Look For NOCCA @ Back To School Fun Fest!
NEW ORLEANS PUBLIC LIBRARY CELEBRATES THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR WITH A BACK-TO-SCHOOL
FUN FEST FOR ALL AGES ON AUG. 16
Event will feature parade, food, musical performances, school supply and book giveaways, interactive activities and more
The New Orleans Public Library will “Turn the Page” to a new school year with a Back-to-School Rally at the Main Library (219 Loyola Ave.) and Duncan Plaza on Saturday, Aug. 16, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. An event for all ages, the Back-to-School Rally will feature music, exhibits, food, a book and school supply giveaway and more.Presented by the New Orleans Public Library, Turn the Page, the New Orleans Public Library Foundation and Friends of the New Orleans Public Library, the Back-to-School Rally will serve as the kickoff event for back-to-school celebrations throughout the parish in an effort to promote education and literacy in New Orleans.
In true New Orleans tradition, the Back-to-School Rally will begin with a book parade at 11:15 a.m. that will take participants from Loyola Ave. to Perdido St., ending at Duncan Plaza. The parade will include entertainment by dance and music ensemble Bamboula 2000 and local bands. Those interested in participating in the book parade can sign up at the Main Library or the Central City Branch Library prior to the event. Parade participants must wear appropriate attire and are encouraged to dress up as their favorite book character. Children participating in the parade must be accompanied by a parent or guardian who will be asked to sign a waiver prior to the event.
The open-to-the public fun fest will also feature interactive exhibits by community partners including, United Way, Costco, the Ashe Cultural Arts Center, the Orleans Parish School Board, the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA), the Louisiana Children’s Museum and more. The Audubon Nature Institute will present a petting zoo and bug-mobile at the event, and attendees will be able to participate in free health screenings. Parents, children and teens alike will be offered a variety of activities during the Back-to-School Rally including, live musical performances by local artists, rock climbing, mobile video games and a literacy lounge exclusive for teenagers. Complimentary pizza, snowballs and bottled water will be available and local food trucks will be on-site featuring their menu items at a reduced rate.
For more information about the rally or how to get involved, contact Youth Services at the New Orleans Public Library by calling (504) 596-2565.