MEXICO — For a couple of hours on Friday afternoon, young girls ages 6 to 11 can participate in an American Girl Tea Party in the Calvin P. Lyons Hall at the Mexico Town Office.

Library Director Valerie Messana said Thursday afternoon that the Mexico Public Library is hosting its annual American Girl Tea Party at 1 p.m. Friday, Aug. 15, which gives girls the chance to work on crafts, enjoy a tea party with other girls their own age and learn about the American Girl dolls on display.

“This year, we’re focusing on the Marie-Grace and Cecile collectible dolls,” Messana said. “They were two girls who lived in New Orleans in 1853, just prior to the Civil War times, when people of color lived there as free people.”

Messana clarified that the girls attending the tea party are not required to bring a doll to participate.

“They can, or they don’t have to,” Messana said. “We focus on a certain doll each year, and a lot of girls who have them will bring them, but they certainly don’t have to have the dolls to have fun.”

The Mexico Public Library has been hosting an American Girl Tea Party for several years, after a library board member who also was involved with the Girl Scouts of America suggested it.

All participants will be entered to win two mini Marie-Grace and Cecile dolls, along with their introductory books, “Meet Marie-Grace” and “Meet Cecile.”

Messana added that the girls can dress up in garb worn by New Orleans women circa 1853, if they wish.

“Every year, we have between 15 and 22 girls showing up to the tea party, and of those girls, about one or two actually dress up,” Messana said with a laugh. “It’s always cute when they come in dressed up.”

For more information, call the library at 364-3281.

mdaigle@sunjournal.com