Hispanic Heritage Month runs through Oct. 15, celebrating the culture and contributions of Hispanic communities to the D.C. area and beyond.
This Hispanic Heritage Month comes at an uncertain time. The Trump administration has ramped up immigration enforcement nationwide, sowing fear among many.
Some events, including the Salvadoreñisimo Festival in Gaithersburg, were called off amid concerns about U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
“You know it’s a sad state of affairs,” Immigration Advocate Abel Nuñez with the Central American Resource Center said. “People feel threatened. People feel targeted.”
Still, some communities are coming together.
Juan Carlos Cadima, president of the Manassas Latino Festival, told News4 he understands why some might feel uneasy in the current political climate. There are concerns about ICE, but it’s important to continue to celebrate, Cadima said.
“We have to celebrate and demonstrate that we’re here as a community. We’re going to continue to press on,” Cadima said in Spanish.
Here are some exhibits, festivals and other events where you can celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month in D.C., Maryland and Virginia.
Hispanic Heritage Month festivals, exhibits and events in the DC area
“Corazón y vida” – Lowriding Exhibition
Opens Sept. 26, National Mall and Smithsonian National Museum of American History, free
Car enthusiasts should make time to stop by the American History Museum to see two classic cars, plus photographs, clothes and more, putting a spotlight on lowriding culture.
“Following WWII, the U.S. embraced car culture as a symbol of the American dream. In Mexican American communities, lowrider cars became a source of pride and a way of creating community in an era with wide-spread discrimination and racism towards Latinas/os,” the Smithsonian said.
The D.C. exhibit opens on Friday, Sept. 26. The next day, you can visit a family-friendly festival on the National Mall or a film screening to mark the occasion.
Los Tigres Del Norte
Sept. 26, EagleBank Arena in Fairfax, $57+
The legendary norteño band will perform in one of several shows recommended in the Mexican Cultural Institute D.C.’s fall concerts calendar.
Fotos y Recuerdos Festival
Sept. 27, 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Kogod Courtyard at National Portrait Gallery, free
Lil’ Libros is returning to the National Portrait Gallery and the Smithsonian American Art Museum for an all-ages, bilingual celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. Activities include performances, a dance workshop, special tours and book signings.
Fiesta DC Festival and Parade
Sept. 27-28, Pennsylvania Avenue and National Mall, free
Culture from countries across Central and South America will be on display at the annual Fiesta DC Festival and Parade.
The two-day festival will take place on Pennsylvania Avenue NW between 7th and 3rd streets. Sample local food vendors, take in live music and dance performances and shop from a marketplace featuring artisan vendors.
On Sunday, head to the parade to see contingents from different countries show their clothing, music, dance and more. The parade is set to run from 1-5 p.m. near 700 Constitution Avenue NW.
Manassas Latino Festival
Sept. 27, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Harris Pavilion, free
Bring the whole family to enjoy live music, dance, food and fun activities that celebrate Latino culture. It’s been happening for 23 years.
AFI Latin American Film Festival
Through Oct. 9, AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center in Silver Spring, $15-$200
“A Loose End” from Uruguayan filmmaker Daniel Hendler and “Kiss of the Spider Woman,” starring Jennifer Lopez, are just two of nearly three dozen films to watch during this celebration of Latin American filmmaking.
Most screenings cost $15 each, or you can get a pass for $200.
The festival is “one of North America’s largest and longest-running showcases of Latin American cinema,” AFI says, and has been going for 36 years.
(Fans of the “Kiss of the Spider Woman” stage show can see it live at Gala Hispanic Theatre through Sept. 28).
“Colores” exhibit
Through Oct. 15, BlackRock Center for the Arts in Germantown, free
The second annual “Colores” exhibit lets you explore the work of talented Latuni artists living in Montgomery County.
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