Sedona AZ (September 13, 2014) – Save the date! Sedona is stepping up its participation in the annual International Day of Peace celebrated every September 21 in small towns and cities around the globe. This year, Tlaquepaque Arts and Crafts Center, Portal Lane, south Sedona, is hosting an entire day of fun for the whole family. The Sunday event runs from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., admission is free, and everyone is warmly invited!

Internationally collected peace artist and Tlaquepaque gallery owner, Andrea Smith, envisioned a beautifully expressed art project where participants answered the question “What does peace mean to me?” Three decades later, that dream is being realized in the Peace by Piece Festival.

“We all want peace. I saw the community coming together where everyone shares a piece of peace through their art,” said Andrea Smith. Her effort has produced a huge community “peace quilt” made up of 6 x 6 painted squares, the inspired work of hundreds of local children and adult hands, all expressing their personal vision of peace. The peace quilt will be displayed along Tlaquepaque’s main Calle for all to enjoy.

In the spirit of creating peaceful community, Sedona area musicians, dancers, spoken word artists and jugglers are volunteering time to provide an exciting day of non-stop entertainment on two stages. Kids can head to the Kids Zone to be treated to a hula-hoop contest and face painting.

Also part of the International Day of Peace celebration is the Global Feast for Peace. Local restaurants will provide light fare which festival goers can purchase with food tickets, redeeming the tickets at various food stations. All of the proceeds will go to benefit local area food banks. In addition, local organizational leaders, whose work is to help create a culture of peace in Sedona, will be on hand for community conversations.

“It’s going to be a wonderful family-friendly day. We really hope everyone in the community will come and spend some time viewing the peace quilt, and think about creating a more peaceful world,” reports Wendy Lippman, general manager of Tlaquepaque.

The International Day of Peace, established in 1981 by the United Nations General Assembly, is annually celebrated by millions of people around the world by attending festivals, concerts and events in their time zones. As the Tlaquepaque bell tower strikes twelve noon there will be a silent moment of peace, joining others all over the globe. This daylong celebration of peace is observed by many of the International Cities of Peace, a UN-inspired organization dedicated to fostering Cultures of Peace in each of its nearly 100 cities.

Sedona International City of Peace is a member of the International Cities of Peace organization and is made up of community residents who have committed themselves to joining together to catalyze conversations and inspire action in pursuit of peace through art, film, civil dialogue, events, education and more. Established in 2012, the Sedona chapter is proud to stand with other cities of peace on five continents dedicated to this purpose.

For more information, visit www.internationalcitiesofpeace.org/cities/sedona/sedona.html.

For the best in BREAKING NEWS and views, read SedonaEye.com daily!