Balloon festival returns in August
The Zachary Really Hot Air Balloon Festival will be held from noon to 9 p.m. Aug. 10 at the BREC Zachary Community Park, 20055 Old Scenic Highway.
The event will feature nine hot air balloons, tethered balloon rides, balloon glow, concert by the Chase Tyler Band, food trucks, kids zone, local craft vendors and more. Find information at downtownlivezachary.com or email downtownlivezachary@gmail.com.
Back to school gathering
A Back 2 School Block Party will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 27 at Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, 22911 Reames Road, Zachary. Free school supplies will be given out while they last.
Check out activities at the library
Be sure to keep track of your reading in the East Baton Rouge Parish Library’s 2024 Summer Reading Program: Adventure Begins at Your Library.
Upcoming activities include:
- Teens can watch Lady Chops (aka Elizabeth Vidos), a professional drummer/percussionist who performed with STOMP off Broadway, for an energetic and interactive performance. Nearby appearances include 11 a.m. July 24, Pride-Chaneyville Branch Library, and 3 p.m. July 24, Zachary Branch Library.
- Staff at the Baker Branch Library will proctor an ACT practice test for up to 10 teens at 11 a.m. July 6. Registration is required. You must have a valid phone number and email address to sign up for the test. Preference will be given to high school students; middle school students will be automatically wait-listed. If there are still test spots available five days before the test, wait-listed middle school students will be offered a spot. Results will be emailed out seven-10 days after the practice test. To register, call (225) 778-5970 or (225) 778-5940.
- The Baker Branch Library will hold a Technology Petting Zoo at 11 a.m. July 20. Participants will enjoy a hands-on approach to exploring various tech toys that teach basic block coding, engineering, and other tech concepts.
- At 2:15 p.m. July 6 and July 20, the Greenwell Springs Regional Branch Library, 11300 Greenwell Springs Road, will hold a free-form atmosphere at Arts and Crafts for Adults. You’re invited to color, explore watercolor paints and free draw; learn to macramé and tie fancy knots; make jewelry and keychains; and much more. All supplies provided.
- At 4 p.m. July 17, teens are invited to a Paper Airplane Competition at the Greenwell Springs Road Regional Branch Library. Books and videos will be available to inspire your design.
Udemy courses at state's libraries
The State Library of Louisiana, in collaboration with Gale, has launched an initiative providing all Louisiana public library cardholders free access to over 25,000 online courses through the platform Gale Presents: Udemy.
A news release said the initiative is available at all 334 public library locations across Louisiana.
The platform offers many topics for business and personal needs, including business, IT certifications, creative arts, personal finance, technology, wellness and more.
It includes supplemental materials like quizzes and practice tests, and most offer subtitles or transcripts, accommodating different learning styles. The platform also features courses in multiple languages.