Residents of all ages and cultural backgrounds are invited to “Alumbra Tu Vida” (Light Up Your Life) with the Long Beach Public Library’s eighth annual Vida Latina celebration.
From Sept. 15 to Oct. 31, Long Beach library branches will honor the rich and diverse Latin American communities through a variety of programs. This year’s theme, “Alumbra Tu Vida,” invites residents to discover something new that brings light and joy into their lives, whether through art, music, storytelling, dance or other hands-on activities.
“Alumbra Tu Vida is an invitation to find joy in culture and in community. Whether you are learning a new dance, listening to a story, making art or simply spending time with loved ones, Vida Latina offers something for everyone,” said the Director of the Department of Library, Arts and Culture, Cathy De Leon, in a public statement. “We are excited to fill our libraries with experiences that celebrate Latin American culture and encourage our community to discover something new together.”
The celebration begins with Una Tardeada con (An Evening with) Boleros with Attitude on Sept. 17, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Billie Jean King Main Library (200 W. Broadway). The Los Angeles-based trio Boleros with Attitude will perform a lively mix of traditional Latin folk music, romantic boleros and original hip-hop. The all-ages performance blends music and storytelling to celebrate culture, creativity and community.
Highlights of this year’s Vida Latina include:
- Children’s author and creator of Millennial Loteria, Mike Alfaro, will delight young readers with the latest books in his series, “Sí Sabo Kids: The Unbreakable Piñata and What Does Ñ Sound Like?” on Saturday, Oct. 3 at 11 a.m. at Billie Jean King Main Library.
- Bilingual storyteller Josue Cuentacuentos will share his energetic Selena Storytime at multiple branches.
- Local dance instructors Christopher Sandoval and Jeanette Flores will lead Baile Con Nosotros (Dance with Us) workshops, including Mexican Regional Dance for children and Family Latin Dance. Both programs, occurring at multiple branches across the month, are designed for participants of all abilities.
- Acclaimed storyteller Olga Loya will bring her signature Day of the Dead performance and storytelling workshop to Harte Neighborhood Library (1595 W. Willow St.) as part of Noche de Cuentos en Comunidad (A Night of Stories in Community) on Friday, Oct. 30, at 5:30 p.m.
The spirit of Día de los Muertos will also be celebrated at Harte Neighborhood Library every Friday in October from 3 to 5 p.m. as the library’s community room becomes a community altar. Each week, families and community members can participate in an all-ages arts and crafts activity to create decorations for the altar or their own family altars. The Library will also accept 5-by-7-inch photos of deceased loved ones to include on the community altar throughout the month.
Vida Latina will conclude with La Gran Tardeada (The Big Evening): Latin Idols with Selenamos on Friday, Oct. 16, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Michelle Obama Neighborhood Library (5870 Atlantic Ave.).
The celebration will feature a performance by Selena tribute band Selenamos, a children’s Bad Bunny puppet show, a Latin idols costume contest for all ages, karaoke, arts and crafts and more. Guests are encouraged to come dressed as a favorite Latin music icon, cultural figure or even their favorite Lotería card for an evening of fun and celebration.
The Long Beach Public Library’s Vida Latina celebration is supported by the Long Beach Public Library Foundation, the Port of Long Beach, and REFORMA (the National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish-Speaking).
For the full schedule of programs and to learn more, visit the library’s Vida Latina events calendar or call the library at 562-570-7500.
