Central Library Centennial Festival
About this Event
Join us as we celebrate the Los Angeles Central Library's 100th birthday with a day of free programs, performances, exhibits, hands-on activities, and special guests. Explore every corner of this iconic landmark, discover the record-breaking exhibition Luceros y Penumbras: The World's Largest Pop-Up Book, enjoy family-friendly crafts, meet community partners, and experience surprises throughout the day.
The festival poster artwork was created by award-winning children's book illustrator Loris Lora. Attendees will receive a complimentary commemorative poster featuring her artwork while supplies last.
Community Partners
3D Space • Bob Baker Marionette Theater • Department of Cultural Affairs • DTLA Alliance • Friends of the Central Library • Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles • Gloria Molina Grand Park / The Music Center • Griffith Observatory Foundation • Japanese American National Museum • LAist • LéaLA / University of Guadalajara USA • Library Foundation of Los Angeles • Los Angeles City Historical Society • Los Angeles Conservancy • Los Angeles Zoo • Mattel • Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County • PBS SoCal • Self Help Graphics & Art • YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles
Food Trucks & Vendors
Baby’s Burgers • Fuegos LA • Harold and Belle’s • ID-Eclair • Tacos El Borrego • The Tropic Truck • VCHOS Pupusería Moderna
Admission is free, and all are welcome. Please note that an RSVP does not guarantee admission to The Linda Lindas' performance in the Taper Auditorium or other programs with limited capacity.
Find more information at lapl.org.
Agenda
🕑: 10:15 AM - 10:45 AM
Ashley Anne & The Carnations
Info: A dynamite 1920s-1960s Jazz, Swing, Bossa Nova, Latin, and Rock 'n' Roll band specializing in the Golden Age of Hollywood.
🕑: 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Lucy Kalantari & the Jazz Cats
Info: Get ready for an elegantly silly time with the bilingual, swingin' sounds of Lucy Kalantari & the Jazz Cats! The 2x GRAMMY® Award winner, front woman and songwriter Lucy Kalantari engages her audience with interactive, jazz-scat-along play, while singing foot-tapping songs highlighting the joys of life, community and resilience. Family members from 0 to 122 will find themselves lighter and smiling through and through!
🕑: 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Los Angeles Central Library POPS! A Centennial Pop-Up Book Celebration
Host: Christina Rice
Info: Join the creators of "Los Angeles Central Library POPS: Celebrating a Century of the Light of Learning," in conversation about the development and design of their brand new pop-up book!
Author Christina Rice, illustrator Mirelle Ortega, paper engineer Matthew Reinhart, and book designer Becca Lofchie will all be on hand to pop, pull, and present on the wonderful display of LAPL pride that is "Los Angeles Central Library POPS"!
The program will be followed by a book signing at the Angel City Press booth in the Children’s Courtyard.
🕑: 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Central 100 Celebration: Mixed Media Pop-Up Book Workshop
Info: Teaching Artist Rachel Curry will guide workshop participants through the creation of original carousel books, a type of pop-up book with cut and layered paper panels that can be displayed in a circular structure reminiscent of a carousel ride.
Participants will explore a variety of materials such as collage, rubber stamps, archival images, writing, and drawing to make one-of-a-kind artist books inspired by the Central Library’s collections, history, architecture, and legacy.
🕑: 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Central Library Artist Spotlight: David Bunn
Info: David Bunn will discuss his piece "A Place for Everything and Everything in its Place" (1993), where he took the library's obsolete card catalog and transformed it into a functional work of art that transports visitors through the eight floors of the Tom Bradley Wing. This discussion will be moderated by Angi Brzycki, Senior Librarian of the Special Collections Department at Central Library.
🕑: 11:00 AM - 03:00 PM
Pop-up Poetry with Los Angeles Poet Laureate Brian Sonia-Wallace
Host: Brian Sonia-Wallace
🕑: 11:15 AM - 11:45 AM
L.A. Taiko Ichiza
Info: Taiko drumming performance by L.A. Taiko Ichiza, a leading Japanese taiko ensemble based in Los Angeles.
🕑: 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Bilingual Storytime with Leo Espinosa, Author of My Papa Has a Red Mustache
Host: Leo Espinosa
Info: Join New York Times bestselling illustrator and Pura Belpré Honor recipient Leo Espinosa for a special bilingual storytime featuring "My Papa Has a Red Mustache," his joyful author-illustrator debut. This heartwarming and humorous picture book follows a girl who adores everything about her papa—except for his very noticeable red mustache. But when they're separated at her first soccer match, it's the glowing red mustache in a sea of black mustaches that helps bring them back together.
After the reading, Leo will share a live drawing demonstration and offer a behind-the-scenes look at how he creates the bold, colorful illustrations that bring his stories to life. Perfect for young readers, soccer fans, and families of all ages!
🕑: 12:00 PM - 01:00 PM
Central Library Artist Spotlight: Ries Niemi
Info: Ries Niemi will discuss his piece "The Literate Fence" (1993), a metal sculpture that combines language, subjects, and design elements of Central Library into a practical fence that frames the courtyards running along 5th Street. This discussion will be moderated by Mary McCoy, Senior Librarian of the History & Genealogy Department at Central Library.
🕑: 12:15 AM - 12:45 PM
Bob Baker Marionette Theater
Info: Bob Baker Marionette Theater is an iconic Los Angeles institution that has served its community with creativity, joy, and imagination since 1963.
🕑: 12:15 AM - 01:45 PM
Susan Orlean in conversation with John F. Szabo
Host: Susan Orlean
Info: Nearly eight years after its publication, Susan Orlean’s "The Library Book" continues to enthrall readers with its exploration of the Los Angeles Public Library and the unsolved 1986 Central Library arson fires. Orlean, in conversation with City Librarian John F. Szabo, reflects on the success of the book and its continued resonance with people around the world.
🕑: 12:30 PM - 01:30 PM
Los Angeles Central Library: A History of Its Art and Architecture presented b
Host: Stephen Gee
Info: Come and learn about the wonderful art and architecture of the Los Angeles Central Library building with author and historian Stephen Gee.
Become enraptured with the history of the Central Library and how it fits into the story of the city of Los Angeles. Moderated by Jim Sherman, Librarian from the Literature & Fiction Department.
The program will be followed by a book signing at the Angel City Press booth in the Children’s Courtyard.
🕑: 01:00 PM - 02:00 PM
Central Library Artist Spotlight: Renee Petropoulos
Info: Renee Petropoulos will discuss her mural "The Seven Centers" (1993) which draws its inspiration from the art and architecture of Central Library. Located on the lobby ceiling, this was the only public art piece from the renovation and expansion to be included in the 1926 Central Library building. This discussion will be moderated by Angi Brzycki, Senior Librarian of the Special Collections Department at Central Library.
🕑: 01:45 PM - 02:15 PM
Mariachi Lindas Mexicanas
Info: LA's all-female mariachi band will bring the vibrant, powerful sounds of traditional Mexican music to the Centennial Festival.
🕑: 02:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Central Library Artist Spotlight: Therman Statom
Info: Therman Statom will discuss his three chandeliers that dominate the Atrium of the Tom Bradley Wing. Representing the natural, technological and metaphysical spheres of existence the massive works of art each weigh 1,750 pounds. This discussion will be moderated by Mary McCoy, Senior Librarian of the History & Genealogy Department at Central Library.
🕑: 02:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Meet Dan Santat
Info: Award-winning author/illustrator (and this year’s Summer with the Library artist) Dan Santat will discuss his writing and illustrating career, including his newest titles, "Don’t Trust Fish" and "A Fishboy Named... Sashimi."
🕑: 02:00 PM - 04:00 PM
Community Collage & Haiku Workshop
Info: Join Teaching Artist JT Bruns for an afternoon of collage and haiku-making inspired by the lasting impact of public libraries.
Participants will explore the connection between visual art and poetry by creating original works that combine spontaneous haiku writing with collage, stamps, and mixed media. Drawing inspiration from the Central Library’s history, community, and creative spirit, attendees will leave with their own unique artwork while contributing to a collective celebration of shared experiences and creativity.
🕑: 02:30 PM - 03:00 PM
Urban Voices
Info: The Urban Voices Project Choir is composed of artists and performers from the Skid Row neighborhood in Downtown Los Angeles. They share the healing power of music with audiences to raise awareness about the condition of homelessness, mental health inequities, socio-economic inequalities.
🕑: 02:30 PM - 03:30 PM
L is for Librarian: The Making of Los Angeles Central Library’s Children’s Boo
Host: Susan Lendroth
Info: Learn about the making of the first children’s book about Los Angeles Central Library with the author and illustrator of "L is for Librarian: The ABCs of Los Angeles Central Library." Author Susan Lendroth and illustrator Alexander Vidal will be in conversation about how they created this love letter to Central Library that is jam packed with unique facts, interesting history, and gorgeous visuals. Moderated by Joanna Fabicon, Senior Librarian of Children's Services.
The program will be followed by a book signing at the Angel City Press booth in the Children’s Courtyard.
🕑: 03:30 PM - 04:00 PM
Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz
Info: A performance featuring members of the current class as well as alumni from previous classes of the Hancock Institute of Jazz Performance at UCLA.
🕑: 03:30 PM - 04:30 PM
The Linda Lindas
Info: Since going viral with their LA Public Library performance of their song “Racist, Sexist, Boy” the world has watched these four musicians scream about injustice, sing about growing up and exhibit the kind of altruism that is so meaningful to the punk scene.
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
USD 0.00
