Latino Heritage Month has begun. Here are some ways you can celebrate.
Thursday marked the start of Latino Heritage Month, which seeks to recognize the history, culture and contributions of Latinos in the US. The month-long celebration runs through Oct. 15.
From festivals to parades, there are several ways to celebrate Latino Heritage Month across Iowa. Check out the list below to find an event near you.
Celebrando Siouxland Festival
DATE — Sept. 17, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
LOCATION — Jeffrey Dible Soccer Complex, 1280 Riverview Dr. South Sioux City, Nebraska
ABOUT — Celebrando Siouxland Festival is a three-day event that began Sept. 15, the first day of Latino Heritage Month, with a bulk of its festivities taking place Sept. 17. Hosted by the Sioux City-based nonprofit Unity in Action, the event Saturday kicks off with a parade at 11 a.m. A festival will follow from noon to 10 p.m.
For more information, visit Unity In Action's website at www.unitedinactionne.org.
¡Fiesta! Orange City
DATE — Sept. 17, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
LOCATION — Orange City Public Library, 112 Albany Ave. S.E., Orange City
ABOUT — The Orange City Public Library is hosting a two-hour event complete with food and games to celebrate Latino Heritage Month. Registration is not required.
Garden Festival at Central Gardens
DATE — Sept. 18, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
LOCATION — Central Gardens of North Iowa, 800 2nd Ave. N., Clear Lake
ABOUT — Garden festival goers will not want to miss out on a Mexican folk art exhibit of the Tree of Life, which will be on display inside the Central Gardens' Nature Education Pavilion. The event also will feature food from various vendors, a salsa recipe contest and a live performance by Mariachi de Colores.
For more information, visit the Central Gardens website at www.clearlakeiowa.com.
Festival Latino of Cedar Rapids
DATE — Sept. 18, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
LOCATION — McGrath Amphitheatre, 475 First Street S.W., Cedar Rapids
ABOUT — Those in the mood for Latin American music and cultural dance performances may want to check out the 11th annual Festival Latino of Cedar Rapids. Cumbia group La Sonara Dinamita will headline the free family-friendly event, followed by a performance from the folk dance troupe Ballet Folklórico Quetzalcoatl. Activities and food will be available.
Visit www.creventslive.com for more information.
More: What is Hispanic Heritage Month? Latinos and Latino culture can be celebrated year-round
Mexican Independence Day Parade & Fiesta — Quad Cities
DATE — Sept. 18, noon to 9:30 p.m.
LOCATION — Runners Park, 742 15th Ave., East Moline, Illinois
ABOUT — The 13th annual Mexican Independence Day Parade and Festival will return to Runners Park in East Moline. Hosted by the League of United Latin American Citizens Council #5285, the event kicks off with a parade at noon followed by a celebration packed with live music at the park's parking lot.
More information is listed on the council's site at www.lulacmoline.org.
Iowa's Latino Heritage Festival
DATE — Sept. 24, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Sept. 25, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
LOCATION — Western Gateway Park, 1205 Locust St., Des Moines
ABOUT — The 2022 Iowa Latino Heritage Festival: A Taste of Latin America is a two-day festival that includes an array of live music and cultural dance performances from local and traveling acts such as dance troupes Quad Cities Ballet Folklórico and Estrellas de Jalisco from Sioux City, Nebraska.
For the full lineup, visit www.latinoheritagefestival.org.
Clive Latino Festival
DATE — Sept. 29, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
LOCATION — Linnan Park, 8500 Alice Ave., Clive
ABOUT — The Clive Public Library and Clive Historical Society have teamed up to host the Clive Latino Festival at Linnan Park. The event features food, arts and crafts, dancing and sports activities. Pro Iowa will be giving away free soccer balls for the first 150 children.
Visit www.cityofclive.com for more information.
Dubuque Latinx Fiesta
DATE — Oct. 1, 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.
LOCATION — Smokestack, 62 E 7th St., Dubuque
ABOUT — The Dubuque Latinx Fiesta is a two-part event featuring food, music, dancers and community resources. All are welcome to attend the first portion of the event, which takes place from 3 to 8 p.m. The latter half of the evening — which transforms into Latin Night at Smokestack — is only for those ages 21 and over.
More: Meet the six people selected for 2022 class of Iowa Latino Hall of Fame
Iowa Latino Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony & Reception
DATE — Oct. 15, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
LOCATION — Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave., Des Moines
ABOUT — The Iowa Commission of Latino Affairs will be inducting six people into the Latino Hall of Fame. For those who cannot attend the event in person, the ceremony will be livestreamed via the commission’s Facebook page.
Latino Voices Together Gala
DATE — Oct. 22 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
LOCATION — The Glass Box, 220 S.E. Sixth St., Des Moines
ABOUT — The second annual Latino Voices Together Gala, a social gathering put on by the Latino Political Network, will be held at The Glass Box. This year's guest speaker is Marco Davis, president and CEO of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute. Ticket prices range between $30 to $250, but admission is free for college students.
For more details, visit The Latino Political Network at lpniowa.com.
The Inaugural Iowa Latino Gala
DATE — Oct. 27, 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
LOCATION — Des Moines Heritage Center, 120 E. Fifth St., Des Moines
ABOUT — The Latino Service Providers Coalition, Hola Center and Iowa Commission of Latino Affairs will host their first Iowa Latino Gala. The event is two-fold: it’s a fundraiser to help support the Hola Center, a nonprofit in Des Moines that serves Latinos, and a celebration of Latino cultures and communities. Ticket prices range from $75 to $1,200.
For more information, visit the Iowa Department of Human Rights Office of Latino Affairs at https://humanrights.iowa.gov/cas/la.
F. Amanda Tugade covers social justice issues for the Des Moines Register. Email her at ftugade@dmreg.com or follow her on Twitter @writefelissa.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Latino Heritage Month is here. Here's how you can celebrate in Iowa.
