10 Hispanic Heritage Celebrations to Attend Around Phoenix Shannon Durso October 4, 2018 Arts & History, Destinations, Hispanic American Heritage Month, Interests, Top US Destinations This post was last updated on October 6, 2023. Wondering where you should go to experience a lively Hispanic Heritage celebration? Head to Phoenix and its outskirts. There’s a variety of events that take place year-round, especially from September through November. From live entertainment to authentic cuisine, you’ll surely be satisfied with what this city has to offer. Read on to learn about some of the best annual Hispanic Heritage celebrations in Phoenix to visit this year or the next! Note: Dates for each event are subject to change each year. Check with the event websites for details on the coming year. Fiesta de Septiembre The Fiesta de Septiembre, a cherished 30-year tradition in Wickenburg, Arizona, is a vibrant celebration of Hispanic heritage. Held at the Wickenburg Community Center, it’s a day filled with colorful cultural experiences. Mariachi bands serenade attendees with soul-stirring melodies, setting the stage for dancing and communal joy. Folkloric dances showcase the rich diversity of Latin American traditions, transporting visitors to various regions through captivating performances and attire. Families come prepared with cameras to capture precious memories amid the lively atmosphere. This event serves as a dynamic tribute to Hispanic culture while fostering unity and appreciation within the Phoenix community. Chandler Mariachi Festival The annual Mariachi and Folklorico Festival is typically held in October in Chandler, which is about 30 minutes southeast of Phoenix. Head to the Chandler Center for the Arts to get a sense of Hispanic cultural history. Past festival acts have included performers Mariachi Angeles de Pepe Martinez Jr. and Mariachi Sonido de Mexico, both from Guadalajara, Mexico. Also, a group of traditional folkloric dancers typically perform during the event. Tickets are available on the Chandler Center for the Arts website and are usually around $50. Tempe Tardeada Tempe Tardeada (tardeada means “afternoon party”) invites guests to celebrate Tempe’s Hispanic roots dating back to the mid-1800s. Usually in October, this annual event brings together friends and families of the Tempe community to enjoy several activities such as exhibits, dancing, music, children crafts, and more! The event is free and appropriate for all ages. Enjoy live entertainment, arts and crafts, food (at low prices), tortilla-making lessons, and folkloric lessons. Clear your schedule – you’re not going to want to miss this! Surprise Fiesta Grande Ready for a surprise fiesta? The annual Surprise Fiesta Grande is usually held in October. Join the fun in Surprise, Arizona (Yep, that’s the name of the town) by celebrating the city’s heritage on the streets at the Original Town Site. Attendees will be entertained by live music, folkloric dancing, mariachi bands, and a classic car show. Authentic Mexican food will also be served, so be sure to come to the event feelin’ hungry! Fiestas Patrias Held annually, Fiestas Patrias is the start of Phoenix’s Hispanic Heritage Month celebration. The event commemorates the independence of five Latin American countries from Spain with cultural exhibitions, live music, and parades. Neighborhoods throughout the Phoenix area hold their own special festivals. In recent years, Casino Arizona has put on a truly fantastic party to commemorate the day. The casino embraces the celebratory spirit of Fiestas Patrias by hosting live performances of mariachi and Latin music alongside traditional Mexican folkloric dances. You’ll also enjoy authentic Mexican food and drink. Meanwhile, the Latino Pride Festival also pulls all the stops with their Fiestas Patrias celebrations. Featuring live performance pieces and local art vendors, the Latino Pride Festival commemorates Hispanic culture and independence through the lens of the LGBTQ+ community. Día de los Muertos Observed throughout October and early November, Día de los Muertos, or “Day of the Dead,” is a celebration that honors those who have passed on. Rather than being a somber occasion, Día de los Muertos is typically a raucous party celebrating life. It’s with this mindset that residents of Phoenix commemorate Día de los Muertos. They host live musical performances and remember the souls of the dead with beautiful artwork. One of Phoenix’s most well-known Día de los Muertos celebrations is the Mikiztli Festival. This event places an emphasis on Hispanic cultural heritage through live music and dance. Visitors with kids will especially love learning how to make the celebration’s signature sugar skull masks. Likewise, the annual Día de los Muertos Festival at St. Mary’s Basilica is another great way to experience the event in one of Phoenix’s most historic landmarks. Along with a parade, dancing, and even a lowrider car show, the St. Mary’s Día de los Muertos Festival is famous for its ofrendas, altars designed by local artists that honor the souls of the departed. c Cultural Performances Phoenix is especially alive with the fervor of Hispanic culture and the arts during Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 through October 15). Theaters and concert halls throughout the Phoenix Metropolitan Area hold a variety of performances during Hispanic Heritage Month to celebrate Latin culture. One of Phoenix’s most prominent performing arts centers is the Arizona Latino Arts and Cultural Center, home to several performances and art exhibitions that honor Hispanic Heritage Month. In years past, the center has hosted flamenco performances that spotlight both flamenco as a dance and as a form of music. Also of note at the venue is the annual art exhibition. While the theme of the exhibition changes each year, the cultural center maintains its mission to help local artists showcase their work to the public. Along with amazing Hispanic art, visitors to the exhibition will also get to enjoy a street fair that features a variety of vendors and food trucks. Other venues in the city that host cultural performances in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month include the Herberger Theater Center, which is noted for its amazing live performances, and the Phoenix Art Museum, a venue which has been home to Hispanic film festivals in recent years. Food Festivals The Phoenix area has a reputation for rich Hispanic cuisine that combines the flavors of Sonora and Baja California with the area’s spicy Southwest tones. Hispanic Heritage Month kicks these flavors into high gear with food festivals that introduce residents and visitors alike to their new favorite eating places. One of the most well-known food festivals that takes place during Hispanic Heritage Month is El Grito Festival, which is held in the heart of Downtown Phoenix. Featuring Mexican staples like tacos and tamales, El Grito will allow you to enjoy some of the best food in the Southwest as you listen to live music and watch titans of the ring duke it out in lucha libre wrestling matches. You also won’t want to miss out on Chandler’s Rockin’ Taco Street Fest. Along with tasty tacos from over 20 different vendors, the Rockin’ Taco Street Fest features a taco-eating competition. And, if you’re lucky, you may even get to ride a giant mechanical taco! c You Might Also Enjoy: Ten Locations to Appreciate Hispanic Heritage and History in the U.S. c Art Exhibitions Art museums throughout Phoenix host a variety of events to celebrate the contributions of Latin and Hispanic artists during Hispanic Heritage Month. In recent years, the Desert Botanical Garden of Phoenix has put on special events celebrating the work of Colombian artist Fernando Botero (b. 1932 – d. 2023). Botero’s paintings and sculpture are characterized by exaggerated, voluptuous forms, known as “Boterismo,” featuring round figures and a playful, satirical approach to subjects. Praised by art critics and beloved by visitors, Botero’s sculptures are given new life when viewed alongside the plants and flowers of the Sonoran Desert. c Throughout the years, the Children’s Museum of Phoenix has also regularly hosted exhibitions to honor Hispanic Heritage Month. One of the most noted exhibitions at the museum featured an exploration of Mexican woodworking techniques used in the crafting of handmade toys. Focusing on the detailed artistry of these miniature masterpieces, the exhibition told the history of woodcarving in Mexico and its importance to Latin cultural heritage. c Know of any other Hispanic Heritage events in or around the Phoenix area? Tell us in the comments below!
