Free

LéaLA, the premier Spanish Book Fair & Literary Festival, returns from September 19-22, 2024, at LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes located at 501 N. Main Street in the heart of downtown Los Angeles. Organized by the University of Guadalajara Foundation USA, this year’s event, themed Building Peace Together, celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month by honoring the rich traditions, language, and culture of the Latino community through literature, art, and intellectual dialogue.

As part of Hispanic Heritage Month, LéaLA will highlight the profound influence of Latino heritage on global literature and culture. The event will feature a wide range of activities for all ages, including author discussions, poetry readings, film screenings, and children’s workshops. Highlights include the opening event, El Mariachi, where Juan Villoro will read his story of the same name, and a special screening celebrating the 20th anniversary of A Day Without a Mexican, with filmmakers Yareli Arizmendi and Sergio Arau in attendance. Guests will also enjoy comedy, gastronomy, and thought-provoking discussions on literature and contemporary issues.

“We invite you to join LéaLA in celebrating our Latin roots, which form a bond stronger than nationalities and unite us under a shared identity: the Spanish language,” said Marisol Schulz Manaut, Executive Director of LéaLA. “This year, as we observe Hispanic Heritage Month, we’re proud to showcase the cultural wealth and literary talent of the Spanish-speaking world.” Notable participants include Pulitzer Prize-winning Author Cristina Rivera Garza, cartoonists Jis & Trino, and writers Rosa Beltrán, Évolet Aceves, Benito Taibo, and Élmer Mendoza. This year, LéaLA will host over 40
publishers offering a wide selection of Spanish-language titles, further enriching the festival’s offerings.

Join us in this vibrant celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month through Spanish literature and culture! All activities are FREE and open to the public.

La Feria del Libro en Español y Festival Literario de Los Ángeles

La Feria del Libro en Español y Festival Literario LéaLA 2024 regresa este verano en uno de los lugares más emblemáticos de Los Ángeles, LA Plaza de la Cultura y las Artes. Durante cuatro días tendremos a las voces más importantes de nuestro idioma en diálogos abiertos a todo público.

Con el objetivo de continuar y fortalecer sus programas de difusión de la cultura y las artes para la comunidad de origen latino en la ciudad de Los Ángeles, California, la Fundación Universidad de Guadalajara USA realizará durante cuatro días en septiembre un festival literario a manera de foro abierto a las ideas y la reflexión.

LéaLA 2024 tiene como propósito la promoción de la lectura y el libro en español, así como el reconocimiento a la cultura y costumbres de la comunidad latina en Estados Unidos de Norteamérica, una población que cada vez adquiere más importancia a nivel cultural, político y económico.

Asimismo, habrá sesiones de lectura de poesía, sesiones de discusión académica y talleres infantiles a cargo del programa Letras para volar de la Universidad de Guadalajara.

LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes, en el corazón histórico de Los Ángeles, será la sede de todas las actividades que se realizarán del 19 al 22 de septiembre, con acceso gratuito.

Los libros de los autores participantes y una selección de títulos de interés en español para todas las edades estarán a disposición del público gracias a la participación de la Librería Carlos Fuentes de la Universidad de Guadalajara.

LéaLA 2024 es organizado por la Fundación Universidad de Guadalajara USA, con el apoyo del Legado Grodman y la colaboración del Consulado General de México en Los Ángeles, la Asociación de Egresados de la Universidad de Guadalajara en Los Ángeles, así como varias instituciones públicas y privadas de ambos lados de la frontera.

Approximately 25 certified California farms, live entertainment, activities, and Main Street based retail vendors present a vibrant atmosphere where locals and visitors alike shop and spend the morning with friends and family.  

This market was established in 1995 and is a collaboration with the Main Street Business Improvement Association, Ocean Park resident group, the Victorian and the Heritage Museum.  Approximately 40 certified California farms, live entertainment, activities, and Main Street based retail vendors present a vibrant atmosphere where locals and visitors shop and spent the morning with friends and family.

The Main Street market is open Sundays from 8:30am to 1:30pm, rain or shine, and may be closed for selected holidays.

All four markets accept Cal Fresh EBT and WIC-Farmers Market Nutrition Program checks.

The Sunday Main Street and Saturday Pico markets also provide a Market Match program for Cal Fresh EBT customers.  Market Match is California’s healthy food incentive program that matches customers’ CalFresh nutrition assistance benefits at farmers markets.  The Main Street Market (in partnership with ARP) matches up to $20 and the Pico Market Match Program (in partnership with Hunger Action Los Angeles) matches up to $15 for the purchase of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Calling all writers of fiction, screenplays, poetry, etc. Get feedback on your writing in a fun, supportive environment! The Central Library Creative Writing Group meets every other Saturday for fellowship, feedback, and snacks. Meetings start out with a short writing prompt exercise, then writers are invited to share up to five pages of their work for feedback from the group. Whether you are just starting out or well on your way to glory, join us and banish (at least temporarily) those Lonely Writer Blues!

 

Please RSVP by emailing fiction@lapl.org.

Prior to the colonization of Southern California in the 18th century, Native communities throughout the region deployed controlled fire regimes to ensure the well-being of their local ecosystems. Fire Kinship counters attitudes of fear and illegality around fire, arguing for a return to Native practices in which fire is regarded as a vital aspect of land stewardship, community well-being, and tribal sovereignty. Wednesdays 12:00 noon – 8:00 p.m., Thursdays – Sundays 12:00 noon – 5:00 p.m.

In 2019, Lawson answered more than 1,000 questions in his Story File so that future generations can continue conversing with him to learn about his legacy. What would you like to ask Lawson?

Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.,
Thursday, 12:00 noon – 8:00 p.m.
Adults – $16, Seniors and Youth – $9, Members and Children under 5 – Free

 Boyle Heights Arts Conservatory, in collaboration with the NEA Big Read: Los Angeles initiative, invites you to a two-part workshop that brings together literature, creative writing, photography, and an exploration of the neighborhood of Boyle Heights.

On Saturday, April 19, the first day of the program, a discussion of selected chapters from The House on Mango Street showcase how Sandra Cisneros painted a picture of the story’s protagonist, Esperanza’s, life and neighborhood, which was  informed by her own culture, through vivid imagery in her writing.

Participants will then be invited to walk around the neighborhood of Boyle Heights to capture examples of scenes reflecting their own upbringing and cultural identity through photography.

Cameras will be supplied for participants.

Then on Saturday, April 26, the second day of the program, the photos from the previous week will be printed for participants to view. Discussion and a guided writing exercise will prompt personal reflection of their own life experiences and upbringing. Participants will consider the topics of cultural and personal identity in storytelling through words and images. Participants will share their work with the group and take their personal writing and photos home with them.

For more information, please contact Julian Montenegro, at julian@bharts.org or visit bharts.org

Art in the Park is hosting a series of activities to celebrate this year’s NEA Big Read. All sessions are free and open to the public!

A free copy of The House On Mango Street will be provided, while supplies last, and free coffee and tea will be served. You are welcome to come to any or all of the sessions, an RSVP is highly recommended (so we know how many books to hand out).

Activities:

Reading Circle of Sandra Cisneros book The House on Mango Street 
Saturdays, April 5, 12, 19 and 26, 10:00 to 11:00 a.m.

A book will be provided to read-along

RSVP at artintheparkla.org/programming/the-big-read/!

Family Puppet Making Workshops
Saturdays, April 12, April 19 and April 26, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
For Community Arts, we’ll be making puppets inspired by Carmela Full of Wishes, by Matt de la Peña, a companion book for very young readers for the 2025 Big Read. All ages welcome!

RSVP at docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf-KWaCC4SKt64w25S5ZI_B3sPQeQXk4shqBkj9nMiffxXrlw/viewform!

Animation and Puppet Making
Saturdays, April 12 & April 19, 2:00 to 5:00 p.m.
Expanded hours to work on puppets for Wishes and animations to accompany original music of Home. Puppet making inspired by Carmela Full of Wishes, , by Matt de la Peña, a companion book for very young readers for the 2025 Big Read. Music Inspired by The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros, the Big Read book of 2025.

RSVP at docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf-KWaCC4SKt64w25S5ZI_B3sPQeQXk4shqBkj9nMiffxXrlw/viewform!

Puppet Show and Film Screening 
Saturday, April 26, 2:00 to 5:00 p.m.
Screening of animations made to accompany original songs of Home by Community Band, Latin Jazz Band and Rafeal Rafel Bustamante.

Wishes, a puppet show inspired by the book Carmela Full of Wishes, by Matt de la Peña, with illustrations by Christian Robinson, a companion book for very young readers for the 2025 Big Read.

RSVP at artintheparkla.org/programming/the-big-read/!

For more information, visit artintheparkla.org, or call (323) 379-5718 or email info@artintheparkla.org.

About Art in the Park:

Art in the Park provides community based arts and cultural programming, with an emphasis on the diverse contemporary and historical communities of Northeast Los Angeles. We foster community engagement and arts accessibility, creating opportunities by providing classes, workshops, exhibitions and performances conducted by both local and visiting artists.

 

The NEA Big Read: Los Angeles celebrates storytelling, books and readers at the 30th anniversary of the popular Los Angeles Times Festival of Books. The Festival of Books is largest gathering and presentation of all things book-related in the United States. Join book lovers to learn, taste, be inspired, make art, shop and explore on Saturday, April 26, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and Sunday, April 27, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., on the campus of the University of Southern California (USC).

Stop by the Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) booth # 721 in the Orange Zone for information about DCA’s cultural resources and citywide services. Booth activities will include drop-in art activities, such as poetry, zine-making, artists demonstrations, and limited edition giveaways, while supplies last.

This event is free and open to the public!

For more information about the DCA booth and/or NEA Big Read: Los Angeles booth at the Festival of Books, call 213-202-5567, or email elizabeth.morin@lacity.org.

For more information about the Festival of Books, visit: events.latimes.com/festivalofbooks/.

Every Saturday, the Market features a dozen local farmers and over two dozen food and artisan vendors who bring a diverse selection of local produce as well as spices, sprouts, breads, nuts, baked goods and fresh flowers each week. The market also hosts monthly events including cooking demonstrations, tastings, and children’s activities.

 

Open Weekly on Saturdays,  10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.