Pretend City Children’s Museum in Irvine hosted a “Learn about Hajj” event for children, on Thursday, Aug. 31, highlighting the importance of the Islamic holy pilgrimage to Mecca.

Children and families who attended the first-time event heard the story of hajj from a Muslim author and learned more through educational games, arts and crafts.

Yasmin Osman, 11, center, and Elyas Osman, 8, right, purchase pretend groceries from brother Jannah Osman, 5, left, during a Hajj program at Pretend City in Irvine on Thursday, August 31, 2017. Kids learned the significance of Hajj through story-telling, crafts, food, and games. Hajj is one of the Five Pillars of Islam and is a holy pilgrimage to Mecca that every Muslim must perform at least once in his or her lifetime. (Photo by Ana Venegas, Orange County Register/SCNG)s

Camille Williams, 4, of San Diego, right, gets a henna drawing on her hand from Nurah Hamdi, left, of the Islamic Center of Irvine. Children learned about Hajj at Pretend City in Irvine on Thursday August 31, 2017, through story-telling, crafts, food, and games. Children learned the significance of Hajj which is one of the Five Pillars of Islam and is a holy pilgrimage to Mecca that every Muslim must perform at least once in his or her lifetime. (Photo by Ana Venegas, Orange County Register/SCNG)s

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August Jensen, 5, of Costa Mesa, savors hummus provided at the Hajj celebration at Pretend City in Irvine on Thursday, August 31, 2017. Children learned the significance of Hajj through story-telling, crafts, food, and games. Hajj is one of the Five Pillars of Islam and is a holy pilgrimage to Mecca that every Muslim must perform at least once in his or her lifetime. (Photo by Ana Venegas, Orange County Register/SCNG)s

Yousef Latif, 3, left, and Amir Latif, 5, right, of Irvine listen to Osman Umarji, a UCI doctoral student, from Irvine, reads “If You Take A Mouse To Makka,” a children’s book he wrote during a Hajj celebration at Pretend City in Irvine on Thursday, August 31, 2017. (Photo by Ana Venegas, Orange County Register/SCNG)s

Mariam Majdy, 3, shows off a henna drawing at the Hajj celebration at Pretend City in Irvine on Thursday, August 31, 2017. (Photo by Ana Venegas, Orange County Register/SCNG)s



Jannah Osman, 5, left, Yasmin Osman, 11, center, and Elyas Osman, 8, right, listen to Osman Umarji, a UCI doctoral student, from Irvine, reads “If You Take A Mouse To Makka,” a children’s book he wrote during a Hajj celebration at Pretend City in Irvine on Thursday, August 31, 2017. (Photo by Ana Venegas, Orange County Register/SCNG)s

Osman Umarji, a UCI doctoral student, from Irvine, reads “If You Take A Mouse To Makka,” a children’s book he wrote during programing for Hajj at Pretend City in Irvine on Thursday, August 31, 2017. Kids learned about Hajj through story-telling, crafts, food, and games. (Photo by Ana Venegas, Orange County Register/SCNG)s

Dawud Mujahid, 5, center, and Majdy Muhyieddeen,5, right, became fast friends after meeting at Pretend City in Irvine on Thursday, August 31, 2017, during a program for Hajj. (Photo by Ana Venegas, Orange County Register/SCNG)s

A pretend home at Pretend City in Irvine is set up to show a Muslim family living in it. Children learned about Hajj at Pretend City in Irvine on Thursday, August 31, 2017, through story-telling, crafts, food, and games. (Photo by Ana Venegas, Orange County Register/SCNG)s

Fatmah Muhammad runs a craft table at the Hajj celebration at Pretend City in Irvine on Thursday, August 31, 2017. Hajj is one of the Five Pillars of Islam and is a holy pilgrimage to Mecca that every Muslim must perform at least once in his or her lifetime. (Photo by Ana Venegas, Orange County Register/SCNG)s



Mariam Majdy, 3, gets some henna on her hand at the Hajj celebration at Pretend City in Irvine on Thursday, August 31, 2017. (Photo by Ana Venegas, Orange County Register/SCNG)s

“We’ve worked hard to ensure the authenticity and integrity of the programming and made sure Muslim community members and influencers are involved in the event,” said Tayyaba Hassaan, development specialist at the museum.

The event, she said, will hopefully send an uplifting message of unity and inclusiveness in Orange County, she said.