The DeKalb Public Library will host a Dominican festival for the annual Big Read kickoff from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the library.

The Big Read event begins with a Dominican Festival in honor of the Dominican Republic’s independence from Haiti. This year’s The Big Read is In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez. The book takes place in the Dominican Republic.

To kick off the event, speaker Dr. Giselle Castillo, from the Dominican Republic, will make opening remarks. There will be a Dominican food demonstration at noon; UNIDOM, a Dominican ballet folkloric dance group, at 1 p.m. and an informal merengue dance lesson beginning at 2 p.m.

Additionally, crafts and activities for all ages will be available throughout the library. There is no registration required.

Go to bit.ly/1se8Acb for more information on The Big Read events.