Tracing back to a week-long celebration in 1968, Hispanic Heritage Month was officially recognized in 1988 by President Ronald Regan and honors the significant roles Hispanic/Latino Americans have played in shaping the United States since the beginning of the county. From September 15 to October 15, Fairfax County Public Library is joining several others in celebrating the many contributions to our country made by people of Hispanic and Latino ancestry with presentations, musical performances, storytimes, crafts and more.
Check out a small sample of what we have planned at a library near you:
*Please note that dates/times of the following events are subject to change. Check the event listing for the latest information.
Hispanic Heritage Month Art Party: Arpilleras – Richard Byrd Library – Saturday, September 13
Get inspired by the Chilean fabric art of arpilleras and tell your own story in fabric using both sewing and no-sew techniques.
Botanical Cyanotypes – Pohick Regional Library – Saturday, September 20
Explore the connection between cyanotypes, also called sun prints, and Hispanic heritage with local artist, Claudia Valdovinos.
D.I.Y. Microscope-Making – Sherwood Regional Library – Tuesday, September 23
Assemble your own microscope in honor of Hispanic inventor Albert Báez, then forage for specimens to study up close.
Bilingual Storytime with Supervisor Palchik – Oakton Library – Thursday, September 25
Join us for a bilingual storytime that includes stories, songs and rhymes in English and Spanish with a special reading by Supervisor Dalia Palchik.
Hispanic Heritage Month BINGO – Kings Park Library – Friday, September 26
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with a culturally-inspired game of BINGO! Shout out as you get five in a row to win awesome prizes!
Grupo Fenix Performances – Various Branches – Saturday, September 27
Experience the passion, pride and iconic sounds that define mariachi music and celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with electrifying performances from Grupo Fénix,
Colorful Cooking – Lorton Library – Monday, September 29
Explore the colorful world of cooking and Hispanic heritage by creating a tasty salad together from My Mexican Kitchen by Eva Longoria.
Inform, Enrich, Empower: Celebrate Local Latinx Leaders – Virtual – Thursday, October 2
Hear from inspiring Hispanic and Latinx leaders as they share stories of how their strength and resilience have led them to successful careers and positive contributions to our society.
Cempasúchil: A Paper Marigold Pop-up Craft – Thomas Jefferson Library – Saturday, October 11
Pop into the library and craft your own cempasúchil, a paper marigold that is an iconic symbol of Day of the Dead.
Hispanic Folktales with Bright Star Theater – City of Fairfax Regional Library – Monday, October 20
Enjoy a performance that celebrates the various folk tale traditions of the Spanish-speaking world featuring a variety of characters from a wide range of cultures.
For a complete list of Hispanic Heritage-related events, visit bit.ly/FCPL_HispanicHeritage.
You can also celebrate by participating in our Hispanic Heritage Month Genre Bingo Challenge on Beanstack! Learn more about the challenge and sign up to participate here. Looking for some book inspiration? Check out this list of English language books and this list of Spanish language books available in our catalog all about Hispanic culture.