Right on the border of Arlandria-Chirilagua in Alexandria, VA , Arlandria-Chirilagua is a small neighborhood with a big story. Home to some of the city’s largest immigrant communities since the 1960s, “Chirilagua” pays tribute to the town in southeastern El Salvador where so many of its residents and their families are from. Below are a few ways that make Arlandria-Chirilagua one of the most special and authentic places to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month:

·  Del Ray Artisans Gallery (Fri September 4 – Sat September 26): Head to Del Ray Artisans for their free exhibit, Voices Through Visuals, which spotlights themes of migration, family, and cultural pride. 

·  Community Art: The Tenants & Workers United building has powerful murals painted by local artist MasPaz, featuring messages in Spanish, English, and Amharic that celebrate unity, education, and empowerment

·  Authentic Dining: Enjoy a true taste of Central and South America with Salvadoran pupusas, horchata, and tacos de lengua at El Pulgarcito. Down the street, Veronica’s Bakery serves warm panes dulces and savory Honduran baleadas, while sisters Paula and Celia Coleto serve up fresh Peruvian ceviche and lomo saltado at Huascarán.

·  Local Favorites: Complete your celebration with a concert at the legendary Birchmere music hall or a Sunday walk through the Four Mile Run Farmers’ Market.

The inaugural ¡Viva! Bastrop!, presented by Discover Bastrop and First National Bank, will take place on Friday, September 18, 2026, from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. in Historic Downtown Bastrop. This free festival celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month with an evening of live entertainment, cultural performances, authentic cuisine, interactive activities, and family-friendly experiences. Designed to honor the rich traditions and cultures that have helped shape Texas, ¡Viva Bastrop! invites guests to experience the sights, sounds, flavors, and artistry of Hispanic heritage throughout North Main Street and Spring Street. The evening begins at 6:00 p.m. with a Mariachi performance and the National Anthem, followed by a Ballet Folklórico performance featuring Cedar Creek High School dancers accompanied by mariachi musicians. After the mariachi performers will stroll Historic Downtown, filling the streets with traditional music. Festival highlights include the Best Grito Contest (Yelling Contest), the crowd-favorite Chancla Throwing Challenge, and Tributo a Selena, a live tribute performance honoring the Queen of Tejano from 7:15 to 8:45 p.m. One of the evening’s signature moments will be the Heritage March at 8:45 p.m., led by beautifully dressed quinceañeras and featuring the 512 Cadets, Ballet Folklórico dancers, and country flags representing Hispanic nations across Latin America. The celebration concludes with a lively Street Dance Celebration from 9:00 to 10:00 p.m., featuring performances by the 512 Cadets, Huapango dancers, the beloved Payaso de Rodeo dance, and more. In addition to live entertainment, festivalgoers can enjoy: Mercado Hispano (Hispanic Marketplace) featuring 15 local vendors offering authentic food, handmade crafts, artisan goods, and unique finds. Kids Zone on Spring Street featuring bounce houses, piñatas, face painting, a rock climbing wall, character meet-and-greets, photo opportunities, the Bastrop Cultural Arts Booth, and the First National Bank Booth. The celebration extends beyond festival day with Lotería (Mexican Bingo) taking place at participating downtown businesses beginning during F.A.M.E. Days on September 4 and continuing through September 18. Participants who complete their Lotería card can redeem an exclusive ¡Viva Bastrop! prize at the Discover Bastrop booth during the festival. Attendees will also have the opportunity to enter a giveaway for a one-of-a-kind ¡Viva Bastrop! soccer jersey, created exclusively for the inaugural event. Guests are encouraged to wear their country’s colors, traditional attire, or proudly wave their flag while celebrating the music, dance, traditions, and heritage that make Bastrop a vibrant destination. For more information and a complete entertainment schedule, visit www.discoverbastroptx.org/events/viva-bastrop.

In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, Mariachi Herencia de México will perform at the Old Town Temecula Community Theater on Sunday, Sept. 27. Mariachi Herencia de Mexico brings a bold and electrifying performance that honors the rich tradition of mariachi while pushing it to new heights. This two-time Latin GRAMMY®-nominated ensemble, made up of 14 virtuosic musicians, has captivated audiences across North America with its dynamic sound, chart-topping albums, and powerful stage presence. Blending the deep roots of Mexican musical heritage with a fresh, bicultural energy, their performance celebrates the past, embraces the present, and inspires the future—creating an unforgettable night of music, culture, and pride. Tickets are available here. The Old Town Temecula Community Theater is a contemporary, state-of-the-art proscenium theater in the heart of Old Town. The Theater is accessed on Main Street through the historic landmark Mercantile Building from the 1890s and exemplifies the City of Temecula’s motto “Old Traditions, New Opportunities.” For more information about Temecula Valley, go to www.visittemeculavalley.com.

For Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15-Oct. 15), Arizona is celebrating the state’s deep Hispanic and Mexican cultural roots with a lineup of festivals, sporting events, performances and community celebrations taking place across the state. As a border state with the second-largest Hispanic population in the U.S., Arizona offers year-round opportunities to experience Hispanic culture, but this fall brings an especially vibrant calendar of events. From professional Mexican baseball to traditional Lotería and celebrations honoring Mexican independence, the events offer visitors a chance to experience the traditions, food, music and community that shape Arizona’s cultural landscape. A few highlights include: Phoenix: The Mexican Baseball Fiesta (Sept. 25-27) brings professional teams from Mexico’s Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacífico to American Family Fields of Phoenix, the Milwaukee Brewers’ Spring Training facility. Meanwhile, DTPHX Lotería (Sept. 24) celebrates the traditional Mexican game with food, entertainment and community festivities. Tucson: The Presidio San Agustín del Tucson Museum hosts a Mexican Independence Day Celebration (Sept. 12), featuring performances and lectures exploring Mexico’s history and Tucson’s connection to it. The 24th Annual Roasted Chile Festival (Sept. 11-13) also celebrates one of the Southwest’s most beloved culinary traditions with locally grown chiles, live music, food and artisan goods. Mexican Baseball Fiesta returns to Tucson Oct. 1-4 at Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium. Douglas: On Sept. 30, the Mexican Baseball Fiesta continues in the border community of Douglas, where the Naranjeros take on the Yaquis at Copper King Stadium.

St. Augustine is inviting travelers to discover the nation’s oldest continuously occupied European-established city through immersive cultural experiences that celebrate Hispanic heritage, historic architecture, community traditions, gastronomy and the spiritual legacy of El Camino de Santiago Florida. Founded in 1565, St. Augustine offers visitors more than 460 years of living history, where Spanish Colonial architecture, centuries-old landmarks and vibrant neighborhoods come together to create one of North America’s most culturally significant destinations. St. Augustine is home to many of the earliest milestones in what would become the United States. Visitors can explore the site of the nation’s first Catholic parish, established in 1565, and experience the legacy of the first recorded Catholic Mass celebrated in what is now the continental United States. The city also preserves the story of Fort Mose Historic State Park, the site of the first legally sanctioned free Black settlement in what is now the United States, where formerly enslaved people found refuge under Spanish rule. Nearby, Mission Nombre de Dios commemorates the first successful Spanish mission in the region, while local historians also recognize St. Augustine as the setting for one of the earliest documented community Thanksgiving celebrations in North America, held by Spanish settlers decades before the Pilgrims arrived in New England. As demand for authentic, experience-driven travel continues to grow, St. Augustine offers a distinctive blend of history, architecture, gastronomy and community engagement. Whether walking El Camino de Santiago Florida, exploring centuries-old streets or sharing a meal inspired by generations of local tradition, visitors are invited to experience a destination where culture is not simply preserved—it is lived every day.

Baltimore, Maryland – Two Major Celebrations This Fall Baltimore will mark Hispanic Heritage Month with ¡Celebramos! at the Maryland Zoo on September 19, featuring Latin American folkloric dance and music, community vendors and cultural programming. On October 10–11, Fiesta Baltimore, the city’s largest Latino cultural festival, takes over Patterson Park with live music, traditional performances, cuisine from more than 50 vendors, artisan markets, cultural exhibits and a Latino heritage parade.

This June, communities across Kentucky are coming together to honor Juneteenth through a variety of events celebrating Black history, culture, music and community traditions throughout the Commonwealth. From live performances and heritage festivals to educational programming, art exhibits and local gatherings, destinations throughout the state are offering meaningful opportunities for residents and visitors alike to commemorate the holiday and reflect on its significance. A key highlight this season is the recent expansion of the Kentucky African American Heritage Trail, which now features more than 60 sites statewide following the recent addition of 10 new stops this spring. From historic landmarks and community spaces to public art and guided experiences, the trail offers visitors an opportunity to explore Kentucky through stories that span generations and regions while adding another layer of cultural exploration for summer travel throughout the state. Juneteenth celebrations taking place across Kentucky this season: Juneteenth Celebration in Nicholasville, KY, Heart of Kentucky Juneteenth Celebration in Harrodsburg, KY, Juneteenth Celebration Banquet in La Grange, KY, NKY Juneteenth Celebration in Covington, KY, SoulTeenth Fest in Lexington, KY, Lake Cumberland Juneteenth Jubilee in Somerset, KY.