Officially designated in 2022 by President Joe Biden, National Arab American Heritage Month honors people in the United States who are of Arab ancestry, as well as their history, culture and many contributions to our country. To celebrate, Fairfax County Public Library (FCPL) is hosting presentations, workshops, storytimes, crafts and more throughout the month, highlighting members of the Arab American community and their heritage.
Check out a small sample of what we have planned at a library near you:
*Please note that dates/times of the following events are subject to change. Check the event listing for the latest information.
Arab American Heritage Month Scavenger Hunt – Centreville Regional Library – All Month
Learn to read the numbers 1-10 in Arabic script as you search the library for the hidden clues to match up the correct numbers. Once your scavenger hunt sheet is completed, turn it in at the Information Desk for a small prize.
Coloring Arabesque and Geometric Patterns – John Marshall Library – Monday, April 7
Relax and listen to instrumental Middle Eastern music while coloring arabesque and geometric patterns.
Family Storytime Extravaganza – Kingstowne Library – Saturday, April 12
Bring your family to learn about Eid al-Fitr, a celebration of the end of Ramadan, with books and crafts.
Arabic Stories and Calligraphy for Kids – City of Fairfax Regional Library – Thursday, April 17
Enjoy a reading of The Proudest Blue by I. Muhammad, sing some songs and try your hand at Arabic calligraphy.
Poetry Writing and Reading – Lorton Library – Tuesday, April 22
Celebrate National Poetry & Arab American Heritage Months by creating poetry. Prompts, writing materials, tea and poetry books by classic and contemporary Arab American writers will be provided.
Arab American Cultural Open House – Chantilly Regional Library – Saturday, April 26
Learn about the rich and diverse cultures of Arab Americans in Fairfax County in this program for all ages.
Moon Rock Painting – Sherwood Regional Library – Saturday, April 26
Celebrate and learn about Farouk El-Baz’s contributions to NASA and the Apollo missions by creating a moon with "moon rock" paint!
For a complete list of Arab American Heritage-related events, visit bit.ly/FCPL_ArabAmericanHeritage.
You can also celebrate by selecting a new read from our specially curated Arab American Heritage Month booklist found here.