Hispanic Heritage Month in Houston

Houston is home to the nation’s fourth-largest Hispanic and Latino population. Over 25% of H-Town residents have heritage linked to Mexico, Central America, or South America.

From September 15 to October 15, Houston along with the rest of the country celebrates the achievements and contributions of the Hispanic community. Here we’ll help you explore Hispanic arts, cuisines and cultural institutions that make Houston so unique! Read on for ways to celebrate.

Dining

 

 

 

 

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With Houston being the most diverse city in the country, you bet we have a culturally diverse culinary scene too. From tacos to empanadas to pupusas, you’ll definitely find them in Houston! Taste authentic Venezuelan arepas at Arepas By Perla in Memorial City Mall, savory Argentinian empanadas at 5411 Empanadas in Midtown, Peru’s popular lomo saltado at Inka Restaurant, and stuffed pupusas at La Pupusa Loka. To try incredible Mexican food, you can’t miss out on visiting Teotihuacan Mexican Cafe or any of Chef Hugo Ortega’s restaurants: Hugo’s, Xochi, Caracol and Urbe. There’s much to explore! Looking for more Houston Central, South American restaurants and Mexican restaurants? See our Hispanic Dining in Houston guide.

Arts

 

 

 

 

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Houston is home to many Hispanic artists that continue to contribute incredible art to our city. From murals to established collections, there’s plenty of artwork to see. Artists like Mario E. Figueroa, Jr. (Gonzo247) and David Maldonado (Capdavjon) have painted colorful murals throughout the city and have become some of the top sites to see for locals and visitors. You can find impressive Latin American art collections at the Museum of Fine Arts. The museum’s collection has upwards of 2,000 pieces by Latino artists! You can also find local art galleries featuring Hispanic artists like the Serrano Gallery in Arts District Houston. Check out our Q&A with some of Houston's Hispanic Artists.

Music, Dance & Theater

 

 

 

 

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Cue the music and celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month in Houston! Organizations like the Houston Latin American Philharmonic orchestra are devoted to promoting and elevating Latin American music. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the ensemble hosting its annual “Viva Latin America” concert. Concert goers can also enjoy concerts at the University of Houston featuring their new Mariachi ensemble! Another University offering promoting Hispanic culture is Rice University. 

Their Gente de Teatro, theater performance group put on great shows! To enjoy more rhythms of Latin America in Houston, be sure to see Miller Outdoor Theatre’s calendar of events for September and October. You can’t miss their annual “El Grito'' celebration of Mexican independence and this year’s free concert featuring marimba-cumbia-punk group Son Rompe Pera.

Cultural Destinations

 

 

 

 

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The Greater East End is a culturally diverse neighborhood known for its thriving arts scene with indie galleries, large-scale murals, and more. Visit the Multicultural Education and Counseling Through the Arts (MECA) for support services, community building and theater shows. Along Navigation Boulevard, you can dine and support Mexican eateries like El Tiempo.

Near Upper Kirby, the Institute of Hispanic Culture of Houston hosts a variety of events like classes, art exhibits and culinary pop-ups throughout the year to promote Hispanic culture.

In Houston’s Galleria area, you’ll find Casa Argentina de Houston (CAH) which offers and supports countless music concerts, cinemas, theaters, tango concerts, historical celebrations of Argentine culture around the city of Houston.

Events

Spanish Village 
September 16, 2022

To celebrate Mexican Independence Day, Spanish Village, one of Houston’s oldest Mexican food restaurants will be hosting a two-day fiesta! On Friday, September 16th, Spanish Village will be serving up their delicious El Clásico Enchiladas for just $10.99 and dancing along to Mariachis from 6 - 8 p.m.! On Saturday, September 17th, guests can purchase famous Spanish Village Margaritas for just $5. 
Spanish Village is located at 4720 Almeda Road, Houston, TX 77004.

Monkey’s Tail 
In celebration of Mexican Independence Day, on the “eve”, which is September 15th, Monkey’s Tail will serve a round of Mexican Candy shots for all guests at 11 p.m. for the “El Grito,” which is the Mexican Independence Cry, “Viva La Independencia, Vivan Los Heroes” and the Bell Ringing before returning to the party for the remainder of the evening. Dancing will be inspired by the music of Beat Sicarios who will be mixing up Cumbia dance magic from 9 p.m.-12 a.m.
Monkey’s Tail is located at 5802 Fulton Street, Houston, TX 77009.

El Venado 
New Washington hotspot, El Venado, will be celebrating Mexican Independence Day and its official grand opening from September 16-18 with food, activities and of course, delicious cocktails. In addition to the everyday menu, El Venado will be serving up Parrilladas - carne asada, sausage and chicken cooked on a mesquite grill and served with peppers and charro beans. This will be served all weekend for just $21. Guests can commemorate the weekend in the photo booth all weekend long. Drink up all weekend with happy hour pricing all weekend long. El Venado will also be upgrading select tequila cocktails to 1800 Cristalino at no additional cost. And what would the celebration be without mariachis!? Mariachis will be performing Saturday night at 7 p.m. 
El Venado is located at 6502 Washington Ave, Houston, TX 77007.

Party on the Plaza in Celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month
September 17, 2022| 6-10 p.m.

Join us for live music, dancing and fun on the plaza on September 17, 2022. Music includes DJ Mexican Black Bird on the Plaza, Vanessa Alonzo Vanessa con Mariachi, Brazilian samba by LD Dance Company, Argentinian tango showcase featuring bandoneon player Pablo di Lauro and dancer Susana Collins and a live band performance by Charlie Perez & His Latin Caravan. Latin Caravan combines some of the most popular musical styles from Latin America including, Cuban, Salsa and Brazilian samba to name a few. 

The wharf area will also be activated with an installation from Festivities along with a live mural painting by a local Houston artist and arts and craft stations.