Fat Tuesday has arrived, which marks the official day of Mardi Gras, the biggest and final day of the long Mardi Gras seasonal celebration in New Orleans that begins on Twelfth Night. The finale of parading and celebration takes place today in New Orleans, before Ash Wednesday and the time Lent which leads to Easter.

The Sloatsburg Library invites kids of all ages to join their own Mardi Gras krewe today, Tuesday, February 17, and create their very own Mardi Gras mask. The activity takes place at 1 p.m. and is one of the events the library scheduled for kids over the Presidents’ Day week-long school recess.

Children’s Librarian Laura Van Ham has also planned a fun family-focused event for Thursday evening to celebrate the Chinese New Year. Van Ham will lead a class making the customary New Year dumplings (jiaozi). The dumpling symbolize wealth and are eaten after dinner until around midnight.

The Library will kick off March with a visit from the foot-stomping Parting Glass Band Saturday afternoon, March 7. Two other great March events to keep in mind are the library’s March 11 Cupcake Wars, where kids will decorate (while eating a few) cupcakes based on literary themes.

The library will also participate in the March 16 Ramapo Central Schools-sponsored family night.

Visit the Sloatsburg Library website or call the front desk at 845-753-2001 for more information on library events and services.