Generations Day
A Community Gathering Across Generations
Saturday, April 25, 2026
10:00AM - 4:00PM
San Mateo Public Library – Main Branch
Free and open to the public
Generations Day marks the beginning of the Main Library’s twentieth anniversary year. The building comes alive with music, storytelling, food, and opportunities for reflection designed to welcome children, parents, grandparents, and neighbors into shared civic space.
Doors Open
10:00 AM
Visitors are welcome to arrive, explore the building, and enjoy drop-in activities throughout the morning.
Scheduled Programs
Oak Room
10:30–11:00 AM
Storytime with Children’s Librarians, Elephant & Piggie, and Civic Leaders
12:00–12:30 PM
Family Concert: José-Luis Orozco
2:30–3:00 PM
Chef Martin Yan Cooking Demonstration
3:00–3:30 PM
Chef Martin Yan Book Signing
Laurel Room
11:00–11:30 AM
Capture Your Family Stories: A Generational Memory Workshop with Dan Jung of Storia
1:30–2:00 PM
Generational Activity with the San Mateo County Genealogical Society and SMPL Children’s Librarians
Children’s Area / Book Bubble
Times to be announced
Elephant & Piggie Photo Opportunity
Community Celebration
2:00 PM — 20th Anniversary Cake Cutting
Library Lobby
Join us as we mark the official kickoff of the 20th anniversary year of the Main Library building with a community cake-cutting celebration.
Drop-In Experiences
Visitors are welcome to explore these activities throughout the day.
Digital Photo Booth
Lobby
10:00 AM–2:00 PM
Stop by the digital photo booth and capture a moment from Generations Day. Open throughout the morning and early afternoon.
Community Fiber Arts Gathering with Knit, Etc.
Friends of the Library Bookstore
10:00 AM–2:00 PM
Join Knit, Etc., a longtime library community group, for a relaxed stitching meetup. Whether you knit, crochet, cross-stitch, or enjoy other fiber crafts, all skill levels are welcome. Bring a project, ask questions, learn from fellow crafters, or try something new—basic materials will be available for beginners.
Beehive Tours
Meeting Point: Main Lobby
11:30 AM, 12:30 PM, 1:30 PM, 2:30 PM
Go behind the scenes to see the Library’s automated returns system, nicknamed the “Beehive.” This system sorts and routes thousands of returned books and materials throughout the building each week.
Tours last approximately 15 minutes and are limited to 20 visitors per group.
Stories on View
Throughout the building, visitors are invited to explore a series of mini installations created for San Mateo Celebrates!, each offering a different lens on the stories, ideas, and communities that shape San Mateo.
The Library and the Life of a City: San Mateo Public Library, 1883–2026–
A timeline exhibition tracing the Library’s evolution from its earliest reading rooms to the present day, marking the beginning of the Main Library’s twentieth anniversary year.
The Work of Generations: Portraits of Family Business in San Mateo
A portrait series celebrating the families behind San Mateo’s businesses and the role they play in the city’s economic and cultural life.
The Stories Our Cells Tell: Mapping the Human Cell Atlas
A visual installation introducing the global effort to map every cell type in the human body.
Additional details will be shared in the weeks leading up to the festival.
