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.
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Events for August
31
10:30 am - 11:30 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 September
1
Library Card Sign-Up Month
Missoula Public Library
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
3:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Teen Tuesdays
Art Box
3:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Read with Dogs!
Imaginarium
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Lolo Branch: Tech Desk
Lolo Community Library
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Introduction to Playwriting
Blackfoot Room
6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Dads and Dialogue
Families First Classroom
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Introduction to Podcasting
MCAT
Events for September
2
9:00 am - 8:00 pm
Spice It Up: Library Spice Club
Demonstration Kitchen
11:00 am - 2:00 pm
Preschool STEM Building
Families First Classroom
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Learn Computer Video Editing
MCAT
3:30 pm - 5:00 pm
Middle School Writers’ Group
Art Box
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Learn Computer Video Editing
MCAT
Events for September
3
10:30 am - 11:00 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 - 3:00 pm
Introduction to Podcasting
MCAT
2:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Game On! @ MPL
Imaginarium
3:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Teen Library Community
Art Box
3:30 pm - 5:00 pm
Missoula Scholastic Chess Club at MPL
Imaginarium
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Lolo Branch: LEGO Club
Lolo Community Library
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Exploring Music Making with Garageband Software
MCAT
Events for September
4
10:30 am - 11:00 am
Tiny Tales
Imaginarium
11:00 am - 12:00 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
3:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Young Adult Writers’ Group
Art Box
Events for September
5
11:00 am - 11:45 am
Young Kids Dance Party
MCAT
11:30 am
Story Time
Imaginarium
3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
D&D Guild for Teens
Virtual Event
3:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Saturday Tiny Tales
Imaginarium
Events for September
6
No Events
Events for September
7
No Events
Events for September
8
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 B
3:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Teen Tuesdays
Art Box
3:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Read with Dogs!
Imaginarium
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Lolo Branch: Tech Desk
Lolo Community Library
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Introduction to Playwriting
Blackfoot Room
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Introduction to Podcasting
MCAT
Events for September
9
11:00 am - 2:00 pm
Resource Access Day (RAD)
Level Four
11:00 am - 2:00 pm
Preschool STEM Building
Families First Classroom
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Stories and Games for Diverse Abilities
Art Box
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Swan Valley Book Chat
Swan Valley Branch
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Learn Computer Video Editing
MCAT
3:30 pm - 5:00 pm
Middle School Writers’ Group
Art Box
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 September
10
10:30 am - 11:00 am
Tiny Tales
Imaginarium
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
YMCA Yoga at the Library
Cooper Room A
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Introduction to Podcasting
MCAT
2:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Discovery Area Science Activity
spectrUM Discovery Area
2:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Game On! @ MPL
Imaginarium
3:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Teen Library Community
Art Box
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Exploring Music Making with Garageband Software
MCAT
5:30 pm - 6:30 pm
Poetry Reading: Words with Wings
Cooper Room
Events for September
11
10:30 am - 11:00 am
Tiny Tales
Imaginarium
12:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Watercolor Painting Collaborative @ MPL
Cooper Room
12:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Yarns @ MPL
Blackfoot Room
2:00 pm - 6:00 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 September
12
10:00 am - 10:45 am
MCAT Tour & Training
MCAT
11:00 am - 2:00 pm
Montana PBS Kids Presents: Sesame Street and the Great Elephant Adventure
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 - 6:00 pm
Discovery Area Science Activity
spectrUM Discovery Area
3:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Saturday Tiny Tales
Imaginarium
Events for September
14
10:30 am - 11:30 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
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Yarns @ Lolo
Lolo Community Library
Events for September
15
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 - 6:00 pm
Discovery Area Science Activity
spectrUM Discovery Area
3:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Teen Tuesdays
Art Box
3:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Read with Dogs!
Imaginarium
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Lolo Branch: Tech Desk
Lolo Community Library
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Introduction to Playwriting
Blackfoot Room
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Understanding the Role of Generative AI in Society
Cooper Room B
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Introduction to Podcasting
MCAT
Events for September
16
11:00 am - 2:00 pm
Preschool STEM Building
Families First Classroom
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Learn Computer Video Editing
MCAT
2:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Discovery Area Science Activity
spectrUM Discovery Area
3:30 pm - 5:00 pm
Middle School Writers’ Group
Art Box
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Kids Cooking Class
Demonstration Kitchen
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Learn Computer Video Editing
MCAT
6:30 pm
3rd Wednesday Book Group
Blackfoot Room
Events for September
17
10:30 am - 11:00 am
Tiny Tales
Imaginarium
12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
Death Cafe @ MPL
Clyde Coffee
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
YMCA Yoga at the Library
Cooper Room A
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Introduction to Podcasting
MCAT
2:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Discovery Area Science Activity
spectrUM Discovery Area
2:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Game On! @ MPL
Imaginarium
3:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Teen Library Community
Art Box
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Exploring Music Making with Garageband Software
MCAT
SponCon with Home ReSource
Level Four
5:45 pm
Frenchtown Book Club
Frenchtown Branch Library
Events for September
18
10:30 am - 11:00 am
Tiny Tales
Imaginarium
11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Swan Valley Branch Story Time
Swan Valley Branch
12:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Watercolor Painting Collaborative @ MPL
Cooper Room
12:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Yarns @ MPL
Blackfoot Room
2:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Discovery Area Science Activity
spectrUM Discovery Area
3:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Young Adult Writers’ Group
Art Box
Events for September
19
10:00 am - 10:45 am
MCAT Tour & Training
MCAT
11:00 am - 11:45 am
Young Kids Dance Party
MCAT
11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Symphony Kids
Imaginarium
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Stop Animation Workshop for Kids
MCAT
1:30 pm - 2:30 pm
Sensory Story Time
Imaginarium
2:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Discovery Area Science Activity
spectrUM Discovery Area
3:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Saturday Tiny Tales
Imaginarium
3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
D&D Guild for Teens
Virtual Event
Events for September
20
No Events
Events for September
21
10:30 am - 11:30 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 September
22
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 - 6:00 pm
Discovery Area Science Activity
spectrUM Discovery Area
3:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Teen Tuesdays
Art Box
3:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Read with Dogs!
Imaginarium
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Lolo Branch: Tech Desk
Lolo Community Library
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Introduction to Playwriting
Blackfoot Room
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
4HistoryBuffs
Cooper Room
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Introduction to Podcasting
MCAT
Events for September
23
11:00 am - 2:00 pm
Preschool STEM Building
Families First Classroom
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Stories and Games for Diverse Abilities
Art Box
2:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Discovery Area Science Activity
spectrUM Discovery Area
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Learn Computer Video Editing
MCAT
3:30 pm - 5:00 pm
Middle School Writers’ Group
Art Box
6:00 pm
Library Board of Trustees Meeting
Blackfoot Room
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Basal Hospitality Cooking Class
Demonstration Kitchen
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Learn Computer Video Editing
MCAT
Events for September
24
10:30 am - 11:00 am
Tiny Tales
Imaginarium
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
YMCA Yoga at the Library
Cooper Room A
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Introduction to Podcasting
MCAT
2:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Discovery Area Science Activity
spectrUM Discovery Area
2:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Game On! @ MPL
Imaginarium
3:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Teen Library Community
Art Box
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Exploring Music Making with Garageband Software
MCAT
4:30 pm - 6:00 pm
Beginner Bird Walk with the Feminist Bird Club
Level One
7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Lolo Branch: Book Club
Lolo Community Library
Events for September
25
10:30 am - 11:00 am
Tiny Tales
Imaginarium
12:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Watercolor Painting Collaborative @ MPL
Cooper Room
12:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Yarns @ MPL
Blackfoot Room
2:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Discovery Area Science Activity
spectrUM Discovery Area
3:30 pm - 5:00 pm
How to be a Musician – Learning about a Career in Music
Cooper Room B
3:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Young Adult Writers’ Group
Art Box
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Performance with Composer and Musician Philip Daniel
Cooper Room B
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
D&D Guild for Adults
Virtual Event
Events for September
26
10:00 am - 10:45 am
MCAT Tour & Training
MCAT
11:00 am - 11:45 am
Young Kids Dance Party
MCAT
11:30 am - 1:00 pm
Story Time with Robin Kolb, Author of Galloping Away
Imaginarium
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Stop Animation Workshop for Kids
MCAT
2:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Discovery Area Science Activity
spectrUM Discovery Area
3:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Saturday Tiny Tales
Imaginarium
Events for September
27
No Events
Events for September
28
10:30 am - 11:30 am
Art with a Purpose
Families First Classroom
3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
LEGO Club
Imaginarium
5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
College Application Workshop
Cooper Room A
6:00 pm - 7:45 pm
Learn Computer Animation with Blender
MCAT
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Yarns @ Lolo
Lolo Community Library
Events for September
29
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 - 6:00 pm
Discovery Area Science Activity
spectrUM Discovery Area
3:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Teen Tuesdays
Art Box
3:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Read with Dogs!
Imaginarium
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Lolo Branch: Tech Desk
Lolo Community Library
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Introduction to Podcasting
MCAT
Events for September
30
11:00 am - 2:00 pm
Preschool STEM Building
Families First Classroom
2:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Discovery Area Science Activity
spectrUM Discovery Area
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Learn Computer Video Editing
MCAT
3:30 pm - 5:00 pm
Middle School Writers’ Group
Art Box
5:45 pm - 7:45 pm
Learn the Basics of Audio Recording
MCAT
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Learn Computer Video Editing
MCAT
Events for October
1
4th Annual Family History Writing Contest
Missoula Public Library
Family History Month
Level Three
10:30 am - 11:00 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 - 3:00 pm
Introduction to Podcasting
MCAT
2:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Discovery Area Science Activity
spectrUM Discovery Area
3:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Teen Library Community
Art Box
3:30 pm - 5:00 pm
Missoula Scholastic Chess Club at MPL
Imaginarium
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Lolo Branch: LEGO Club
Lolo Community Library
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Exploring Music Making with Garageband Software
MCAT
Events for October
2
10:30 am - 11:00 am
Tiny Tales
Imaginarium
11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Swan Valley Branch Story Time
Swan Valley Branch
12:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Watercolor Painting Collaborative @ MPL
Cooper Room
12:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Yarns @ MPL
Blackfoot Room
2:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Discovery Area Science Activity
spectrUM Discovery Area
3:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Young Adult Writers’ Group
Art Box
Events for October
3
10:00 am - 10:45 am
MCAT Tour & Training
MCAT
11:00 am - 11:45 am
Young Kids Dance Party
MCAT
11:30 am
Story Time
Imaginarium
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Stop Animation Workshop for Kids
MCAT
2:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Discovery Area Science Activity
spectrUM Discovery Area
3:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Saturday Tiny Tales
Imaginarium
3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
D&D Guild for Teens
Virtual Event