Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month and Mexico’s Independence

Each year, from September 15 to October 15, the United States celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month to recognize the economic, cultural, and social contributions of the more than 45 million Latinos residing in the U.S. In Arizona, 30% of the population is of Hispanic or Latino origin (2009).

September 15 is the anniversary of Independence Day for five Latin American countries—Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Two other countries, Mexico and Chile, declared their independence on September 16 and 18, respectively.

Community Events Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month:

Cine Latino
: Un Cuento Chino
September 26, 7pm
Cost: $7 for Members and Students, $10 for non-members
Visit phxart.org/cinelatino for more information

Un Cuento Chino is a part of Cine Latino, a month long celebration of Hispanic Heritage month by presenting the latest films from Mexico and Latin America.

Ricardo Darin (The Secret in Thier Eyes and Nine Queens) stars in this wild fish-out-of-water comedy. Roberto is a lonely hardware store owner who collects clippings of bizarre news from around the world. One day, he meets a Chinese immigrant named Jun who doesn’t speak Spanish and seems lost amidst a foreign culture. After Roberto decides to help Jun locate his surrogate family, the two become unlikely friends as each man’s past history is unveiled over time.

Un Cuento Chino was an offcial selection of over 20 film festivals including: Cannes, Venice, Chicago Latino, and San Diego Latino. It was nominated for 14 Argentine Oscars and won 3 including Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Supporting Actress.

Latin-Themed Concerts at MIM


The Musical Instrument Museum presents the following performances:

September 14, 2012 – Arturo Sandoval, 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.


September 17, 2012 – La Catrina String Quartet, 7 p.m. 


September 26, 2012 – Plena Libre, 7 p.m. 


October 8, 2012 – Septeto Nacional de Ignacio Piñeiro , 7 p.m.


October 9, 2012 – Danilo Pérez Trio, 7 p.m. 


October 19, 2012 – Carlos Nuñez Group , 7:30 p.m.



Tickets start at $27.50. Parking is free. For more information, visit mimmusictheater.themim.org

¡Viva México! Día de la Independencia Méxicana


Saturday, September 15, 2012 from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.

A homemade salsa competition, a kid’s activity zone and vendors serving Mexican and Southwestern style food.

Live entertainment includes mariachi bands and performances by Ballet Folklorico Quetzalli-AZ—a dynamic dance group dedicated to the awareness and education of Mexican culture through folkloric dance.

El Palacio, 2950 E. Germann Road, Chandler. Tickets required.

A percentage of the proceeds from El Palacio’s Mexican Independence Day Fiesta will benefit Xico, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to supporting local Chicano and Native American artists.

Visit epchandler.com for more information

Fiestas Patrias at MIM


September 15 and 16, 2012.

The Musical Instrument Museum hosts a two-day event with music, dance, and cuisine of Mexico in honor of the country’s independence from Spain in 1810.

MIM has partnered with the Consulate General of Mexico in Phoenix to showcase the culture of Mexico in an accurate and educational way. MIM will also officially reopen the updated Mexico exhibit in the museum’s Latin America gallery.

The event will include activities for the entire family such as performances of Latin, jazz, acoustic pop, and rock by the Gustavo Angeles Trio; children’s face painting; performances by Fiesta Mexicana Dance Company; a spotlight on Mexican instruments from MIM curator Daniel Piper; hands-on craft activities including traditional papel picado banners, tissue-paper flowers, and musical rattles inspired by the Tarahumara sonaja rattle on display in the Mexico exhibit.

All activities are free with museum admission.

A selection of Mexican-inspired dishes will also be available for purchase from the Café at MIM such as Mexican pork pozole stew with Mexican-lime perfumed rice and Mexican mole-spice braised beef with sweet corn pudding.

Visit themim.org for more information.

Hispanic Heritage Day at Arizona Diamondbacks


Sunday, September 16, 2012. Chase Field, Phoenix.

Join the D-backs as they play the rival San Francisco Giants and recognize the fans, players and the Hispanic community.

Festivities begin at 11 a.m. outside the stadium along the Plaza and 4th Street and include Lucha Libre USA wrestling matches, food trucks, tailgate games and inflatables.

In addition, there will be Folklórico dancers and Mariachi performers throughout the ballpark prior to the game.

D-backs players and coaches will wear their customary black jerseys with “Los D-backs” across the front for the fifth consecutive season. Following the game, the jerseys will be available for auction at dbacks.com/auctions with proceeds benefiting the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation.

The D-backs will honor prominent business leaders in the Hispanic Community on the field prior to the game.

Click here for more information.

¡Celebramos! Hispanic Heritage at Phoenix Public Library


Burton Barr Central Library (1221 N. Central Ave.) will host 5 free programs in celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month:


Thursday, September 20 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Author and community historian Frank Barrios shares stories from his book “Mexicans in Phoenix.”


Thursday, October 4 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Música de las Américas with La Familia Guerrero. 


Thursday, October 18 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Día de los Muertos: Storytelling with Zarco 


Saturday, October 20 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Bring the kids to make paper-mache skulls in honor of the Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). 


Sunday, October 28 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Families are invited to create masks from paper with Emily Costello and Zarco using simple folding and cutting techniques.

Click here for more information.

Chandler’s Mariachi Festival


October 6, 2012.

Featuring performances by Mariachi Los Camperos de Nati Cano, Mariachi Flores Mexicans, Particia Martin, Ballet Folklorico Quetazalli at the Chandler Center for the Arts.

Click here for more information.

Hispanic Women’s Conference


October 11 & 12, 2012.

The largest gathering of Latinas in the nation will meet in Downtown Phoenix. The conference aims to motivate, educate, and provide a prime opportunity to build lasting and beneficial relationships with other women and sponsoring organizations nationwide.

Visit hispanicwomen.org for more information.

Tempe Tardeada


Sunday, October 14, 2012 from noon to 8 p.m.

Tempe Tardeada is a perfect time for families to explore and discover Tempe’s Hispanic roots and culture, dating back to the mid-1800s, through entertainment, music, dance, art and exhibits.

The entertainment stage will feature music ranging from traditional mariachi and boleros, to salsa and Latin dance music.

This free event takes place at the Tempe Community Complex, located near the Tempe Public Library at Rural Road and Southern Avenue.

Visit tempe.gov/tardeada for more information.