Central Library celebrates soccer, World Cup with crafts, community

Spokane’s football fever meets the World Cup as the Central Library hosts a family-friendly World Cup celebration this week. The event runs from 4 to 5 p.m. on Thursday and offers crafts, photos with Velocity players, and World Cup screenings. Mascots Maple, Zayu, and Clutch will be present, with activities ranging from paper soccer balls to coloring and temporary tattoos. The 90+ Project will host drills and foam-ball exercises, highlighting its mission to make soccer accessible through clinics, coaching, and leadership programs. Denise Neujahr, Spokane Public Library youth services manager, notes that sports can be costly and that programs support growth, integrity, and inclusion. Attendees can enter a raffle for Spokane Velocity match tickets, encouraging participation and community involvement beyond the World Cup viewing. Organizers emphasize the World Cup celebration as a cultural gathering for families. The library aims to celebrate sport and community, linking activity with learning and inclusion. This event shows libraries as hubs for inclusive, values-driven programming during global events.