From community iftars to storytimes: Where to honor Ramadan
San Diegans are spending the holy month leading bilingual storytimes at libraries, breaking their fast with events at local restaurants and making paper lanterns.
Written by Lauren J. Mapp, Edited by Maya Srikrishnan
Ramadan began on Tuesday, and San Diego’s Muslim community is honoring the holy month of fasting, prayer and reflection through donation drives, youth talks, community iftars and bilingual storytimes.
Know an event we missed? Send it to lauren@daylightsandiego.org.
Feb. 18
Ramadan Donation Drive: House of Syria and the Majdal Center are collecting donations of nonperishable foods and diapers through Feb. 18. Organizers suggest donating rice, pasta, olive oil, dried grape leaves and tomato paste. Reach out to Razanne Mihtar with questions at 858-829-1156 or mihtar@usc.edu. Drop off details:
- Majdal Center (329 E Main St., El Cajon, CA 92020): 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
- Tahini Authentic Middle Eastern Street Food & Finjan Coffee Shop Co. (9119 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., Suite H, San Diego, CA 92123): 11 a.m. - 8 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.
- Tahini Authentic Middle Eastern Street Food (9625 Scholars Drive N, #0113, La Jolla, CA 92093): 10:30 a.m. - 8 p.m.
- Finjan Coffee Shop Co. (7710 Hazard Center Drive, San Diego, CA 92108): 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Feb. 19
Ramadan Storytime: City Heights/Weingart Library is hosting a bilingual Arabic and English storytime with stories about Ramadan for preschool-age children and younger. A Ramadan-inspired craft will follow the storytime. 10:30 - 11 a.m., City Heights/Weingart Library, 3795 Fairmount Ave., San Diego, CA 92105
Feb. 20
Ramadan Storytime: Scripps Miramar Ranch Library is hosting a bilingual Arabic and English storytime with stories about Ramadan for elementary-age children and younger. 10:30 - 11 a.m., Scripps Miramar Ranch Library, 10301 Scripps Lake Drive, San Diego, CA 92131
Feb. 22
HEAL Palestine: HEAL Palestine — a nonprofit dedicated to supporting Palestinian children and families — is hosting a community Ramadan Iftar at Sufi Mediterranean Cuisine. Tickets are available online and cost $50 for adults or $30 for children. 5 p.m., Sufi Mediterranean Cuisine, 5915 Balboa Ave., San Diego, CA 92111
Feb. 24
Crafternoon: The Balboa Library is leading a crafternoon where kids ages 4 and older can make Ramadan paper cup mosque lanterns. 4 - 5 p.m., Balboa Library, 4255 Mt. Abernathy Ave., San Diego, CA 92117
Ramadan Storytime: Rancho Bernardo Library is hosting a bilingual Arabic and English storytime with stories about Ramadan for elementary-age children and younger. 6 - 6:30 p.m., Rancho Bernardo Library, 17110 Bernardo Center Drive, San Diego, CA 92128
Feb. 25
Ramadan Storytime: North University Community Library is hosting a bilingual Arabic and English storytime with stories about Ramadan for elementary-age children and younger. 10 - 10:30 a.m., North University Community Library, 8820 Judicial Drive, San Diego, CA 92122
Feb. 26
SBAOA Ramadan Iftar: Somali Bantu Association of America is hosting its annual Ramadan Iftar with an evening of food and reflection. Reserve free tickets online. 5 - 7 p.m., 4855 Seminole Drive, San Diego, CA 92115
Feb. 27
CAIR-SD Community Iftar: The San Diego office for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, or CAIR, is hosting a community iftar for local folks to break their fast with a halal dinner. Tickets are available online for $25. 5 - 7 p.m., Sufi Mediterranean Cuisine, 5915 Balboa Ave., San Diego, CA 92111
March 4
Paper Lantern Crafting: Elementary school children are invited to the Pacific Beach/Taylor Library to create paper lanterns for Ramadan. Young children may need help from parents or guardians. 2 - 3 p.m., Pacific Beach/Taylor Library, 4275 Cass St., San Diego, CA 92109
March 5
Ramadan Storytime: Kensington-Normal Heights Library is hosting a bilingual Arabic and English storytime to honor Ramadan with stories, songs and bubbles for kids ages 1 to 5. 10:30 - 11:30 a.m., Kensington-Normal Heights Library, 4121 Adams Ave., San Diego, CA 92116
House of Syria: The House of Syria is hosting a Ramadan Iftar and Lent Dinner at the Living Room Coffeehouse in La Jolla. The dinner includes a buffet-style feast with dinner, desserts, tea and coffee. Tickets are available online for $85 per person. 5:30 p.m., Living Room Coffeehouse, 1205 Prospect St., La Jolla, CA 92037
March 11
Ramadan Storytime: Carmel Valley Library is hosting a bilingual Arabic and English storytime with stories about Ramadan for kids ages 3 to 5 and their families. 10 - 10:30 a.m., Carmel Valley Library, 3919 Townsgate Drive, San Diego, CA 92130
March 13
Family Storytime: Carmel Valley Library is hosting a bilingual Arabic and English storytime with stories about Ramadan for elementary-age children and younger. 10 - 11 a.m., North Clairemont Library, 4616 Clairemont Drive, San Diego, CA 92117
