The Smithsonian celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15 with more than twenty events—films, performances, talks, tours, demonstrations and family programs.

  WASHINGTON D.C.
 
Location: S. Dillon Ripley Center
City: Washington D.C.
Date: September through January 2009, 10 am - 12 noon
Description: Art for Social Change
As part of the program series "Puerto Rico at the Smithsonian," the Smithsonian Latino Center offers free workshops to complement the exhibition Posters from the Division of Community Education (DIVEDCO) of Puerto Rico, 1949–1989. The eight session focus on current social issues such as health, education, and the role of family. They include a guided tour of the exhibition and hands-on activities. Appropriate for middle school and high school groups. For more information, call 202.633.1268 or e-mail keye@si.edu.
 
Location: Smithsonian American Art Museum, Kogod Courtyard
City: Washington D.C.
Date: Thursday, September 4, 5 - 8 pm
Description: Flamenco Festivities
The Smithsonian American Art Museum keeps the summer heat going with an evening of flamenco and rumba, featuring Ramin Rad and Jose Oretea. The program includes dance demonstrations and lessons, and a bilingual question-and-answer session. Part of Carnaval del Corazón at the Smithsonian American Art Museum.
 
Location: Smithsonian American Art Museum, Kogod Courtyard
City: Washington D.C.
Date: Saturday, September 13, 1 - 5 pm
Description: Living in Many Worlds: Hispanic Heritage Month Family Day
The whole family is invited to this kick off of the Smithsonian's celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. The day includes craft-making and art activities, bomba y plena music and dance performances, storytelling, and bilingual tours. Children can play an art-inspired loteria and make posters in the style of those in the upcoming exhibition Posters from the Division of Community Education (DIVEDCO) of Puerto Rico, 1949–1989.

This is the first event in the Smithsonian Heritage Month series "Living in Many Worlds," which explores the dynamism of family, history, heritage, and identity. It is also part of the program series "Puerto Rico at the Smithsonian" and Carnaval del Corazón at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, which received support from the Latino Initiatives Pool, administered by the Smithsonian Latino Center.
 
Location: Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum
City: Washington D.C.
Date: Monday, September 15, and 29 and October 13, 12 noon
Description: Renwick Gallery Bilingual Highlights Tours
During Hispanic Heritage Month, the Renwick Gallery offers three bilingual walk-in tours of the contemporary craft collection, featuring Game Fish, a playful sculpture by Larry Fuente. Meet at the Information Desk.
 
Location: National Museum of the American Indian, George Gustav Heye Center, Diker Pavilion
City: One Bowling Green, New York City
Date: Monday, September 15, 6 pm
Description: Semilla: Traditional Fandango from Mexico
Semilla is a collective of young musicians and dancers in the New York City area. Hailing from Veracruz, Mexico City, and other parts of Mexico, they perform the fandango in the styles son jarocho, son huasteco, and son de tarima.
 
Location: Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum
City: Washington D.C.
Date: Monday, September 15 - Wednesday, October 15, 12 noon on weekdays, 1 pm on Saturdays and Sundays
Description: Daily Walk-In Tour at the Renwick Gallery
Throughout Hispanic Heritage Month, the museum's daily docent-led tour features a work by a Hispanic artist. Meet at the Information Desk.
 
Location: Smithsonian American Art Museum
City: Washington D.C.
Date: Monday, September 15 - Wednesday, October 15, 12:30 and 2 pm
Description: Daily Walk-In Tour at the Smithsonian American Art Museum
Throughout Hispanic Heritage Month, the museum's daily docent-led tour features works in the permanent collection by Hispanic artists. Meet in the F Street Lobby.
 
Location: Smithsonian American Art Museum
City: Washington D.C.
Date: Tuesday, September 16, 5 - 8 pm
Description: Hispanic Heritage Month Teacher Workshop
This workshop provides teachers for resources and ideas for Hispanic Heritage Month programming. Participants explore the American Art galleries and come away with a "Latino Art and Culture Kit" for the classroom. Register online.
 
Location: National Museum of the American Indian, George Gustav Heye Center
City: One Bowling Green, New York City
Date: Thursday, September 18, 6 pm
Description: The Last Conquistador
This documentary follows the story of sculptor John Houser and his plans to erect in El Paso, Texas, the largest bronze equestrian statue in the world, a monument to the conquistador Juan de Oñate. Native Americans across the Southwest expressed outrage at the idea—they saw Oñate as the man who brought genocide to their people. (2007, 52 minutes)
 
Location: National Museum of the American Indian, Rasmuson Theater
City: Washington D.C.
Date: Friday, September 19, 7:30 pm, and Saturday, September 20, 2 pm
Description: Mestiza Power
This new play sheds light on the everyday lives of contemporary Mayan women in Yucatan. In Spanish with English subtitles.
 
Location: National Zoological Park
City: Washington D.C.
Date: Saturday, September 20, 10 am - 12 noon
Description: ¡Aventura en America Latina!
In this workshop, children learn about anteaters, monkeys, capybaras, and many other animals found in Latin America. For FONZ members only. Recommended for ages 4–5. There is a $28 fee. Register online.
 
Location: National Zoological Park
City: Washington D.C.
Date: Sunday, September 21, 11 am - 5 pm
Description: Fiesta Musical
The annual festival includes animal demonstrations, Latin food and music, costumed dancers, and traditional crafts. Zoo scientists will be on hand to discuss field research in Latin American countries. Rain or shine.
 
Location: Smithsonian American Art Museum, Kogod Courtyard
City: Washington D.C.
Date: Sunday, September 28, 3 pm
Description: Dance DC—Pan American Symphony Orchestra
Founded and conducted by Sergio Alessandro Buslje, the Pan American Symphony Orchestra (PASO) has enlivened Washington's music scene for more than a decade. As part of the Dance DC Festival, PASO performs traditional Latin music infused with contemporary influences.
 
Location: National Museum of the American Indian, George Gustav Heye Center, Auditorium
City: One Bowling Green, New York City
Date: Tuesday, September 30 - Tuesday, October 28, 1 and 3 pm (and 5:30 pm on Thursdays)
Description: Three Short Films at the Heye Center
In La Cumbia del Mole (2006, 4 minutes) singer Lila Downs performs a song about the Oaxacan art of making mole. In Na Florentina (2005, 7 minutes) a Oaxacan grandmother painstakingly prepares totopos (baked corn tortillas) for sale in the town plaza. Sueños Binacionales/Bi-National Dreams (2005, 30 minutes) tells of Mixtec people who have been immigrating to California for more than three decades and Chatin people who have moved to North Carolina in the last ten years. All films are in Spanish. Sueños Binacionales is subtitled in English.
 
Location: Baird Auditorium, Natural History Museum
City: Washington D.C.
Date: Wednesday, October 1, 11 am - 5 pm
Description: ¡Borinquen! Music & Dance of Puerto Rico
Young audiences learn about Puerto Rican culture in this performance of bomba y plena and salsa music and traditional dance. Recommended for all ages. Resident Associate members, $4. General admission, $5 for children and $6 adults. Call 202.633.8700.
 
Location: Discovery Theater, S. Dillon Ripley Center
City: Washington D.C.
Date: Thursday, October 2, 10:15 and 11:30 am
Description: African Roots, Latino Soul
This passionate play, full of vibrant images and vivid characters, explores what it means to be Latino and black in the American melting pot. Recommended for ages 6–14. Resident Associate members, $4. General admission, $5 for children, $6 for adults. Call 202.633.8700.
 
Location: National Air and Space Museum
City: Washington D.C.
Date: Saturday, October 4, 10 am - 3 pm
Description: Living and Working in Space
This family day features Hispanic contributions to the space program. Activities for all ages and bilingual presentations are included.
 
Location: Smithsonian American Art Museum, McEvoy Auditorium and Kogod Courtyard
City: Washington D.C.
Date: Saturday, October 4, 1 - 7 pm
Description: Artists Roundtable and Festival
Artist Jesús Moroles takes part in a discussion of Latino contributions to American history, art, and culture. A carnaval, complete with music and dancing, begins at 3:30 pm. It includes performances by Trés Raices Art Collective, Trio Caliente, and Raices de Borinquen.
 
Location: National Postal Museum
City: Washington D.C.
Date: Saturday, October 4, 2 - 5 pm
Description: Latin Jazz Celebration
The National Postal Museum celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month with the tropical rhythms of Latin jazz. The afternoon includes interactive percussion demonstrations and presentations of oral histories of jazz. Participants learn the story behind a recently released U.S. stamp honoring Latin jazz and then design their own stamps. Recommended for all ages.
 
Location: Discovery Theater, S. Dillon Ripley Center
City: Washington D.C.
Date: Thursday, October 9 - Friday, October 10, 10:15 and 11:30 am
Description: Mi Casa es Su Casa
Young audiences sing "La Bamba" with a Mexican conjunto band in a show that includes puppets and music in two languages. Recommended for ages 2–6. Resident Associate members, $4. General admission, $5 for children, $6 for adults. Call 202.633.8700.
 
Location: National Museum of the American Indian, George Gustav Hey Center, Classroom
City: One Bowling Green, New York City
Date: Friday, October 11, 12 noon
Description: Storytelling Workshop
Children learn about Day of the Dead celebrations by listening to supernatural stories and decorating skeleton puppets.
 
Location: Discovery Theater, S. Dillon Ripley Center
City: Washington D.C.
Date: Tuesday, October 14 - Friday, October 17, 10:15 and 11:30 am
Description: Catch the Beat with Luis Garay
Garay and his young audience explore Puerto Rican drum rhythms in an event that's both workshop and performance. Recommended for ages 4–10. Resident Associate members, $4. General admission, $5 for children, $6 for adults. Call 202.633.8700.
 

Advertisement

Viva Mexico

Explore Mexico Now >>

The Mexico Tourism Board invites you to learn about the culture, cuisine and heritage of Mexico.