New Rochelle Public Library Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month

The New Rochelle Public Library is proud to announce a series of enriching events in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month featuring music and literary programs for both children and adults.

On Saturday, September 30, 11:00 am - 1:00 the New Rochelle Public Library will resonate with the melodies of Mariachi México Internacional. Attendees will be immersed in the rich sounds of Mexican music and encouraged to sing, dance, and join in the celebration during our Hispanic Heritage Fiesta. Following the performance, children are invited to engage in a themed craft project to take home.

On Tuesday, October 3, 6:30 pm, the library is kicking off its new NRPL Author Series.
Join us for an unforgettable evening of literary exploration with Ernesto Mestre-Reed, author of Sacrificio in conversation with Elizabeth Joseph, Assistant Director, New Rochelle Public Library.

Set in Cuba in 1998, Sacrificio is a triumphant and mesmeric work of violence, loss, and identity that explores what happens when people's rights are taken away through its riveting portrayal of queerness and revolution.

This visionary work has been recognized as a Best Book of 2022 at Oprah Daily, Brooklyn Public Library, and Kirkus Reviews; an Editors’ Pick in BOMB Magazine, Publishers Weekly, and Kirkus Reviews: and a Most Anticipated Book in numerous print and digital media including New York Magazine, Vulture, and Buzzfeed.

Ernesto Mestre-Reed was born in Guantánamo, Cuba, in 1964. His family emigrated to Madrid, Spain, in 1972 and later that year to Miami, Florida. He is the author of the novels The Lazarus Rumba and The Second Death of Única Aveyano. His fiction has been called “mesmerizing” by The New York Times and “poetic and daring” by Francisco Goldman.

Doors open at 6:30 pm for book sales and a meet and greet with the author. Program begins at 7:00 pm. Registration is requested at bit.ly/NRPL_Sacrificio

On Saturday, October 14, 2:00 pm, Cuba Bella, Alexander McCabe’s Spanish language music group will perform. Cuba Bella draws on multiple cultural musical resources, from Cuban mambos and boleros, traditional Mexican music, Pan-African percussion and NYC jazz to create a captivating fusion of Cuban and Mexican sounds with contemporary jazz overtones. Registration requested at https://bit.ly/NRPL_CubaBella.

On Tuesday, October 17, the NRPL Brown Bag Book Club will engage in a discussion of "A Long Petal of the Sea" by celebrated Chilean author Isabel Allende. This compelling novel, set against the backdrop of the Spanish Civil War and the struggle for freedom in Chile, offers a thought-provoking exploration of history and human resilience.

All programs take place at the New Rochelle Public Library, 1 Library Plaza, New Rochelle and are free and open to all.