Crowds packed the South Side to celebrate the 2023 UMOS Mexican Independence Parade and Festival during Hispanic Heritage Month. (NNS file photo by Jonathan Perez)

From Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates the culture and contributions of the Latino and Hispanic community in the United States. 

If you are looking for a way to celebrate the month in Milwaukee, check out this list of community events focused on Hispanic culture and history.

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(Did we miss an event? Please put in comments or email us. Put “Hispanic Heritage Month” in the subject line.)

Hispanic Heritage Month City Kickoff Celebration: Friday, Sept. 13

Hispanic Collaborative is kicking off Hispanic Heritage Month with a celebration from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Deer District Plaza, 1134 N. Vel R. Phillips Ave. In addition to food, music and vendors, the event will feature giant loteria and a dueling Mariachi band hour. More information here. 

Mexican Independence Day Festival: Sunday, Sept. 15

The annual Mexican Independence Day Festival returns from noon to 8 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 15 at UMOS Corporate Headquarters, 2701 S. Chase Ave. The festival includes a parade that will begin at 10 a.m., leaving from 20th Street and Oklahoma Avenue, moving east on Oklahoma to Sixth Street, north on Sixth Street to Rosedale Avenue and ending at UMOS. The festival features carnival rides, live music, merchandise, food vendors and community resources. More information here. 

Hispanic Heritage Business Network Event: Thursday, Sept. 19

El Conquistador Latino Newspaper is hosting a Hispanic Heritage business networking event from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 19 at Fiesta Cafe, 1407 S. First St. Mingle with other business professionals and enjoy Latin food, drink specials and a bus tour of Milwaukee’s Hispanic neighborhoods. Nelson Soler and Ald. José Peréz, the Milwaukee Common Council president who represents District 12, will be special guests. More information here. 

Market on the Riverwalk Celebrating Hispanic Heritage: Saturday, Sept. 21

BMO Bank and the Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation, or WWBIC, are collaborating with mercadoMKE, Unidos and The Tap Yard to host a Hispanic Heritage edition of Market on the Riverwalk from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 21 at  Schlitz Park, 1533 N. Rivercenter Drive. The free event includes live music, Latino vendors, food trucks and more. More information here.

Hojalata: Mexican Tin Art: Tuesday, Sept. 24

Milwaukee Public Library’s Washington Park Branch, 2121 N. Sherman Blvd., is hosting a kids and teens craft night for Hispanic Heritage Month from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 24. The craft activity will be hojalata, a Mexican art that uses tin. Materials will be provided. There will also be an adult craft night, inspired by hojalata, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 30 at the Zablocki Branch, 3501 W. Oklahoma Ave. More information here. 

Screening of “Roots and Legacy: Jesus Salas”: Wednesday, Sept. 25

Milwaukee PBS is screening “Roots and Legacy: Jesus Salas” at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 25 at Mexican Fiesta’s Flores Hall, 2997 S. 20th St. The new documentary is based on the memoir of Jesus Salas, who fought for better working conditions for migrant workers in Wisconsin in the 1960s and continues to advocate for the Latino community. Producer Patricia Gomez will moderate a panel discussion with Salas and other guests after the film. The half-hour special will also be aired on Milwaukee PBS throughout September. Register here. More information here. 

Lunch and Learn: The Four Elements and their roles in Day of the Dead: Friday, Oct. 25

Learn more about the layers of history and tradition that contribute to the modern Day of the Dead holiday from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 25 at Latino Arts, 1028 S. Ninth St. The panel discussion will explore how the four elements are represented within the tradition of ofrendas, or offerings. Tickets are $15 and include lunch. Click here to purchase tickets.  More information here. 

Meredith Melland is the neighborhoods reporter for the Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service and a corps member of Report for America, a national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on under-covered issues and communities. Report for America plays no role in editorial decisions in the NNS newsroom.





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