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SALT LAKE CITY — There is something for Utahns of all ages to enjoy during Hispanic Heritage Month from live music performances and exhibits to festivals and farmers markets.
The month is celebrated Sept. 15 through Oct. 15, but Utah festivities will kick off Saturday and extend through October.
Hispanic Heritage Month has been observed at a national level since 1988, and Gov. Spencer Cox has also recognized it on a state level to honor the half a million or so Latinos in Utah.
Starting the heritage month on Sept. 15 may seem like an odd choice, but the mid-month start date is tied to independence days in many Latin American countries. More information about Hispanic Heritage Month is available at hispanicheritagemonth.gov or the Utah Division of Multicultural Affairs. Find out how to celebrate in Utah below.
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Festivals and cultural events
Tooele Downtown Fiesta | Saturday, Sept. 9
Celebrate Hispanic culture in Tooele by enjoying Hispanic-owned businesses, a taco and salsa contests, a kids piñata contest, music, and dancing from 3 to 8 p.m.
Murray's Hispanic Heritage Days | Saturday, Sept. 9
Murray is inviting the community to enjoy a free concert at the Murray Park Amphitheater this Saturday at 8 p.m. Audiences can snack on food truck treats while enjoying mariachi performances from two local groups: KarlySue y Trio los Charros and Grupo Folklorico Sapichu.
Latinx Hispanic Health & Heritage Festival | Saturday, Sept. 9
The Utah Health Policy Project is hosting a free festival to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month and raise awareness about the high number of uninsured Hispanic children and families in Utah. In fact, the state has one of the highest uninsured rates for Hispanic children in the nation.
The Hispanic Health and Heritage Festival will be held at the Gateway, with a parade kicking off the festivities at 11 a.m. Attendees can fill up on cuisine from local Latin food vendors and visit a variety of booths providing health screenings, free health care enrollment assistance, vaccine education and access to affordable health insurance.
Mexican Independence Day Celebration | Wednesday, Sept. 13
The Mexican Consulate of Salt Lake City is celebrating the 213th anniversary of Mexico's independence on Sept. 13, 6 p.m., at the Gallivan Center in Salt Lake City. The free celebration will include a Grito Mexicano, live mariachi music, folkloric dance performances and food trucks.
El Grito Mexicano | Friday, Sept. 15
Celebrate Mexican Independence Day at the Cache County Fairgrounds in Logan with the traditional of El Grito Mexicano — a unified "scream" of national pride the night before Mexican Independence Day on Sept. 16. The tradition dates back to Father Miguel Hidalgo's cry to the Mexican people in 1810 to rise against Spanish rule.
Organizer Lizette Villegas says the celebration is a chance to share food and dance but also educate the general community that Mexican Independence Day takes place in September rather than on May 5, when Cinco de Mayo is celebrated. The festivities run from noon to 9 p.m.
Gran Latino Festival in Cache Valley | Saturday, Sept. 16
The third annual Gran Latino Festival will start with a flag parade where schools, language programs and communities from each Latin country will participate with their flags. Attendees can then enjoy folkloric dancers, vendors, food, Latino bands, Zumba and more family-friendly entertainment. The festival will be held on Center Street in Logan from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Millcreek's "Mi Gente" celebration | Saturday, Sept. 16
Millcreek Commons is hosting a night of roller skating, art exhibits, performances and Hispanic cuisine on Sept. 15 from 2-10 p.m. Admission is free and skate rentals are $5. Senxao, Mi Gente X, and Coco y su Rumba Libre will provide live music.
Viva! A Celebration of Hispanic Heritage | Saturday, Sept. 16
The Park City Library invites the community to enjoy Hispanic music and dancing, sample foods from various cultures across Latin America and take part in the Cry of Dolores tradition. The celebration runs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Fiestas Magicas | Friday, Sept. 22
Ballet Folklorico ECK is hosting its fifth annual fundraising event from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. at Centro Civico Mexicano in Salt Lake City. The night will celebrate the rich heritage of Mexican folkloric ballet, with culinary delights, performances, awards and live music from La Sonora Dinamita, an internationally renowned cumbia group.
All proceeds go to providing custom attire and scholarships for students of Ballet Folklorico ECK, a dance group focusing on keeping Latino culture alive for younger generations. Tickets are available online.
Ogden Hispanic Festival | Saturday, Sept. 30
The seventh annual Ogden Hispanic Festival will run from 2-8 p.m. at the Ogden Amphitheater. Guests can enjoy an art and literature show and performances from cumbia band Vilma Diaz y La Sonora.
"El Mercadito" Hispanic Farmers Market | Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 2 and 3
Enjoy live music and authentic handcrafted products from Mexico, Peru, Colombia, Argentina, Venezuela, Ecuador and Guatemala at this unique farmer's market. Vendors will be set up at Weber State University's Shepherd Union Building on Oct. 2 and Oct. 3 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Vendors can find more information on the WSU website.
Día de los Muertos en Ogden | Friday and Saturday, Oct. 20 and 21
The official end of Hispanic Heritage Month on Oct. 15 doesn't mean the festivities are over. Día de los Muertos en Ogden is an opportunity to remember loved ones who have passed on, shared in Latino music, tradition and culture. There will be a community altar, car show, food trucks, a mercadito (market) filled with student and professional vendors and an art show and performances from students.
The festival is Friday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., including a student concert, and Saturday from 1-7 p.m. at Ben Lomond High School in Ogden. Entry is free Saturday, but the student concert is $25 (those 16 and under are free).
Arts and entertainment
Tres Souls Concert | Friday, Sept. 15
Los Angeles trio Tres Souls are bringing their own interpretations of the bolero genre to Ogden on Sept. 15, 7:30-9 p.m. Attendees can enjoy a pre-performance social for Weber State University alums before enjoying the iconic sounds and songs of the Golden Era of Mexican Cinema. Tickets can be purchased at Peery's Egyptian Theater.
Sabores Ancestrales: Honoring Hispanic Culinary Roots | Friday, Sept. 15
Take part in a night of culinary excitement and live music from Salvadoran DJ JWoodz at Publik Coffee Roasters from 6-9 p.m. Sabores Ancestrales: Honoring Hispanic Culinary Roots will feature NUR Kitchen, which will serve a plant-based ceviche with plantain chips and Eats Bakery, known for pastries like tres leches cinnamon rolls and churro doughnuts.
Entry is $25, with funds going to support food-insecure families through the Food Justice Coalition.
Celebración Sinfónica | Monday, Sept. 18
The Utah Symphony's annual Celebración Sinfónica takes audiences on a musical journey of Latino orchestral music, popular hits and traditional tunes that will appeal to both diehard symphony goers and those who have only seen Abravanel Hall from the streets of downtown Salt Lake.
Concertgoers can enjoy food trucks, artisan crafts, and dancers at the plaza outside Abravanel Hall before the concert, which starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available on the symphony's website.
LatinArte, Arts of México en Utah: Art Exhibit | Oct. 1-31
Enjoy the work of local Latino artists at a free art exhibit during October. The exhibit is open Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m.- 8 p.m. at WSU's Shepherd Union Building.
Selena "Como la Flor" Art Workshop | Thursday, Oct. 5
Channel your inner Tejana queen in this instructed drawing workshop with Mexican artist Vicente Romo. The workshop is free and open to the public (including a refreshing treat of paletas de limón con chile piquín) from 5-7 p.m. at Weber State Univerity's Shepherd Union Building.
"Viva La Raza" Latinx Dance & Celebration | Wednesday, Oct. 13
Salt Lake Community College is holding a dance and celebration for the Latino community at large at its Taylorsville Redwood Campus student event center from 7 to 11 p.m.
Business and education
Utah Latinidad Panel | Friday, Sept. 15
Learn about Utah's Latino history as University of Utah authors and researchers discuss Latinidad in Utah at the J. Willard Marriott Library at the University of Utah. The panel is from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and food and music will also be provided.
Latinx Real Estate Seminar | Tuesday and Thursday, Sept. 19 and 21
Salt Lake Community College is hosting homebuyer seminars to help attendees learn the steps necessary to purchasing their first home. The college is hosting two separate seminars. The first is at the college's Taylorsville Redwood Campus in the Student Center Room 221/223 on Sept. 19 from noon to 2 p.m. The second is Sept 21, 6-8 p.m., at the Juniper Building at the college's Herriman campus.
Sin Límites: A panel discussion about navigating queer identities and Latino cultures | Friday, Sept. 22
Join Weber State University for a discussion exploring the intersections of Latino culture and LGBTQ+ identities at the Wildcat Theater from 12:30-1:30 p.m.
Keynote address by Utah's first Latino federal judge | Tuesday, Oct. 10
Samuel Alba was appointed as Utah's first Latino federal judge in 1992. Before retiring in 2012, he oversaw high-profile cases like the Olympic bribery scandal and the kidnapping of Elizabeth Smart. His address is free and open to the public. It will take place at 12:30 p.m. at WSU's Wildcat Theater.
Celebrating Hispanics in Business | Tuesday, Oct. 10
The Utah Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is hosting a conference focused on growing Hispanic businesses. Sessions will include topics like hiring, growth opportunities and scholarships for students. The conference is from 10 a.m.. to 5 p.m. at the Zions Bank Technology Center in Midvale. Registration is $50 and is available online.
Sports and outdoor recreation
La Milpa Harvest | Thursday, Sept. 14
Join Artes de México en Utah and Summit County Gardens in harvesting a joint garden using "La Milpa," a traditional Mesoamerican crop growing system that plants corn, beans and squash together. Gardners can meet at Summit Community Garden at 6 p.m. Registration is free and can be done online.
Yoga in Español! | Tuesday, Sept. 26
Yoga coach Andres Herbon, known on social media as @odioelyoga (which translates to "I hate yoga" in English), is hosting a yoga flow in Spanish at the Stewart Bell Tower Plaza at Weber State University on Sept. 26, 8-9 a.m. The vent is free and open to the public.
Latinxs in the Field | Thursday, Oct. 5
Join a panel discussion and enjoy food from Arempas and tours of the Jordan River. Salt Lake Community College is hosting a night of fun at the Jordan River Nature Center from 3:40 p.m. to 6 p.m.
