HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH IN WASHINGTON , DC
Fiesta D . C .
Credit : Victoria Pickering
This year , National Hispanic Heritage Month spans from Sept . 15 to Oct . 15 to celebrate people whose ancestors came from Spain , Mexico , the Caribbean and Central and South America .
It was originally observed for a week starting in 1968 under President Lyndon Johnson , then the celebration was extended to a month by President Ronald Reagan in order to encompass the anniversaries of independence days for many of the countries involved .
With a diverse population that is made up of over 11 % Hispanic or Latino ( according to the 2020 census ), Washington D . C . hosts a slew of entertaining and educational events during Hispanic Heritage Month each year .
FIESTA D . C .
This immersive experience into the vibrancy of Latino culture takes place on Sept . 23 and 24 , spanning from Third Street to Seventh Street , surrounding Pennsylvania Avenue . The festival includes Latino cuisine from all cultures , traditional drinks , creative arts and crafts , and of course , dance-inducing music . The highlight of Sunday ’ s celebration is the colorful Parade of Nations .
Smithsonian Institute
The Smithsonian has a number of events to commemorate this special month , which is expected to be even bigger in the future once building of the National Museum of the American Latino is complete . The Fotos y Recuerdos Festival at the National Portrait Gallery on Sept . 23 is an all-ages celebration featuring story time with Lil Libros and The Life of / La vida de book series . On Sept . 26 , test your Latinx knowledge at the New Columbia Pub Quiz , where all the questions are inspired by the museum ’ s collection .
AFI Latin American Film Festival
The longest-running showcase of Latin American cinema features a carefully curated lineup of films airing from Sept . 21 to Oct . 11 , ranging from festival winners to first-time films by emerging talent . There are also special Q & As with actors and directors , such as Cuban filmmaker Pavel Giroud .
AUTUMN 2023
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