At the Library
The Lexington Public Library relaunched its school readiness initiative, Destination Kindergarten, and resumed five weekly children’s programs in September. Destination Kindergarten is funded in part funded by the PNC Foundation and its signature cause PNC Grow Up Great® through its support of the Lexington Public Library Foundation.
Destination Kindergarten is a multifaceted initiative designed to help children Read, Talk, Play, Write, and Sing – the key elements to early childhood education. Each Library location features hands-on activities and take-home Bingo Cards for children ages 0-5 to complete with their favorite adults. Families can return their completed bingo cards to earn a prize and receive another card to complete. Once a child has finished five bingo cards, they will be ready for Kindergarten.
Destination Kindergarten complements the Library’s rich youth programming, which resumed in September with five weekly programs which align with the weekly Destination Kindergarten themes.
“We are overjoyed to welcome our youngest customers back for educational programs at our libraries,” says Executive Director Heather Dieffenbach. “One of our most important roles as a public library system is to help our children begin their lifelong pursuit of education. Now more than ever, we are proud to help them build a better future.”
On Stage
Lexington Children’s Theatre presents Shoyu Tell, Oct 2 through Oct 17, 2021. “ Lucas loves his sushi lunch that his mom packs him every day for school. What he doesn’t love is his classmates’ constant questions about how “weird” it is. So now he’s faced with a difficult choice: bring sandwiches from now on to avoid attention, or eat what he wants and get stares and questions. With help from a magical cat guardian and an ancestor from the spirit world, Lucas learns to embrace his family history and proves to everyone that to be brave is to be yourself. Mixing the Japanese word for soy sauce and the elementary school “show and tell” activity, Shoyu Tell is an LCT World Premiere all about good food, best friends, and celebrating the differences that make you YOU.” Family matinees are available at 2 pm on Saturday, Oct 2 and Sunday, Oct 3.
Lexington Children’s Theatre presents The Little Mermaid, Oct 23 through Oct 30, 2021. “Have you ever been curious? So curious you decide to leave your very familiar home for a very unfamiliar new world? The Little Mermaid, an ordinary mermaid with an extraordinary sense of adventure, wants to visit “the world above.” To do so she must confront the sea witch, drink a potion, lose her tail and her voice, and then convince the prince of her dreams to marry her.” Family matinees are available at 2 pm on Saturday, Oct 23, Sunday, Oct 24, and Saturday, Oct 30.
Junior Naturalists: TREES
In this junior naturalist program, youth ages K – 5th grade will learn how to identify a type of tree by looking primarily at its leaves which are often the easiest way for quick tree identification. They will also learn to look at the tree bark and tree seeds for further tree identification clues. Activity bags are given out throughout the day. Programs at 10 am and 1 pm on October 16, McConnell Springs Education Center.
Parents Night Out!
Parents can drop their kids off, ages 6 – 11, off at McConnell Springs and enjoy a date night. Staff will have nature-related activities for the kids to enjoy including a hike, arts & crafts, games and hands-on activities. Children may be dropped off no earlier than 5:45 p.m. Pick-up will begin at 8:30 p.m. and all children must be picked up by 9 p.m. 6 – 8:30 pm October 22.
Dia De Los Muertos
On October 23rd, the Living Arts & Science Center will present the annual Day of the Dead Festival with a celebration at the Living Arts & Science Center as well as at the Old Episcopal Burying Ground at the corner of E. 3rd Street and Elm Tree Lane. This event is a fun, participatory experience for the entire family.
The Day of the Dead Festival is a community event bringing together individuals, groups, students, and teachers from the Latino and non-Latino communities. Join the celebration and experience the rich visual, musical, dance, and culinary traditions of this holiday that is celebrated in Mexico and parts of Central and South America. The Festival will include live music and dance performances, traditional food, hands-on crafts, art exhibitions, a candlelight parade, and an exhibition of altars in the Old Episcopal Burying Ground.
Crafts for the evening include decorating sugar skull masks, flower crowns, and calacas! Donations are encouraged.
Junior Explorers: Raven Run Mysteries
This free program includes a theme-related craft and is designed for youth K – 5th grade. Celebrate the spooky season with October’s installment of Junior Explorers! Pre-registration is requested. 10 am, October 30.
This article also appears on page 11 of the October 2021 print edition of Hamburg Journal.
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