TOLEDO, Ohio — The Toledo-Lucas County Public Library is hosting a free welcoming week picnic and party this weekend at its downtown location to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month.
The event will take place on Saturday from noon to 3 p.m. in the Main Library's atrium at 325 N. Michigan St.
Attendees are invited to bring a picnic blanket and enjoy "world music, live performances, art, bilingual poetry readings, global finger foods from area restaurants, and fun activities for the whole family," TLCPL said in a press release.
The performance schedule, which the library says is subject to change, is as follows:
- 12:00 p.m. - World music by DJ Jacob Estrada
- 12:05 p.m. - Welcome and opening remarks from Toledo Library, city, and county officials
- 12:15 p.m. - El Corazon de Mexico Ballet Folklorico
- 12:30 p.m. -Poetry and reading by Ayendy Bonifacio, with an introduction by Jonie McIntire, Poet Laureate of Lucas County, Ohio
- 12:45 p.m. - Chinese American Performing Group
- 1:15 p.m. - Juice House Singing Blend
- 1:45 p.m. - Mariachi Los Abrijes
- 2 p.m. - PoonamDance
- 2:15 p.m. -Poetry and reading by Jack Cheng
- 2:30 p.m. - Echoes of Poland
- 2:50 p.m. - Closing and world music by DJ Jacob Estrada
No registration is required for the event.
The Main Library also has free, covered parking off of Adams Street.
The event is part of the Welcoming Week nationwide campaign of communities striving to be more welcoming to all people, including immigrants. Nationally, the "We're All In"-themed campaign runs until Sept. 22, according to the library.
Hispanic Heritage Month runs from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 annually and is an "annual observance pays tribute to the generations of Hispanic Americans who have enriched the nation and celebrates U.S. Latino culture and history," the library said in its press release.
TLCPL offers various resources for people who have immigrated to northwest Ohio or want to learn more about other cultures and heritages. For the library's new American services, click here. And for its collection of materials and other opportunities to learn about different heritages, click here.