Hispanic Heritage Month begins on September 15 and ends October 15. It is a month full of culture, festivities, and pride for Hispanic families all over the country.
September 15 is the national independence day for Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. September 16 is Mexico’s independence day, and Chile celebrates its independence day on September 18.
Every year, the National Hispanic Employment Program Managers picks a theme to celebrate. This year’s theme is “Unidos: Inclusivity for a Stronger Nation.”
Make plans to celebrate in Fort Worth with your family this year! We have listed several ways through local events, books, shows, and more.
In-Person Events and Activities
Celebramos! A Celebration of Hispanic Heritage :: Join the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens from September 15 until October 15th to celebrate with live performances and exhibitions as well as native plants. With something different every day, you’re sure to learn a lot and enjoy your time.
Denton’s Day of the Dead :: Making its grand return on October 28 is Denton’s Day of the Dead Festival celebrating Hispanic holiday Dia de los Muertos.
Festival del Chile en Nogada :: Visit Don Artemio Restaurant between September 1 and October 16 to enjoy this delicious festival.
Hispanic Heritage Celebration :: Mosey on down to the Fort Worth Stockyards to enjoy a kick-off celebration from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on September 18. This event will include a music show, cattle, traditional foods, and much more. It’s a day of fun learning you don’t want to miss.
La Gran Fiesta :: Held at Clayton Youth Enrichment on September 30, this event is FREE and fun for the whole family!
Latino Heritage Festival :: Located at the DeSoto Amphitheater, this festival has popular Latino artists and foods for a night of celebration.
Latino Cultural Center :: Open year-round, the Latino Cultural Center in Dallas aims to protect, preserve, and promote Latino art and culture.
Mercado369 :: Take a walk around the market filled with treasures from Argentina to Mexico. Enjoy all the art while learning a little more about Latin America.
National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum :: Located just outside the Fort Worth Stockyards, the museum offers a different perspective to the story of how the west was won by showcasing how other cultures helped to form the Wild West.
Open Studies :: Join the Kimbell Art Museum on September 18 for a clay-sculpting session and learn about ancient Mayan culture.
Texas Rangers :: Watch the Rangers play September 25 for Hispanic Heritage Night.
Crack Open a Book
There are so many great books out there that can teach kids of all ages about Hispanic heritage and culture!
Alma and how She Got Her Name by Juana Martinez-Neal. Reading age four to eight years.
Chicano Jr’s Mexican Adventure by Raul Jimenez. Reading age three to five years.
Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo. Reading age young adult.
Dreamers by Yuyi Morales. Reading age four to eight years.
Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan. Reading age eight to 14 years.
I’m Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sanchez. Reading age young adult.
Separate Is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez and Her Family’s Fight for Desegregation by Duncan Tonatiuh. Reading age six to nine years.
Lil Libros is a Hispanic owned company that sells bilingual books for kids about famous Latinx people and about the history and culture of many Latin countries.
PBS also has an amazing booklist to give you a starting point.
Watch TV
What’s an easy way to teach kids and normalize Latinx culture? Watch TV!
Alma’s Way :: A new series from PBS that follows Alma and her brother, Junior, in every day life. Available on PBS and the PBS Kids Video app. Ages 5+.
Canticos :: Similar to Cocomelon, but in English and Spanish, this show is a fun way for little ones to learn in a way they understand. This show streams on Amazon and Paramount+. Ages 3+.
Coco :: This movie follows young Miguel as he learns about his family’s history on Dia de Los Muertos where he finds himself in the afterlife. This movie streams on Disney+. Ages 4+.
Dora the Explorer :: This show follows a little Mexican girl as she adventures with her friends in the jungle. Dora teaches Spanish words and phrases. A second series named “Dora and Friends: Into the City” follows Dora as a teenager living in the city. Dora the Explorer streams on Amazon and both shows stream on Paramount+. Ages 3+.
Legend Quest :: This show follows a group of Hispanic friends who fight supernatural forces. You can find it on Netflix. Ages 7+.
Maya and Miguel :: This show features twin brother and sister growing up in America and teaches Spanish in every day, real life situations. This show streams on Amazon and PBS Kids. Ages 5+.
Nina’s World :: Featuring Nina from “The Good Night Show”, Nina’s World follows Nina’s childhood stories. This show streams on Hulu and Peacock. Ages 3+.
Selena :: This movie follows the life and legacy of The Queen of Tejano. Streaming on Amazon Prime. There is also a TV series that has been met with much controversy. Available on Netflix. Ages 10+.
The Book of Life :: This animated movie teaches about Mexican culture, especially that of Dia de Los Muertos. You can find it on Disney+. Ages 4+.
Additional Resources
PBS and KERA have so many online resources and shows happening in September and October this year. Parents of younger kids may want to screen what is showing, as some of the shows may not be little-kid-friendy.
Scholastic has a great resource for ways to teach kids about Hispanic Heritage in so many fun and exciting ways that you can use in every day situations.
Other great websites include:
- www.hispanicheritagemonth.gov/audio-and-video/
- www.hispanicmonth.net
- www.history.com/topics/hispanic-history/hispanic-heritage-month
