Contact: Sarah Dentan
Neighborhood & Children's Services Manager
Berkeley Public Library
510-981-6195
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month at Berkeley Public Library
Berkeley, CA August 28—Join Berkeley Public Library in celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 to October 15, 2015) with Mariachis and more. Hispanic Heritage Month’s roots go back to 1968; it begins each year on September 15, the anniversary of independence of five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Mexico, Chile and Belize also celebrate their independence days during this period. Columbus Day (also celebrated as Indigenous Peoples' Day or Día de la Raza) is October 12.
The first event is the Five Suns of Mexico at West Branch on Saturday, September 19 from 4:00pm-5:00pm at the West Branch Library (located at 1125 University). In this fun and informative presentation, Dr. Gloria Arjona delights her audience with her multi-lingual, multimedia narrative of Mexico, from the founding of the Aztec capital of México-Tenochtitlan in 1325 to the present -providing guests with the rare opportunity to experience songs in Nahuatl, Tarascan, and Zapotec- indigenous languages of Mexico. Don’t miss it!
Next up at the West Berkeley Public Library is Francisco Herrera, who considers himself a “Culture Worker” as well as a Singer/ Songwriter. Herrera performs on Saturday, September 26 from 10:30am-11:30am. Join us for songs, games and tongue twisters in Spanish and English with this renowned singer and guitarist.
Mariachi Mexicanisimo brings authentic traditional music to the Central Library (2090 Kittredge) on September 27, 2015 - 2:00pm-3:00pm. They are the official mariachi for Univision, the Bay Area Spanish language television broadcasting system. Join us for joyful lively music for all ages at the fifth floor Art & Music section.
Teens will be celebrating, too. For this special installment of Teens Make Some Thing @Claremont (2940 Benvenue) on October 9, 2015 - 4:00pm-5:00pm come create your own miniature piñata. We have all the supplies on hand to make whatever form you can think of. In addition, to get inspired we will watch the computer animated adventure movie The Book of Life.
Check our online event calendar, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter accounts often, as we will be adding more events and news for Hispanic Heritage month.
These free events were sponsored by the Friends of the Berkeley Public Library (www.berkeleylibraryfriends.org)
The Central Library is located at 2090 Kittredge Street and is open Monday, noon - 8:00pm, Tuesday, 10:00am - 8:00pm, Wednesday through Saturday, 10:00am - 6:00pm, and Sunday from 1:00pm - 5:00pm. Branch hours are is open: Monday, 10:00am-6:0 pm, Tuesday and Wednesday, 10:00am-8:00pm, Thursday 12noon -8:00pm, and Friday and Saturday, 10:00am-6:00pm.
Wheel chair accessible. For questions, to request a sign language interpreter or other accommodations for this event, please call (510) 981-6195 (voice) or (510) 548-1240 (TTY); at least five working days will help ensure availability. Please refrain from wearing scented products to public programs. Visit the library’s website: www.berkeleypubliclibrary.org.
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