Kansas City has a rich Hispanic heritage that is celebrated and honored through various events and festivals held throughout the year. These events provide an opportunity for the community to come together and learn about the culture, traditions, and contributions of Hispanics in the area.
- Join the Royals' Viva Losa Reales celebration on September 15th at Kauffman Stadium as they take on the Houston Astros.
- One of the biggest events is the Fiesta Hispana, which is held annually in the historic Westside neighborhood, at the Barney Allis Plaza. This festival will be held September 16th-18th and features live music, dance performances, food vendors, and children's activities. It is a great way to experience the vibrant and colorful culture of the Hispanic community.
- Folklore is a unique annual event that takes place during Hispanic Heritage Month, uniting artists, entrepreneurs, organizations, business owners, young professionals, and the wider community to honour the achievements and influence of the Latino community in Kansas City. Join us in celebrating this rich and diverse culture, on September 21st from 5-8pm!
- Join in the celebration of the Hispanic community and their contributions with the Johnson County Arts and Heritage Center. This celebration will be held October 4th from 6-8pm.
- The Latino Foundation for the Arts invites you to celebrate Chicano culture with an exciting evening filled with art, food, drink, music, and break dancers. The Chicano Arts Festival will be held in the West Bottoms on October 7th from 11am-5pm. This is a great opportunity to learn more about and appreciate the rich and vibrant traditions of the Chicano community.
- Both the Kansas City, Kansas Public Library and the Mid-Continent Public Library has various events planned throughout the month. Visit their websites for specific times, dates and events!
Overall, Kansas City offers a wide range of events that celebrate and honor the Hispanic heritage in the area. These events provide a great opportunity to learn about the culture, traditions, and contributions of Hispanics in the community.
We asked a few of our Hispanic publishers and those who have married into Hispanic families what they love most about their rich, vibrant, and beautiful culture to help us celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month September 15th through October 15th. Here's what our publishers told us:
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Cookie Suàrez, publisher of Macaroni KID Buckhead-Midtown-Brookhaven, Ga. said "My husband is from Puerto Rico. What I love most is the music and dancing, especially salsa and merengue." As its name suggests, salsa dancing has lots of flavor and is very spicy! This genre of dancing originated in the 1960s in the New York City Puerto Rican community. Salsa is a fusion of rhythms and dances from around the Caribbean. Music can be fast or mellow. Check out this salsa station on Pandora and you'll be dancing around your living room in no time ... because salsa is joyful and contagious!
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Natalie Sanchez, Macaroni KID Upland, Claremont, La Verne, Calif. said "Family! I love how close we are and how we stay connected. Traditions are handed down and they are deep and meaningful. Family is everything!" Family is deeply intertwined and typically very close in Hispanic cultures. In Mexico, Latin America, and the Caribbean (as well as in Latino communities in the United States and elsewhere) one of the many large events families look forward to is the quinceañera. The quinceañera is a celebration of a young woman's 15th birthday and signifies her journey from childhood to adulthood. The party includes an elaborate dress for the girl of honor, along with a lot of food, dancing, and time with friends and family. There is typically a mass held before the party as well.
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Zulema Gomez, publisher of Macaroni KID San Marcos-Vista, Calif. said "I am Mexican American and I love our food! We are so much more than tacos and tequila." Zulema Gomez grew up on wonderful food prepared by her mother, Betty Sànchez, who is from Tepic, Nayarit, a city located in west-central Mexico by the Pacific Ocean. Her mother shared her family's recipe for Arroz con Leche with Macaroni KID. Arroz con Leche translates to Rice with Milk, but it is better known in English as Mexican Rice Pudding. Find the full recipe for this delicious treat.
