As summer fades to fall, National Hispanic Heritage Month, which is observed from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15, provides plenty of opportunities to celebrate Latino culture, heritage and contributions. Oklahoma City is home to vibrant Hispanic and Latino communities and hosts several festivals to honor the histories, traditions and contributions that have helped shape our city.
The first day of National Hispanic Heritage Month coincides with the independence days of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua, while Mexico and Chile observe their independence days on Sept. 16 and Sept. 18, respectively.
In addition to visiting any of the Latino-owned restaurants that call OKC home, here are seven things you can do to celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month.
Festivals
Just a few days before Hispanic Heritage Month begins, Celebrate Guatemala's independence with Festival Chapìn. On Sept. 12 from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., enjoy free entry into this festival full of food, art, shopping and music. Don’t forget to stop by their art exhibit, which celebrates art created by local Indigenous, Latino and 2SLGBTQIA+ artists.
Fiestas Patrias, a lively combination of performances, activities and vendors, is returning to the Crossroad Commons for its 16th annual Hispanic Heritage Month celebration. On Sept. 13 from 2 to 11 p.m., enjoy live mariachi performances, folkloric dancers, face painting, artisan crafts and traditional food vendors.
A staple of National Hispanic Heritage Month and a can’t-miss event since 2006, the 21st annual Fiestas de las Americas returns to Calle Dos Cinco in Historic Capitol Hill on Oct. 3 from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. The event will kick off with the Parade of the Americas and offers a full day of family-friendly activities, live entertainment, art and pop-up markets.
Celebrate the end of National Hispanic Heritage Month at the Hispanic Festival in Scissortail Park on Oct. 10 from 4-10 p.m. Enjoy vibrant performances, colorful dancers and an immersive experience of diverse cultures through food, music, art and more.
Art Appreciation
Stop by the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History to enjoy their brand-new Lives of the Dead exhibit celebrating the beauty of current and vintage Latin American folk art. From Papier-mâché (cartoneria) skulls and skeletons to the ceramic tableaux and Catrinas of Metepec, Lives of the Dead brings together some of Latin America’s most renowned folk artists. Other exhibition highlights include antique prints by Jose Guadalupe Posada, Manuel Manilla and Dia de Muertos, as seen in contemporary paintings and prints from Mexico.
Through Sept. 20, the Oklahoma City Museum of Art is home to a historic collection of paintings from the Museo de Arte de Ponce. This collection takes you back through six centuries of painting and highlights the rich heritage of Puerto Rican art, from José Campeche’s religious images of the late eighteenth century to the work of contemporary artists such as Francisco Rodón, Myrna Báez and Waldemar Morales Lugo.
Brand new to the OKC art scene, Umani Arthouse is the perfect place to celebrate Hispanic culture in the city. Founded by Iliana Barrientos, this is a space dedicated to helping people find connection through art, food and culture. The south side of Oklahoma City is rich in Hispanic and Latin influence, so Umani Arthouse wanted to create a space where the culture could be represented through art. From Sept. 16 to Oct. 15, check out Browse & Brews, exhibiting their “Lo Que Sigue’s” artworks.
Explore more ways to celebrate and honor the vibrant culture in Oklahoma City.
