Collaborative @ MPL
Cooper Room
2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Discovery Area Science Activity
spectrUM Discovery Area
3:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Young Adult Writers’ Group
Art Box
3:30 pm - 6:00 pm
Research Studies & Science Activities for Kids
UM Living Lab
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
D&D Guild for Adults
Virtual Event
Events for December
6
10:00 am - 10:45 am
MCAT Tour & Training
MCAT
10:30 am
Story Time
Imaginarium
11:00 am - 11:45 am
Young Kids Dance Party
MCAT
11:00 am - 4:00 pm
VonCommon Studios: Art Blizzaard
Cooper Room
11:00 am - 3:00 pm
Winter Celebration
Missoula Public Library
12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
Apron Decorating at Bigfoot Cookies
Bigfoot Cookies
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Stop Animation Workshop for Kids
MCAT
2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Discovery Area Science Activity
spectrUM Discovery Area
3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Make a T-Shirt Quilt
MakerSpace
4:00 pm - 7:00 pm
The Bookmobile at Holiday on Higgins featuring Paxton!
Downtown Missoula
4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Learn 3 Camera Studio
MCAT
Events for December
7
No Events
Events for December
8
10:00 am - 11:00 am
Art with a Purpose
Families First Classroom
3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
LEGO Club
Imaginarium
6:00 pm - 7:45 pm
Learn Computer Animation with Blender
MCAT
6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Stargazing 101
Cooper Room B
Events for December
9
10:30 am - 11:30 am
Infant to 3-Year-Old Playgroup
Imaginarium
11:45 am - 12:15 pm
Tiny Tales at EmPower Place
EmPower Place
2:00 pm
Memory Café
Cooper Room
2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Discovery Area Science Activity
spectrUM Discovery Area
3:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Read with Dogs!
Imaginarium
3:30 pm - 6:00 pm
Research Studies & Science Activities for Kids
UM Living Lab
3:30 pm - 6:00 pm
Teen Tuesdays
Art Box
4:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Big Sky Branch 3D Printing Services
Big Sky Branch Library
6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
DIY Sustainable Gift Making: Crafting for Climate
MakerSpace
6:00 pm - 6:45 pm
Introduction to Podcasting
MCAT
6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Dads and Dialogue
Families First Classroom
Events for December
10
11:00 am - 2:00 pm
Resource Access Day (RAD)
Level Four
11:00 am - 2:00 pm
Kids STEM Building
Families First Classroom
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Swan Valley Book Chat
Swan Valley Branch
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Learn Computer Video Editing
MCAT
2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Discovery Area Science Activity
spectrUM Discovery Area
2:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Open Hours/Sewing Drop In
MakerSpace
3:30 pm - 5:00 pm
Middle School Writers’ Group
Art Box
3:30 pm - 6:00 pm
Research Studies & Science Activities for Kids
UM Living Lab
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Seeley Lake Branch Library: Student Reading Group
Seeley Lake Branch Library
4:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Big Sky Writers’ Group
Big Sky Branch Library
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Learn Computer Video Editing
MCAT
6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
2nd Wednesday Night Book Group
Blackfoot Room
6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Potomac Branch Library Book Club
Potomac Branch Library
Events for December
11
10:30 am
Tiny Tales
Imaginarium
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
YMCA Yoga at the Library
Cooper Room A
2:00 pm - 2:45 pm
Introduction to Podcasting
MCAT
2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Discovery Area Science Activity
spectrUM Discovery Area
2:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Game On! @ MPL
Imaginarium
2:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Teen Library Community
Art Box
3:30 pm - 6:00 pm
Research Studies & Science Activities for Kids
UM Living Lab
4:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Big Sky Branch 3D Printing Services
Big Sky Branch Library
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Big Sky Branch Tech Time
Big Sky Branch Library
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Families First: Circle of Security
Virtual Event
Events for December
12
10:30 am
Tiny Tales
Imaginarium
12:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Yarns @ MPL
Blackfoot Room
12:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Watercolor Painting Collaborative @ MPL
Cooper Room
2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Discovery Area Science Activity
spectrUM Discovery Area
3:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Young Adult Writers’ Group
Art Box
3:30 pm - 6:00 pm
Research Studies & Science Activities for Kids
UM Living Lab
Events for December
13
10:00 am - 10:45 am
MCAT Tour & Training
MCAT
10:30 am
Story Time
Imaginarium
11:00 am - 11:45 am
Young Kids Dance Party
MCAT
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Stop Animation Workshop for Kids
MCAT
2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Discovery Area Science Activity
spectrUM Discovery Area
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Cookie Decorating and Crafts
Art Box
3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
D&D Guild for Teens
Virtual Event
4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Learn 3 Camera Studio
MCAT
Events for December
15
10:00 am - 11:00 am
Art with a Purpose
Families First Classroom
3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
LEGO Club
Imaginarium
6:00 pm - 7:45 pm
Learn Computer Animation with Blender
MCAT
Events for December
16
10:30 am - 11:30 am
Infant to 3-Year-Old Playgroup
Imaginarium
11:00 am - 4:00 pm
American Red Cross Blood Drive at MPL
Cooper Room
11:45 am - 12:15 pm
Tiny Tales at EmPower Place
EmPower Place
2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Discovery Area Science Activity
spectrUM Discovery Area
3:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Read with Dogs!
Imaginarium
3:30 pm - 6:00 pm
Teen Tuesdays
Art Box
4:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Big Sky Branch 3D Printing Services
Big Sky Branch Library
6:00 pm - 6:45 pm
Introduction to Podcasting
MCAT
6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Dads and Dialogue
Families First Classroom
Events for December
17
11:00 am - 2:00 pm
Kids STEM Building
Families First Classroom
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Story Time for Diverse Abilities
Art Box
2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Discovery Area Science Activity
spectrUM Discovery Area
2:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Open Hours/Sewing Drop In
MakerSpace
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Learn Computer Video Editing
MCAT
2:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Windows User Group
Blackfoot Room
3:30 pm - 5:00 pm
Middle School Writers’ Group
Art Box
4:00 pm
Library Board of Trustees Meeting
Imaginarium
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Seeley Lake Branch Library: Student Reading Group
Seeley Lake Branch Library
4:30 pm - 6:30 pm
Spread Holiday Cheer! @ Potomac Branch
Potomac Branch Library
4:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Big Sky Writers’ Group
Big Sky Branch Library
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Learn Computer Video Editing
MCAT
6:30 pm
3rd Wednesday Book Group
Blackfoot Room
Events for December
18
10:30 am
Tiny Tales
Imaginarium
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
YMCA Yoga at the Library
Cooper Room A
12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
Death Cafe @ MPL
Blackfoot Room
2:00 pm - 2:45 pm
Introduction to Podcasting
MCAT
2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Discovery Area Science Activity
spectrUM Discovery Area
2:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Game On! @ MPL
Imaginarium
2:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Teen Library Community
Art Box
3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Teen Library Community Presents: Build Your Own Gingerbread House!
Art Box
4:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Big Sky Branch 3D Printing Services
Big Sky Branch Library
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Big Sky Branch Tech Time
Big Sky Branch Library
5:45 pm
Frenchtown Book Club
Frenchtown Branch Library
Events for December
19
10:30 am
Tiny Tales
Imaginarium
11:00 am - 2:00 pm
Swan Valley Branch Story Time
Swan Valley Branch
12:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Yarns @ MPL
Blackfoot Room
12:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Watercolor Painting Collaborative @ MPL
Cooper Room
2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Discovery Area Science Activity
spectrUM Discovery Area
3:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Young Adult Writers’ Group
Art Box
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
D&D Guild for Adults
Virtual Event
Events for December
20
10:00 am - 10:45 am
MCAT Tour & Training
MCAT
10:30 am - 11:30 am
Santa Story Time
Imaginarium
11:00 am - 11:45 am
Young Kids Dance Party
MCAT
11:30 am - 12:30 pm
Sensory Story Time
Imaginarium
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Stop Animation Workshop for Kids
MCAT
2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Discovery Area Science Activity
spectrUM Discovery Area
4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Learn 3 Camera Studio
MCAT
Events for December
21
No Events
Events for December
22
10:00 am - 11:00 am
Art with a Purpose
Families First Classroom
3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
LEGO Club
Imaginarium
6:00 pm - 7:45 pm
Learn Computer Animation with Blender
MCAT
Events for December
23
10:30 am - 11:30 am
Infant to 3-Year-Old Playgroup
Imaginarium
11:45 am - 12:15 pm
Tiny Tales at EmPower Place
EmPower Place
2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Discovery Area Science Activity
spectrUM Discovery Area
3:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Read with Dogs!
Imaginarium
4:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Big Sky Branch 3D Printing Services
Big Sky Branch Library
6:00 pm - 6:45 pm
Introduction to Podcasting
MCAT
Events for December
24
No Events
Events for December
25
No Events
Events for December
26
2025 Missoula Reads Completed Logs Due
Missoula Public Library
10:30 am
Tiny Tales
Imaginarium
12:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Yarns @ MPL
Blackfoot Room
12:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Watercolor Painting Collaborative @ MPL
Cooper Room
2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Discovery Area Science Activity
spectrUM Discovery Area
3:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Young Adult Writers’ Group
Art Box
Events for December
27
10:00 am - 10:45 am
MCAT Tour & Training
MCAT
10:30 am
Story Time
Imaginarium
11:00 am - 11:45 am
Young Kids Dance Party
MCAT
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Stop Animation Workshop for Kids
MCAT
2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Discovery Area Science Activity
spectrUM Discovery Area
3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
D&D Guild for Teens
Virtual Event
4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Learn 3 Camera Studio
MCAT
Events for December
28
No Events
Events for December
29
10:00 am - 11:00 am
Art with a Purpose
Families First Classroom
3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
LEGO Club
Imaginarium
6:00 pm - 7:45 pm
Learn Computer Animation with Blender
MCAT
Events for December
30
10:30 am - 11:30 am
Infant to 3-Year-Old Playgroup
Imaginarium
11:45 am - 12:15 pm
Tiny Tales at EmPower Place
EmPower Place
2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Discovery Area Science Activity
spectrUM Discovery Area
3:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Read with Dogs!
Imaginarium
3:30 pm - 6:00 pm
Teen Tuesdays
Art Box
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Bookmobile at AniMeals: Read with Cats!
AniMeals
4:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Big Sky Branch 3D Printing Services
Big Sky Branch Library
6:00 pm - 6:45 pm
Introduction to Podcasting
MCAT
Events for January
1
11:00 am
Seeley Lake Book Club
Seeley Lake Branch Library
3:30 pm - 5:00 pm
Missoula Scholastic Chess Club at MPL
Imaginarium
Events for January
2
2026 Missoula Reads 50-book Challenge
Missoula Public Library
Missoula Writes: 18th Annual Writing Contest
Missoula Public Library
10:30 am
Tiny Tales
Imaginarium
11:00 am - 2:00 pm
Swan Valley Branch Story Time
Swan Valley Branch
12:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Yarns @ MPL
Blackfoot Room
12:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Watercolor Painting Collaborative @ MPL
Cooper Room
2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Discovery Area Science Activity
spectrUM Discovery Area
3:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Young Adult Writers’ Group
Art Box
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
D&D Guild for Adults
Virtual Event
Events for January
3
10:00 am - 10:45 am
MCAT Tour & Training
MCAT
10:30 am
Story Time
Imaginarium
11:00 am - 11:45 am
Young Kids Dance Party
MCAT
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Stop Animation Workshop for Kids
MCAT
2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Discovery Area Science Activity
spectrUM Discovery Area
3:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Saturday Tiny Tales
Imaginarium
4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Learn 3 Camera Studio
MCAT