It's the start of Hispanic Heritage Month and Brooklyn is hosting plenty of events to honor the cultures and contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans.
This celebratory month, from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15, has been around since 1988, when former President Ronald Reagan expanded what had been a week-long celebration into a whole month. The month was picked intentionally to span several independence days in various Spanish-speaking countries, including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Mexico and Panama.
Here are just some of the ways Brooklynites can celebrate the strength, vibrancy and achievements of the more than 63 million Hispanic and Latino Americans across our country.
Friday, Sept. 20
3:30pm to 5:30pm
Park Slope Library, 431 6th Ave.
Despite his family's generations-old ban on music, young Miguel dreams of becoming an accomplished musician like his idol Ernesto de la Cruz. Desperate to prove his talent, Miguel finds himself in the stunning and colorful Land of the Dead. After meeting a charming trickster named Héctor, the two new friends embark on an extraordinary journey to unlock the real story behind Miguel's family history. Rated PG
Live Salsa Music at Sahadi’s at Industry City
8:00pm - 11:00pm
Building 4, 34 35th St.
Experience the fiery rhythms and beats of live salsa music every Friday night at Sahadi's through the passionate, energetic and the infectious sounds of Cuarteto Guataca band.
JukanBaila Salsa Night with DJ Gagou
10:00pm - 2:00am
Pétanque by Carreau Club, Building 6, 51 35th St.
Kick off the weekend with DJ Gagou every Friday night as we dance under the stars to salsa, bachata and more. Whether you’re an experienced dancer or just beginning, join us for an exhilarating evening of culture, community, and connection in a welcoming, supportive environment.
Saturday, Sept. 21
Film, games and crafts for Hispanic Heritage Month
2:00pm to 4:30pm
Canarsie Library, 1580 Rockaway Pkwy.
Join the librarians to watch a film, make papel picado y flores de papel and play dominoes y toma todo!
Tuesday, Oct. 1
Nuestra Voz, Nuestro Poder, hosted by Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonazalez
6:00pm to 8:00pm
New York City College of Technology, 285 Jay St.
Brooklyn DA Gonzalez will be hosting a night to celebrate Hispanic heritage and culture in Downtown Brooklyn. Attendees must register here.
Thursday, Oct. 3
Quetzali billingual puppet show at the Brooklyn Children's Museum
3:00pm to 3:45pm
145 Brooklyn Ave.
Learn about Hispanic heritage with Quetzali the puppet and go on an adventure to countries such as Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Colombia, Ecuador, and Argentina! In this energetic and interactive puppet show, children will sing, dance, learn, and play with Quetzali and her puppet friends while immersing themselves in a celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. This show aims to be a fun way for children and adults to acquire and practice age-appropriate language skills, learning words entirely in Spanish and discovering interesting facts about Hispanic culture throughout the performance.
Saturday, Oct. 12
Noon start
President Street and Classon Avenue
Join Panamanian New Yorkers for the largest Panamanian parade in the world outside of the Republic of Panama!
Sunday Oct. 13
Maria Hernandez Park History and Clean-up
11:00am to 12:00pm
Suydam Street and Irving Avenue
Join NYC Parks and Recreation officials to learn about Maria Hernandez and her contributions to the Bushwick community and participate in a park service project to honor her.
