About Hispanic Heritage Month Festival

Hispanic Heritage Month is a month-long celebration of Hispanic and Latino history and culture. While we celebrate Hispanic and Latino communites beyond this month, from September 15 to October 15 we give extra recognition to the many contributions made to the history and culture of the United States, including important advocacy work, vibrant art, popular and traditional foods, and much more.

Hispanic Heritage Month provides an additional opportunity to explore the incredible impact Latinas and Latinos have had on the United States for generations. The Latino presence in America spans centuries, predating Spain’s colonization of what is now part of the United States, and they have been an integral part of shaping our nation since the Revolutionary War. Through the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo and the Treaty of Paris that followed the Mexican-American and Spanish-American wars, the United States gained territories in the Southwest and Puerto Rico. This incorporated the people of this area into the United States and further expanded the presence of Hispanic Americans.

Today, the Latino population in the United States today is over 60 million, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. This makes up 18.9% of the total population and is the largest racial or ethnic group. Latinos continue to help fuel our economy and enrich our nation as entrepreneurs, athletes, artists, entertainers, scientists, public servants, and much more. 

Hispanic and Latino are the two most used terms to describe Americans with Latin American and Caribbean ancestry. You may often see these terms used interchangeably, but different people understand and use these terms differently. The National Museum of the American Latino uses the term “Latino” to describe the diverse residents of the United States with cultural or ancestral ties to Latin America or the Caribbean. For many, the term "Latino" also creates room for acknowledging Black, Indigenous, Asian, and other heritages on equal terms with European ancestry. The term “Hispanic” is used to signal a connection to Spain or the Spanish language.  

Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated each year from September 15 to October 15. It began as a week-long celebration in 1968 under President Johnson and was expanded to a month by President Reagan 20 years later in 1988. The month-long celebration provides more time to properly recognize the significant contributions Hispanic/Latino Americans have made in the United States.

Hispanic Heritage Month does not cover one single month but instead begins in the middle of September and ends in the middle of October. The timeframe of this month is significant because many Central American countries celebrate their independence days within these dates, beginning on September 15 with Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. By aligning with these independence dates, Hispanic Heritage Month honors the resilience and determination of the Hispanic community. Key Independence Days celebrated within Hispanic Heritage Month include:

• September 15 - Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua
• September 16 – Mexico
• September 18 – Chile
• September 21 - Belize 

Latinas and Latinos have always held significant roles throughout our country’s history, dating all the way back to the American Revolution. Hispanic Heritage Month is important because it provides an opportunity to celebrate the integral part the Hispanic/Latino community has had in growing and strengthening our democracy.
 

Representation matters. Latinos and Latinas continue to shape our nation as business owners, activists, artists, public servants, and more. From serving in the U.S. military to being champions in the fight for civil rights, Latinas and Latinos remain strong leaders and changemakers.
 

It’s crucial to make sure that the contributions of the Latino community are showcased, and that Latinas and Latinos have a voice. According to 2020 data from the U.S. Census Bureau, one in every four children in the United States is Hispanic/Latino. A recent study found that Latino history is largely left out in high school textbooks that are used across the United States, despite the increasing percentage of Latina and Latino students. This also comes at a time when the economic output of American Latinos would rank fifth in the world if the community  were an independent country. As the country continues to increase in diversity, it’s necessary for all citizens to learn more about American Latino experiences to recognize and value the many contributions Latinas and Latinos have made.

Hispanic Heritage Month is an opportunity to shine a spotlight on the unique voices and experiences of Hispanic/Latino Americans and recognize their history, journeys, and achievements. Through these celebrations, we can all help to inspire younger generations and bring communities together.
 

Learn more about why and how we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month.

Hispanic Heritage Month also provides opportunities to showcase the cultural influences the Latino community has had on the United States. From entertainment and sports to business and science, Latinas and Latinos enrich our society.

As athletes, Latinas and Latinos have been game changers. For example, over the years, the Latino community has helped to shape America’s favorite pastime—baseball. As of opening day in 2023, about 30 percent of Major League Baseball players are Hispanic/Latino. With the accomplishments of past players like Roberto Clemente and present ones such as Francisco Lindor and Javier Báez leading the way, the sport will continue to evolve.

Latinas have also shaped baseball history, serving as players, broadcasters, and team owners. In the 1990s, Linda Alvarado purchased the Colorado Rockies and made history as the first woman to ever win a bid to buy a team. This purchase also resulted in her becoming the first Hispanic MLB team owner. The contributions of Latinas like Alvarado and others, such as baseball player Margaret "Marge" Villa and sportscaster Jessica Mendoza, have forever transformed the game of baseball.

Join in on the celebration during Hispanic Heritage Month and learn more about the history, culture, and achievements of the Hispanic/Latino community. During this time, many museums and cultural institutions host special exhibitions and programs you can attend to learn more about the American Latino experience. Many of these can also be viewed virtually. You should also check out events happening in your local city. During Hispanic Heritage Month, many cities will host concerts, parades, runs, festivals, art exhibits, and more in celebration.

You can also celebrate by watching awards shows that honor the many accomplishments of Latinas and Latinos and their contributions to our nation’s history.

There are many ways you can show your support for the Latino  community. For example, you can research influential Latino leaders, read books written by Latino authors, cook traditional Latino recipes, watch films that feature Hispanic/latino actors and directors, participate in a community service project that benefits the Latino community, learn traditional Latin American dances, and more.

Celebrations do not need to be limited to Hispanic Heritage Month. Throughout the year, there are many resources and events that can help you to learn more about the Latino community. Explore activities in your state to discover events and programs like art exhibits, workshops, lectures, performances, food festivals, film festivals, and parades to show your support.  

During Hispanic Heritage Month, celebrate by taking the time to learn more about Latino identity and historical legacies that enrich communities and continue to shape our nation.   

Hispanic Heritage Month is an excellent time to learn more about the history and contributions of the Latino community. There are many teaching and learning resources that can be used to celebrate and explore during Hispanic Heritage Month, including:

• National Museum of the American Latino’s Teaching and Learning Resources - View the National Museum of the American Latino’s educational resources.
• National Museum of the American Latino’s Family and Public Programs - Discover programs and events you can learn more about to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month.
• ¡Presente! A Latino History of the United States - Explore the historical legacies, immigration stories, identity, and cultural influences of the Latino community in this online exhibit.
• Smithsonian Institution Hispanic Heritage Month Events and Resources – Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with the Smithsonian Institution! Learn about related events, resources, exhibitions, and podcasts.
• American Women’s History Museum’s Featured Latinas –  Learn about some of the remarkable Latinas who have helped shape our nation.
• ¡Pleibol! In the Barrios and the Big Leagues - Examine how the talent and experiences of Latinas and Latinos in the game of baseball have helped to shape the sport.
• The National Postal Museum’s Virtual Exhibit on Celebrating Hispanic Heritage - Learn about some of the contributions of Hispanic people, places, and events as they have been commemorated through the American postage stamp.
• National Hispanic Heritage Month Website - Explore Hispanic Heritage Month resources and events from the Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution, and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.
• Library of Congress's Hispanic Reading Room - Learn about this resource for researching the geographical areas of the Caribbean, Latin America, Spain, and Portugal. 

Hispanic and Latino are the two most used terms to describe Americans with Latin American and Caribbean ancestry. You may often see these terms used interchangeably, but different people understand and use these terms differently. The National Museum of the American Latino uses the term “Latino” to describe the diverse residents of the United States with cultural or ancestral ties to Latin America or the Caribbean. For many, the term "Latino" also creates room for acknowledging Black, Indigenous, Asian, and other heritages on equal terms with European ancestry. The term “Hispanic” is used to signal a connection to Spain or the Spanish language.  

Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated each year from September 15 to October 15. It began as a week-long celebration in 1968 under President Johnson and was expanded to a month by President Reagan 20 years later in 1988. The month-long celebration provides more time to properly recognize the significant contributions Hispanic/Latino Americans have made in the United States.

Hispanic Heritage Month does not cover one single month but instead begins in the middle of September and ends in the middle of October. The timeframe of this month is significant because many Central American countries celebrate their independence days within these dates, beginning on September 15 with Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. By aligning with these independence dates, Hispanic Heritage Month honors the resilience and determination of the Hispanic community. Key Independence Days celebrated within Hispanic Heritage Month include:

• September 15 - Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua
• September 16 – Mexico
• September 18 – Chile
• September 21 - Belize 

Latinas and Latinos have always held significant roles throughout our country’s history, dating all the way back to the American Revolution. Hispanic Heritage Month is important because it provides an opportunity to celebrate the integral part the Hispanic/Latino community has had in growing and strengthening our democracy.
 

Representation matters. Latinos and Latinas continue to shape our nation as business owners, activists, artists, public servants, and more. From serving in the U.S. military to being champions in the fight for civil rights, Latinas and Latinos remain strong leaders and changemakers.
 

It’s crucial to make sure that the contributions of the Latino community are showcased, and that Latinas and Latinos have a voice. According to 2020 data from the U.S. Census Bureau, one in every four children in the United States is Hispanic/Latino. A recent study found that Latino history is largely left out in high school textbooks that are used across the United States, despite the increasing percentage of Latina and Latino students. This also comes at a time when the economic output of American Latinos would rank fifth in the world if the community  were an independent country. As the country continues to increase in diversity, it’s necessary for all citizens to learn more about American Latino experiences to recognize and value the many contributions Latinas and Latinos have made.

Hispanic Heritage Month is an opportunity to shine a spotlight on the unique voices and experiences of Hispanic/Latino Americans and recognize their history, journeys, and achievements. Through these celebrations, we can all help to inspire younger generations and bring communities together.
 

Learn more about why and how we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month.

Hispanic Heritage Month also provides opportunities to showcase the cultural influences the Latino community has had on the United States. From entertainment and sports to business and science, Latinas and Latinos enrich our society.

As athletes, Latinas and Latinos have been game changers. For example, over the years, the Latino community has helped to shape America’s favorite pastime—baseball. As of opening day in 2023, about 30 percent of Major League Baseball players are Hispanic/Latino. With the accomplishments of past players like Roberto Clemente and present ones such as Francisco Lindor and Javier Báez leading the way, the sport will continue to evolve.

Latinas have also shaped baseball history, serving as players, broadcasters, and team owners. In the 1990s, Linda Alvarado purchased the Colorado Rockies and made history as the first woman to ever win a bid to buy a team. This purchase also resulted in her becoming the first Hispanic MLB team owner. The contributions of Latinas like Alvarado and others, such as baseball player Margaret "Marge" Villa and sportscaster Jessica Mendoza, have forever transformed the game of baseball.

Join in on the celebration during Hispanic Heritage Month and learn more about the history, culture, and achievements of the Hispanic/Latino community. During this time, many museums and cultural institutions host special exhibitions and programs you can attend to learn more about the American Latino experience. Many of these can also be viewed virtually. You should also check out events happening in your local city. During Hispanic Heritage Month, many cities will host concerts, parades, runs, festivals, art exhibits, and more in celebration.

You can also celebrate by watching awards shows that honor the many accomplishments of Latinas and Latinos and their contributions to our nation’s history.

There are many ways you can show your support for the Latino  community. For example, you can research influential Latino leaders, read books written by Latino authors, cook traditional Latino recipes, watch films that feature Hispanic/latino actors and directors, participate in a community service project that benefits the Latino community, learn traditional Latin American dances, and more.

Celebrations do not need to be limited to Hispanic Heritage Month. Throughout the year, there are many resources and events that can help you to learn more about the Latino community. Explore activities in your state to discover events and programs like art exhibits, workshops, lectures, performances, food festivals, film festivals, and parades to show your support.  

Hispanic Heritage Month is an excellent time to learn more about the history and contributions of the Latino community. There are many teaching and learning resources that can be used to celebrate and explore during Hispanic Heritage Month, including:

• National Museum of the American Latino’s Teaching and Learning Resources - View the National Museum of the American Latino’s educational resources.
• National Museum of the American Latino’s Family and Public Programs - Discover programs and events you can learn more about to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month.
• ¡Presente! A Latino History of the United States - Explore the historical legacies, immigration stories, identity, and cultural influences of the Latino community in this online exhibit.
• Smithsonian Institution Hispanic Heritage Month Events and Resources – Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with the Smithsonian Institution! Learn about related events, resources, exhibitions, and podcasts.
• American Women’s History Museum’s Featured Latinas –  Learn about some of the remarkable Latinas who have helped shape our nation.
• ¡Pleibol! In the Barrios and the Big Leagues - Examine how the talent and experiences of Latinas and Latinos in the game of baseball have helped to shape the sport.
• The National Postal Museum’s Virtual Exhibit on Celebrating Hispanic Heritage - Learn about some of the contributions of Hispanic people, places, and events as they have been commemorated through the American postage stamp.
• National Hispanic Heritage Month Website - Explore Hispanic Heritage Month resources and events from the Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution, and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.
• Library of Congress's Hispanic Reading Room - Learn about this resource for researching the geographical areas of the Caribbean, Latin America, Spain, and Portugal.