September 15 - October 15, 2025
OC Public Libraries is celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with author talks, live music, cooking demos, crafts, storytimes, and more!
Authors
Meet Author Dr. Ericka Verba
Tuesday, September 16 @ 5:00pm
Cypress Library
Drawing on decades of research, Dr. Verba offers a vivid portrait of Chilean musician and artist Violeta Parra (1917–1967), whose powerful songs gave voice to social injustice in Latin America.
Poetry Reading: Diosa Xochiquetzalcóatl
Saturday, September 27 @ 2:00pm
Seal Beach Library
Join spoken word artist and author Diosa Xochiquetzalcóatl for a poetic journey. West of the Santa Ana and Other Sacred Places is a multilingual poetry collection capturing life in Orange County and beyond.
Meet Author Naibe Reynoso
Saturday, October 11 @ 11:00am
El Toro Library
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month and enjoy a special presentation from award-winning author and journalist Naibe Reynoso!
Meet Author Heidi Moreno
Wednesday, October 15 @ 10:30am
El Toro Library
Join us as we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with a special storytime and craft led by author and illustrator Heidi Moreno!
Crafts
Mexican Otomi Art Notebooks
Monday, September 15 @ 11:00am
Stanton Library
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month and learn about Mexican Otomi art. Decorate your own custom notebook in this vibrant style of art. Program recommended for adults. While supplies last.
Hojalata Tin Art
Monday, September 22 @ 4:30pm
Los Alamitos-Rossmoor Library
Hojalata, or tin art, is Mexican folk art made by pressing lines into metal and adding vibrant colors. Children will emulate the style with pencil to press lines onto aluminum foil. Snacks provided. Recommended for ages 2 and up.
Tissue Paper Marigold
Tuesday, September 23 @ 4:00pm
Garden Grove Tibor Rubin Library
Learn how to make tissue paper marigolds which are commonly used to decorate family memorial altars during Día de los Muertos.
Glowing Sugar Skulls
Wednesday, September 24 @ 5:00pm
Stanton Library
Stop by and decorate your own glowing sugar skulls! Whether it’s silly or scary, you decide how you want your calavera to shine for the festivities! Program recommended for teens. While supplies last.
Huichol Yarn Art
Thursday, September 25 @ 11:00am
San Juan Capistrano Library
Create Huichol yarn art and discover the rich traditions of Mexico’s Huichol culture and enjoy a fun, hands-on craft. Registration required.
Chilean Rain Sticks
Saturday, September 27 @ 11:00am
San Juan Capistrano Library
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month by crafting a rain stick inspired by the Indigenous Mapuche people of Chile! Program recommended for children ages 4-12.
Papel Picado
Tuesday, September 30 @ 5:00pm
Brea Library
Join us in celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month by learning how to make colorful papel picado decorations. Program recommended for teens and adults.
Nazca Lines
Wednesday, October 1 & 15 @ 3:00pm
Seal Beach Library
Joins us as we make Nazca lines sand art, a fun and easy exploratory project that is a hands-on way to learn about this marvel of Perú! Program recommended for children.
Día de los Muertos Craft
Wednesday, October 1 @ 3:30pm
Rancho Santa Margarita Library
Indigo Cook Crafts will join us to paint art pieces inspired by Día de los Muertos. All materials provided, space limited to first 40 participants.
Make Your Own Piñata
Thursday, October 2 @ 4:00pm
San Clemente Library
Visit the library to make and decorate your own piñata. We will even throw in a small bag of goodies for your piñata!
Papel Picado
Monday, October 6 @ 11:00am & 3:00pm
Library of the Canyons
Learn the traditional Mexican folk art of cut paper designs then make your own colorful banner! Program recommended for adults, teens, and tweens.
Papel Picado
Wednesday, October 8 @ 4:00pm
Dana Point Library
Learn how to create this traditional, decorative art form – and make your own colorful banner to take home.
Concha Paper Squishy
Wednesday, October 8 @ 5:00pm
Garden Grove Chapman Library
Love conchas as much as we do? Come learn how to make one into a paper squishy. While supplies last.
Paper Mache Sugar Skull
Thursday, October 9 @ 4:00pm
Tustin Library
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month by decorating your own paper mache sugar skull. Program open to tweens, grades 6-8. Registration required.
Sugar Skull Painted Mini Pots
Friday, October 10 @ 10:30am
Laguna Beach Library
Join us as we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month by painting sugar skull designs on mini flowerpots, just in time for Día de Los Muertos!
Sugar Skulls! Calaveras!
Tuesday, October 14 @ 3:30pm
Garden Grove Tibor Rubin Library
Get creative at the library! Decorate your own sugar skull in honor of Día de los Muertos, while supplies last.
Programs
Salsa Night
Monday, September 15 @ 4:00pm
San Clemente Library
The library is hosting an evening of chips and salsa! Learn how to make a Green Salsa and a Pico de Gallo. Enjoy sampling the food and mingling with new and familiar friends!
Lotería
Tuesday, September 16 @ 4:00pm
Garden Grove Tibor Rubin Library
Join us and play a few rounds of Lotería for a chance to win a prize!
Lotería
Tuesday, September 16 @ 5:30pm
Tustin Library
Join us for an evening of fun playing Lotería. Practice your Spanish skills or learn a few words and win prizes. Light refreshments will be served.
Lotería
Wednesday, September 17 @ 5:00pm
Stanton Library
Wind down with a game of Lotería at the library! Play a few rounds, win some prizes, and enjoy some snacks and refreshments!
Frida Kahlo Paint Night
Thursday, September 18 @ 4:30pm
San Juan Capistrano Library
Join us for a paint night hosted by the Flower Fields Art Studio. Enjoy step-by-step art instruction and create a Frida Kahlo painting! Program open to teens and adults (ages 13+). Registration required.
INCA, the Peruvian Ensemble
Saturday, September 20 @ 11:00am
San Juan Capistrano Library
Experience the rich culture of Peru with INCA, the Peruvian Ensemble! Join us for an engaging performance that features traditional Peruvian music and enjoy fun, interactive crafts!
Rhythm and Roots
Saturday, September 20 @ 2:00pm
El Toro Library
Enjoy the educational and interactive exploration of Afro Cuban and Mexican rhythms from Louie Cruz Beltran.
Lotería
Tuesday, September 23 @ 3:30pm
El Toro Library
Visit the library and play Lotería for a chance to win some prizes!
Hispanic Heritage Family Celebration
Wednesday, September 24 @ 3:30pm
Ladera Ranch Library
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month at the library! Create your own mini box piñata and enjoy a food demonstration preparing fresh guacamole, followed by a sample tasting.
Homemade Corn Tortillas and Salsas
Wednesday, September 24 @ 5:00pm
Costa Mesa Donald Dungan Library
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month and learn how to make delicious corn tortillas and fresh salsas. Space limited to first 25 attendees.
Celebrating Hispanic Heritage
Saturday, September 27 @ 10:30am
Westminster Library
Join us for an exciting celebration filled with music, crafts, and fun activities for all ages, featuring the opportunity to create sugar skulls using taste-safe play dough!
Algarabía Colombiana Folklorico
Saturday, September 27 @ 1:00pm
Costa Mesa Donald Dungan Library
Join us in celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month and experience the joy of traditional folklorico dance and indulge in a cultural tasting of cholado – Colombian shaved ice topped with fruits.
Snack and Celebrate
Monday, September 29 @ 4:30pm
Los Alamitos-Rossmoor Library
Celebrate by sipping refreshing aguas frescas, digging into sweet and fruity biónicos, and sampling chips with a variety of salsas. Stick around for a few lively rounds of Lotería and win some prizes! Recommended for teens.
Learn to Make Horchata
Tuesday, September 30 @ 4:00pm
Garden Grove Tibor Rubin Library
Learn how to make horchata, a refreshing sweet Mexican beverage, and enjoy a free sample while supplies last.
Nicho Art with Cynthia Huerta
Wednesday, October 1 @ 5:00pm
Garden Grove Chapman Library
Mexican American artist Cynthia Huerta guides this workshop on Nicho boxes—colorful shadow boxes rooted in Mexican folk-art traditions. Nichos often honor loved ones or share personal stories through mixed media and symbolism.
Bilingual Concert with Nathalia
Thursday, October 2 @ 4:00pm
Laguna Beach Library
Colombian-born songwriter and performer Nathalia Palis hosts a fun and interactive presentation of her original bilingual music.
Algarabía Colombiana Folklorico
Saturday, October 4 @ 2:30pm
Foothill Ranch Library
Join us as we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with Algarabía Colombiana! A dance group dedicated to sharing the heart and spirit of Colombia through vibrant music, dynamic dance performances, and authentic storytelling.
Lotería Family Bingo
Monday, October 6 @ 4:00pm
Ladera Ranch Library
Practice your Spanish as you spend an afternoon with friends and family playing Lotería, a bingo game that is over a century old. Enjoy prizes and fun for all ages!
Lotería Bingo
Wednesday, October 8 @ 3:30pm
Rancho Santa Margarita Library
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month at the library. Play a few rounds of Lotería with friends and family, learn some new words or win fun prizes!
Experimental Quesadilla Lab
Wednesday, October 8 @ 5:00pm
El Toro Library
The Experimental Quesadilla Lab is a popup kitchen and recipe exchange that uses the quesadilla to spark conversations about colonialism, food injustice, health, and Chicanx/Latinx identity through cheeses, tortillas, and other local ingredients.
Talavera Style Pot Painting
Wednesday, October 8 @ 5:00pm
Seal Beach Library
Paint your own Talavera-inspired terracotta pot! Talavera is a Mexican and Spanish style of pottery using vibrant colors to create intricate patterns and designs. Program recommended for adults. Supplies are limited, registration required.
Franklin Haynes Marionette's Las Marionetas en Desfile
Thursday, October 9 @ 4:00pm
Laguna Beach Library
Join us in welcoming the Franklin Haynes Marionettes bilingual show, Las Marionetas en Desfile (Marionettes on Parade), a marionette show that introduces children to some of the traditions of Latin America as well as commonly used Spanish words.
Cookbook Club
Tuesday, October 14 @ 4:30pm
Los Alamitos-Rossmoor Library
Join us for a cooking demonstration and discussion on this month's cookbook selection, The SalviSoul Cookbook by Karla Tatiana Vasquez, to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month!
Flamenco Family Fun
Wednesday, October 15 @ 4:00pm
San Clemente Library
Enjoy an evening of Flamenco dancing and music. Don’t know how to dance? No worries, we can teach you a few steps to get you started. Bring the family and learn as a group!
Storytimes
Frida Kahlo Bilingual Storytime - Cuentos Bilingüe
Thursday, September 18 @ 10:30am
San Juan Capistrano Library
A special Frida Kahlo themed storytime and craft in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month!
Bilingual Storytime! Cuentos Bilingües!
Saturdays, September 20 & October 4 @ 9:30am
Garden Grove Tibor Rubin Library
Enjoy a special bilingual family storytime and stay for a craft!
Bilingual Family Storytime & Craft
Tuesday, September 30 @ 4:00pm
Ladera Ranch Library
Enjoy bilingual storytime in English and Spanish, followed by time for crafting.
Bilingual Storytime
Thursday, October 2 @ 10:30am
Seal Beach Library
Join us for a bilingual storytime in Spanish and English where we’ll sing songs and read stories to be enjoyed by children, of all ages, and their caregivers.
Bilingual Spanish Storytime
Wednesday, October 8 @ 10:30am
Tustin Library
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month and enjoy a special bilingual family storytime. Stay afterward for a craft, while supplies last!