The Best Ways to Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month in Austin

¡Saludos! The month celebrating the experiences, cultures, and contributions of Latina/e/o/x and Hispanic communities in the U.S. began Sept. 15 and runs through Oct. 15. Hispanic Heritage Month was nationally recognized in 1988.

Why does this heritage month start in the middle of September? It marks a significant period in the region’s liberation from its colonizers. Costa Rica, El Salvador (¡mi gente!), Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua declared independence from Spain on Sept. 15, 1821. Mexico celebrates independence on Sept. 16 and Chile on Sept. 18. Belize declared independence from the United Kingdom on Sept. 21, 1981.

Here are some ways you can celebrate this month:

🎉 What to do:

• 🇲🇽 All Month (and beyond): Día de los Muertos: Coleccionando Memorias at Mexic-Arte Museum
• 💃 Sept. 17: Club Cumbia with Flor de la Frontera & The Cumbia Cunh + Free Dance Class at Volstead Lounge
• 🩰 Sept. 19: Estampas de Mexico at AISD Performing Arts Center
• 🥳 Sept. 19: Centennial and Latino Heritage Celebration at the Southeast Community Branch - Austin Public Library
• 🖼️ Sept. 19-20 & Sept. 26-27 (and beyond): Changarrito Residency: Ana Deisy Campos at Mexic-Arte Museum
• 🎉 Sept. 20: Anthropos All-Stars Present: Cumbia Dance Party at Batch Craft Beer & Kolaches
• 🇲🇽 Sept. 20: México de Colores: Primera vez en ATX at Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center
• ✨ Sept. 25: Sound Bath with VHU Music at Pease Park
• 📷 Sept. 26: Lotería: Rostros de Austin at The Museum of Human Achievement
• 🎵 Sept. 26: Tío Tóto Bilingual Musical Performance at the Little Walnut Creek Branch - Austin Public Library
• 🥳 Sept. 26-27: Art City Austin's Fiesta at Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center
• 🇨🇺 Through Oct. 3: Cuba: Un Colectivo, Tres Miradas at La Peña Gallery
• 🖼️ Oct. 3-4 (and beyond): Changarrito Residency: Sandra C Fernandez at Mexic-Arte Museum
• 🎶 Oct. 10-11: Los Muertos: Goth En Español at The Elysium
• 🇵🇷 Oct. 11: Taino Harvest - Casabe Workshop & Ceremony at the Puerto Rican Cultural Center

Plus, even more events for children and adults at Austin Public Library!

🥑 Where to eat:

Austin has no shortage of Latin American restaurants — perhaps too many to list here. But our favorites include: Licha’s Cantina, Veracruz All Natural, Cafe Nena'i, El Alma, Mercado Sin Nombre, and Buenos Aires Cafe. Order the seasonal chiles en nogada if they’re on the menu!

🛍️ Where to shop:

🖼️ Mexic-Arte Museum has tons of cute T-shirts, socks, tote bags, hats, keychains, books, pins, patches, puzzles, greeting cards, and more in its store.

💅 Get your nails done or acquire a tooth gem at Dope Culture, a Latina-owned salon in South Austin. The salon also sells jewelry, nail care items, and more online.

🌸 Shop online at Las Ofrendas, a Latina-owned brand offering up great accessories, candles, jewelry, flower crowns, and literally anything else you can think of.