National Hispanic Heritage Month Series
Sept. 15 officially marked the beginning of National Hispanic Heritage Month, which is celebrated each year from Sep. 15 to Oct. 15. This time of year gives us the opportunity to learn and celebrate the contributions of Hispanics, whose ancestors come from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.
The Sept. 15 start for National Hispanic Heritage Month was chosen to coincide with the anniversary of “El Grito de Dolores,” which marks the beginning of Mexico’s War of Independence from Spain. Other countries like Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica celebrate their independence on Sept. 15, while Mexico celebrates its national day on Sept. 16.
Originally, there was Hispanic Heritage Week, which was born through legislation sponsored by U.S. Rep Edward R. Roybal from Los Angeles, a Mexican American, and signed into law in 1968 by President Lyndon B. Johnson. Today, the United States celebrates Hispanic heritages for a month rather than just one week.
Starting next week through October 23, LaVozColorado will feature several community leaders with Hispanic backgrounds in celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month. To kickoff the celebration, here are some ways you can get involved and honor this important month.
Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month at History Colorado
Throughout Hispanic Heritage Month, History Colorado will feature numerous guest speakers and exhibitors to help visitors understand the history and lived experiences of Colorado’s populations while celebrating Hispanic Americans.
One of the exhibitions at the museum is “De la Tierra: Reflections of Place in the Upper Rio Grande,” which show- cases multiple generations of Hispano families and communities who played a role in shaping the region’s cultural identity. This exhibition will be available until April 2025.
For more information about hours and ticket prices, visit historycolorado.org.
Hispanic Heritage in Commerce City
Commerce City is celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month in style with entertainment and free activities on Sunday, Sept. 22 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Entertainers will include Aztec dance, youth Mariachi, folk dance, and live music. Activities for children will also be available, like face painting, a photo booth, bouncy castle, crafts area, and Loteria. Vendors and resources will also be in attendance along with a Vaccine Mobile Unit where community members can get vaccinated for Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Hib, HPV, Polio, Meningitis, MMR, Pneumonia, Rotavirus, and Tdap.
This event will take place in Downtown Derby near the intersection of 72nd Place and Monaco Street along Highway 2. More information is at https://www.c3gov.com/living-in/community-events/hispanic-heritage-celebration.
Latin Beats: Sonidos de las Américas
The Mexican Cultural Center and the Colorado Symphony are preparing to present Latin Beats: Sonidos de las Américas, a unique, free concert. This performance will celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month and Latin culture’s influence on sound in the Americas by showcasing a fusion of traditional, classical, and contemporary music augmented by the Colorado Symphony’s orchestrations.
Tickets for this free performance are available two weeks prior to the event, which occurs on Sept. 26. For more information, visit https://tickets.coloradosymphony.org/7111.
