15 Best Hispanic Heritage Month Activities to Help You Celebrate
Show your pride and support through food, dance, movies, games and more.
Hispanic Heritage Month is just around the corner and festivities are nearly ready to kick off. While the Hispanic and Latinx communities may celebrate their cultures daily through food, language and traditions, there are many different ways to honor the month, which begins on September 15 and runs until October 15.
Hispanic Heritage Month recognizes the impactful ways Hispanic people have contributed to U.S. history. Allies can also take part through Hispanic Heritage Month activities that can foster fun educational moments, and leave lasting impressions about customs around the world.
Start off by supporting a local business in your neighborhood that offers delicious food or refreshing drinks. If you’re more into online shopping, browse a Latinx Etsy shop for some unique gifts. Feel like staying in tonight? Turn on a show or movie in Spanish with the subtitles. You could end up learning a word or two to impress your friends with.
Check out more ideas for Hispanic Heritage Month activities for kids and adults below:
Read popular Latinx books.
Transport yourself into a different world by reading award-winning books by Latinx authors. The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Díaz, One Hundred Years of Solitude by Colombian author Gabriel García Márquez and I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sanchez all explore a range of Hispanic/Latin cultures and how identities are formed in-between languages.
Make a delicious drink.
Pick from a traditional Hispanic drink like a margarita, a grapefruit-infused paloma or satisfy a spicy craving with a michelada. Also referred to as a Mexican Bloody Mary, it’s made with tomato juice, hot sauce, lime juice and beer. Not into alcoholic drinks? You’ll want to check out these Mexican drinks: horchata, hibiscus tea and tamarind.
Catch up on the best Spanish-speaking shows.
Spanish-speaking shows are rich with heartfelt drama, action and suspense. Reminiscent of telenovelas, Spanish-speaking shows like La Casa de Las Flores (House of Flowers) and ¿Quién Mató a Sara? (Who Killed Sara?) will keep you wanting more. You’ll definitely be looking out for new episodes long after Hispanic Heritage Month is over.
Cook a new dish.
The best way to kick off Hispanic Heritage Month? Make an authentic dinner, of course. If you love Mexican food, consider whipping up tacos with your choice of meat, cilantro, diced onions, and green salsa — oh, and don't forget fresh lime juice!
Make a playlist of your favorite Latin songs.
Whether you're breezing through a to-do list or going on your morning run, there's nothing quite like jamming to a playlist of Latin songs to motivate you. The choices are endless with artists like J Balvin, Bad Bunny, Ozuna, Karol G, Natti Natasha, Becky G, and more. Plus, you'll discover new Spanglish hits like "Don't Be Shy."
Recreate a painting.
You can't speak about the arts without mentioning Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, Salvador Dalí, or Pablo Picasso. If you're feeling particularly creative, choose your favorite painting by a Hispanic artist and put your brush to the canvas. You might even want to make it a fun paint-and-wine night with your significant other.
Play a game of dominoes or lotería.
A favorite pastime for Puerto Ricans, Dominicans and Cubans, dominoes is a tile game that brings the community together. Clear a table and grab a box of dominoes to start playing with friends. Otherwise, you can try your luck with a game of lotería, which means "lottery" in English. It's basically another version of bingo with cards and is equally as fun.
Have a Spanish-speaking movie marathon.
It's time to turn on those subtitles and discover a new world of film. Directors like Alfonso Cuarón and Guillermo del Toro are making breathtaking movies like Roma and Pan’s Labyrinth that you don't want to miss out on. If you don't know where to get started, we've rounded up the best Spanish language movies on Netflix.
RELATED: Spanish-Language Movies on Netflix That Will Make You Feel Every Kind of Emotion
Support a local business.
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month all year by supporting local businesses. Food wise, look up restaurants in your area that serve treats such as Colombian empanadas or Mexican sweet bread. You can also hop online and shop for beauty, fashion and home products from Latinx-owned shops.
RELATED: 80+ Latinx-Owned Businesses to Support Today and Every Day
Sign up for a Latin dance class.
Grab a partner to learn the intimate movement of bachata, or gather a couple of friends so you can learn the fast pulse of mambo and cha cha together. Virtual and in-person classes are available for beginners and experts depending on the location. Check out Latin Dancing Online or Alvin Ailey for more information.
Take a virtual tour.
Donate to the community.
With more than 60 million Hispanics in the U.S., many are first-generation Americans who are navigating the education system and the job market on their own. Consider donating to organizations like the Hispanic Heritage Foundation and Latinos for Education. There are also social justice groups like RAICES and Latino Equality Alliance that are calling attention to important causes like immigration.
Learn about Mexico’s Independence Day.
Hispanic Heritage Month starts with five Latin American countries celebrating their Independence Day. The following day, September 16, Mexico observes their independence (not on Cinco de Mayo, like many might think). Dive into Mexico's rich history through books, movies and documentaries. Who knows, you might pick up a word or two of Spanish.
Get caught up on Latin history.
If you're ready to get an overview of Latin history, Colombian actor John Leguizamo has got you covered. His one-man Broadway show Latin History for Morons on Netflix takes you through 3,000 years of Latin history starting from the Maya civilization to the modern age of Pitbull. The stand-up comedy features Hispanic and Latinx references that'll immediately speak to you.
Don't have Netflix? You can also check out some of the best-selling books about Latin American history on Amazon.
Discover influencers.
Hispanics and Latinx folks aren’t only showing off their talents in theaters or on TV. Many have also taken to social media platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok to connect with a larger audience: YouTuber Amy Serrano chats about fashion, TikTok star Stacey Diaz touches on mental health and Instagrammer Nikki Glamour shares tips from her work experience.
Selena is the entertainment and news editor for Good Housekeeping, where she covers the latest on TV, movies and celebrities. In addition to writing and editing entertainment news, she also spotlights the Hispanic and Latinx community through her work. She is a graduate of CUNY Hunter College with a B.A. in journalism and creative writing.
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