'Fall' into October with these library offerings

At Penn Hills Library, 1037 Stotler Road, autumn and spooky season is in full swing with a variety of activities for visitors of all ages.

Registration is required where noted, and seating is limited in some instances.

For details, check out the library’s website at pennhillslibrary.org.

CHILDREN

• Nature’s Tricks and Treats: 1 to 1:45 p.m. Oct. 5. For ages 6 to 11. Caterpillars that look like snakes? Snakes that look like each other? Plants that pretend to offer a sweet treat but secretly offer a chomp? The wild world is full of “tricks” as a part of survival. Join Dr. Maria Wheeler-Dubas as she shares some of the tricks nature uses to get treats year-round. Registration is required.

• Fall Family Storytime: 10:30 to 11 a.m. Oct. 7. For those from birth to age 5. Families, join us for fun stories, songs and books. Designed for 5 and younger, but all ages and siblings are welcome. This storytime focuses on creating a shared experience and bond around books. No registration is required.

• Creepy Crawly Bugs Show & Tell: 5:30 to 7 p.m. Oct. 7. For ages 6 to 11. Join bug enthusiast Mary Gall for a fun presentation of insect biology, creepy crawly traits and life cycles. The presentation will be from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., with an opportunity afterward for an up-close look at the critters and any questions. Registration is required.

• Not-so-spooky Dance Party: 11 to 11:30 a.m. Oct. 19. For those from birth to age 5. Families, wear your costumes out to the library for a fun dance party with instruments, props and music. Registration is required.

• Pumpkin Slime & Volcano Lab: 11 to 11:30 a.m. Oct. 19. For ages 6 to 11. Join us for messy explosions and STEAM-based labs using pumpkins. Registration is required.

• Toddler Fall Craft: 11 to 11:30 a.m. Oct. 25. For those from birth to age 5. Join us for a seasonal Fall craft in support of fine motor skills and early language development. This activity follows Toddler Storytime, which starts at 10:30 a.m. No registration is required.

• Spooky STEAM … Grab-and-Go Kit: 5 to 7 p.m. Oct. 31. For ages 6 to 11. Pick up a Spooky STEAM Kit to take with you or work on at the library. Register to save your spot for a kit while supplies last.

TEENS

Programs are for anyone in grades 6-12. No registration is required. Teens are encouraged to sign up for text reminders for all teen programs. To do so, text TEENSPH to 412-240-6540.

• Movie Bingo … “Beetlejuice”: 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Oct. 1. Popcorn will be served as teens get into the Halloween spirit while viewing this classic movie and playing bingo.

• Make Your Own Ghost Light: 3:30 to 5 p.m. Oct. 2. Participants will transform a light into a spooky ghost.

• Draw Bats and Pumpkins: 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Oct. 7. Learn to draw cute bats and pumpkins.

• Make Your Own Clay Ghost Keychain: 3:30 to 5 p.m. Oct. 9. Create a small keychain with air dry clay.

• Resin Pumpkin Cloches: 3:30 to 5 p.m. Oct. 15. Make a mini pumpkin decoration using resin.

• Make Your Own Spooky Book Nook: 3:30 to 5 p.m. Oct. 21. Decorate a small wooden box with a Halloween scene inside.

• Movie Bingo … “Hocus Pocus”: 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Oct. 22. Popcorn will be served as teens get into the Halloween spirt while viewing this classic movie and playing bingo.

• Decorate Sugar Skulls: 3:30 to 5 p.m. Oct. 23. Learn about Dia de los Muertos and decorate a sugar skull.

• Teen Halloween Party: 5 to 8 p.m. Oct. 25. Join us for games, candy and more. Costumes are encouraged.

• Teen Slime Lab: 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Oct. 29. Get your hands dirty and make slime.

• Halloween Trivia: 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Oct. 30. Win prizes and prove you’re the Halloween expert.

• Grab-and-Go Robot Kit and Candy: 3 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31. Pick up a kit at the front desk starting at 3 p.m. to build your own robot at home.

ADULTS

• Accessible Crafts: Tiny Pumpkin Painting: 1:30 to 2:15 p.m. Oct. 2. Participants in this craft for all abilities will paint small foam pumpkins. No registration is required.

• Tea and Talk: Why Is Death so Taboo?: 6 to 7 p.m. Oct. 2. Join death doula Carrie McCann for an evening of sipping tea ad learning some history and lore about how we got here. She will answer your questions about death, dying and grief. Registration is required.

• Better Read Than Dead Book Club: 6 to 7 p.m. Oct. 3. Members of this new club will read and discuss books from the mystery, thriller and horror genres. If you would like to participate, a limited number of copies of the book will be available at the front desk. No registration is required.

• Owls: 6 to 7 p.m. Oct. 7. Presented by Allegheny County Parks, this program will share the different adaptations that owls have evolved to help them survive at night. Registration is required.

• Whispering Souls Paranormal: Introduction to Ghost Hunting: 1 to 2:30 p.m. Oct. 12. This introductory course aims to provide a basic knowledge of the paranormal world. It will cover well-known paranormal worlds and types of hauntings, modern ghost hunting equipment and discussion of haunted locations the evidence found there. Registration is required.

• Mortuary Science: History and Practice: 6 to 7 p.m. Oct. 14. Learn about mortuary science and its history, what a mortuary scientist does and how to become one. Registration is required.

• Penn Forest Natural Burial Park (off-site): 1 to 2 p.m. Oct. 17. Get a tour of Penn Forest Natural Burial Park, Pennsylvania’s first exclusively green burial ground where nature is at the forefront. Visitors will learn about this burial practice and view the nature preserve and farm on the grounds. A light jacket and walking shoes are recommended. Registration is required.

• Cookbook Club: Fall Eats and Treats!: 6 to 7 p.m. Oct. 17. This month’s theme is any fall-inspired cookbook. Participants can check out one from the library or bring their own and share. Share a dish with everyone from the group or just come and talk about cooking and baking. No registration is required, and bringing food is optional.

• How to Draw a Barn Owl (two sessions available): 1 to 2:30 p.m. Oct. 21 or 6 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 22. Drawing supplies will be provided in this step-by-step drawing course. Registration is required.

• Accessible Crafts … Air Dry Clay Leaf: 1:30 to 2:15 p.m. Oct. 24. Participants in this craft will make leaves out of air dry clay. No registration is required.

• Death Cafe: 6 to 7 p.m. Oct. 28. At a Death Cafe, people gather to eat cake, drink tea and discuss death. This is not a counseling or grief support session. The objective is “to increase awareness of death with a view to helping people make the most of their (finite) lives.” Registration is required.

ALL AGES

• Trick or Treat at the Library: 11:30 a.m. to 11:45 p.m. Oct. 19. Costumes are encouraged.

• Live Insect Zoo: 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Oct. 19. Bug enthusiast Mary Gall will have her live insect zoo at the library. Stop by her table in the teen space to learn more about them.

• Pumpkin Painting: 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Oct. 19. Visitors can pick a pumpkin from the pumpkin patch and paint it. Rain or shine.

• Live Storytelling: “Sleepy Hollow”: 6 to 7 p.m. Oct. 24. Join storyteller Alan Irvine for his rendition of Washington Irving’s 1820 short story, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.” Registration is required.

To register for any of the above programs, call the library at 412-775-4700 or visit pennhillslibrary.org and click on the event.

A complete list of programs for all ages, from birth through adult, is available on the library’s website.