Beat the Heat: Your Guide to Summer Activities at the Millburn Public Library

Connor Qiao July 13, 2026

The Millburn Public Library remains as a place for people of all ages to get their work done, spend time with friends, or simply act as an area for relaxation. Even with the school year over, the library ensures that it still continues to have fun activities for everyone to enjoy.

So far, the library has done a lot to accommodate summer pastimes. In honor of June as Pride month, the staff made a pride celebration event with music and food. Furthermore, there was a Foam Party event to kickoff the Summer Reading Challenge and a day before that, a concert featuring songs from the Beatles and Judy Garland. 

Adults have a diverse range of activities that they could participate in. On July 20th, 2026, adults are welcome to learn from Chef Erin, who will help them make exquisite dishes. For those that enjoy literature, on July 22nd, Laura Sims, a Millburn librarian, will discuss her recently published book, The Man, a psychological suspense novel that a New York Times bestselling author, Ana Reyes, describes as “The perfect book club read.” In addition, on August 25th, Anne Fernald, a South Orange resident, will talk about Her Own Voice: Eight Women Who Rewrote Life and Art, a book on eight women who responded to oppression and helped form the women’s modernist movement in the twentieth century.

However, online options are also available. Virtual book chats begin every other Monday in order for readers to converse on books of various genres, and if people prefer shorter stories, then on July 16th and August 13th, from 2-3pm, adults can join the Short Stories Club too. Any adults that enjoy writing can join the Writer’s Salon on July 15th and August 19th online. With the highly-anticipated The Odyssey coming to theaters on July 17th, the library has set up a culture talk on July 16th with Alexander Clemente to analyze The Odyssey from a historical perspective, emphasizing the poem’s relationship to the Mycenaean bronze-walled palaces. The library is also offering a culture talk on the Mayan world with Chris McCormack. 

There are multiple opportunities for teens to get involved in summer activities in the library as well! For those who are interested in cooking, try a hand at making smoothies and banana bread muffins. Teenagers can also try to craft kumihimo, a Japanese art of braiding cords that dates back to the 6th-8th century CE during the Jomon period, as well as polymer beads! Dungeons & Dragons, a tabletop roleplaying game, can also be played in the Teen Space every Tuesday until August 25th. 

Children can also participate in numerous games and activities. For example, on August 20th, the sixth annual bubble blast competition will commence with children ages up to 12 competing to see who can blow the largest bubble! Those ages 7+ can learn chess on the 18th and 25th of July from Chess Master Scott Masey no matter if the child is a beginner or advanced. Each class costs twenty dollars and has varying durations based on what level the child is at.

People can also learn about languages in the library. On every second Thursday, from 11am-12pm, students of all ages can participate in English Language Learners Meetups, where a monthly topic is discussed, and registration is required. In addition, people can join the French Conversation Group every third Thursday from 12:30-1:30pm, which will spark dialogue between advanced and fluent speakers of the language. Registration is required. The library also offers free movies to watch on the big screen, such as JAWS and Five Nights at Freddy’s 2, as well as shows to watch every Thursday until July 30, such as the Oscar-nominated Killers of the Flower Moon.

The grandest activity that the Millburn Public Library offers is the annual Summer Reading Challenge. According to the official website, in 2025, 34,321 books were read cumulatively by all ages, but it is entirely possible that we can reach an even higher number! The challenge has already begun on June 15th and will stretch until August 7th. When books are logged using the Beanstack app (Beanstack: Reading Challenges and Personalized Recommendations), readers get raffle tickets for prizes. If you participate, you can win keychains, stuffed animals, and other books! The theme for this year’s challenge is Unearth a Story, which is a notable theme allowing book-lovers to discover the passions underneath the surface. 

For those who want to get a head start on standardized testing, the library will offer an in-person practice SAT on July 25th, from 10am-1pm in the auditorium. In addition, there is a virtual session on August 10th from 7-8 pm if a student wants help with their college application essays. Regardless of activity or age, the Millburn Public Library always has something to make the summer more fun!

For more information on dates and other fun activities, check out the official Summer Newsletter here: Summer Newsletter | PDF to Flipbook 

Voting for Second Annual Pet Photo Contest & Exhibition, winners posted on July 20th