Lopez Island Library: LOPEZ LIBRARY October 2026 NEWSLETTER

It's October!

Here's what's happening at the Lopez Library!

FANCON 2026 - Sunday, October 18th, 10am - 8pm

Lopez's own celebration of Fantasy arts and culture for the whole family is back, bigger and better than ever. Explore fantastical vendors, live-play Dungeons & Dragons games, dress up and win prizes, face painting, balloon animals, local fantasy author talks, and much much more as the whole library is transformed! Come experience the magic.

Presented by the Lopez Island Fellowship for Fantasy Arts and Culture in partnership with the Lopez Library.

Seattle Arts and Lectures - October Author Talks

Learn more about these authors and register here. Pre-registration for these live streamed events is required. Registration closes three days prior to the talk. You must have a valid Lopez Library account to register. This series is brought to the community through the support of Friends of the Lopez Island Library.

Water Wise Workshop with Kwiaht - Thurs, Oct 1, 4-6pm

A workshop exploring the causes, consequences, measurement and mitigation of arsenic in well water in San Juan County. Home arsenic test kits will be offered as a part of a new initiative by Kwiaht to study the extent of arsenic contamination in island wells and explore actions to reduce adverse health effects.

RESCHEDULED -- Rebel with a Clause Screening, Friday, Oct 2nd 7pm

We're so glad we were able to reschedule this Friday Harbor Film Festival "Best of the Fest" screening we had to cancel last month. Thanks to the FHFF and the Friends of the Lopez Library for your continued collaboration and support to make this great series of films possible.

Painting Workshop & First Saturday Art Walk - October 3

Painting Workshop: 1-4pm

This will be a relaxed, hands-on painting workshop inspired by the spaces and objects around us. Participants will explore the library (and outdoor areas, weather permitting) to create paintings from direct observation, focusing on everyday scenes and details that catch their attention. All materials will be provided, including a selection of canvas sizes to choose from. No prior painting experience is necessary—this workshop encourages experimentation, creativity, and fun in a welcoming environment. Finished artworks may be displayed as part of a community exhibition during the art walk.

Artist Talk/Opening: 4:30-5:30pm

Inspired by Lopez Island's "Go Slow" or "Go Slower" attitude, Amie gave herself permission to slow down, pay attention, and enjoy what Lopez had to offer during her residency. Working from direct observation and photographs she takes herself, she is drawn to the places where people gather. She hopes viewers find something familiar in the work: a place they've visited, a moment they've experienced, or a feeling they recognize.

Mindful Birding

Join Beth St. George for a leisurely bird walk around the village or farther afield. Walks are limited to 6 people and fill up fast to ensure a quality experience, so please sign up early to reserve your spot: 360-468-2265 or beth@lopezlibrary.org

Procrastination Station: Taxes Edition - Friday, October 9, 11am-1pm

Host of the Procrastination Station (Thursdays, 3:30-5:30pm in the Sunroom) and award-winning procrastinator Ellen Zocher deferred her taxes this year! Join her in the Community Room on Friday, October 9th to do your taxes (before the October 15th deadline) or whatever else you've been putting off.

*No tax support will be provided, only moral support.

* Pastries and coffee provided.

Canning 101 (with Library Apples) at Taproot - Sat, Oct 10, 4-6pm

Thanks to the Gleaners for harvesting the apples on the library's apple trees on October 1st (stop by for some free apples!) which will be stored until this workshop and used in this introductory workshop at Taproot Kitchen.

Literary Salon: Wed, October 14, 4:30pm

Join Ingrid & Beth for this no-rules book club to share your favorite reads. Come & be a listener if you wish, and go home with a diversity of recommendations.

Jesse Stout concert - Wednesday, October 14, 6-7pm

Lopez-based musician Jesse Stout will kick off a new music series showcasing local musicians during the fall and winter. We will be presenting short concerts of approximately an hour in length on occasional Wednesday evenings.

Jesse is one of those gifted humans who can play multiple instruments, compose original music, sing in different styles, and keep any kind of rhythm using any kind of implement including his own body. He is a unique artist and we are excited to see what he does for this concert!

Join us to support Jesse and launch new music programming at the library.

Lopez-Only Event: Art Exhibit at San Juan Island Museum of Art

Thursday, October 15

Karen Fisher - Thursday, October 15, 7-8pm

Karen Fisher’s debut novel A Sudden Country won the Washington State Book Award and the Mountains and Plains Bookseller's Award, and it was a finalist for the PEN/Faulkner Award.

She wrote the libretto "Precipice," an experimental opera produced by American Opera Projects that premiered at the La Mama Experimental Theatre in New York City in January 2026. Karen is a National Endowment of the Arts recipient, and has taught for Hugo House, the University of Washington, and Fishtrap.

She will read selections from Song of the Little World, book one of her memoir in progress, In Reality. Followed by Q&A.

Mushroom I.D. with James Nowak - Wednesday, October 21, 5-7pm

Register here for this informative and fun hands-on workshop at the library. Elevate your fungal flow!

Book Party to celebrate Naming and Knowing:

Indigenous Plants of the San Juan Islands

Thursday, October 22, 5:30-7pm

Explore the plants of the islands through Indigenous knowledge, history, botany, food traditions, and art. Published by Kwiaht, the book is a collaboration among historians, botanists, food specialists, artists, and Indigenous peoples, created so the plants might “hear their old names spoken again in Lekwungen” and so all people can learn how to enjoy and care for the plants that make the islands rich in food and materials.

Spooky One-Shot RPG - Saturday, October 24th, 3pm-7ish

Calling all spooky adventurers...Game Master Daniel Millard will lead this TTRPG into the dark unknown.....join if you dare. Register here.

Poet's Pen - Mon, October 26

Join our supportive, encouraging group for an evening of poetry reading, dedicated writing time, and listening on last Mondays.

Five Authors Discuss Belonging in their Works and Lives - Weds, October 28th - 5:30-7pm

What does it mean to belong? And how do we make that happen for ourselves and others? Writers Chrys Buckley, John Fadely, Gail Folkins, Veronica Kornberg, and A. Molotkov delve into the rich terrain of belonging, with an evening of poetry, prose, lyric essay, and conversation. Light refreshments provided.