Best Ways To Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month In Charlotte

Established by President Ronald Reagan in 1988, Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated throughout the United States from September 15 to October 15 each year, dates that cover the independence days of eight Hispanic countries as well as Columbus Day in the U.S. As Charlotte's Hispanic population has expanded, local celebrations have grown significantly with several annual festivals, plus numerous special events at local restaurants and nightclubs. However, you don't have to trace your roots to the Caribbean, Mexico or South America, or even speak Spanish, to enjoy the wonderful culture, art, traditions, foods and dances that come to us from Hispanic countries. These are now part of the heritage of all Americans, so come out to join in the fun.

Hola Charlotte Fiesta Latina 2014
N. Tryon St. and W. 6th St.
Charlotte, NC 28202
(704) 579-1828
www.holacharlottefestival.com

Date: Oct. 4, 2014

The third year of this free Hispanic heritage festival takes place in the Center City on North Tryon in the blocks from 5th Street to 8th Street, with additional programming in the Levine Museum of the New South, ImaginOn, Discovery Place and the 7th St. Public Market. Two stages will present continuous live entertainment, including cultural dance performances, Latin music, international performers, salsa dancing and more. Soccer and Zumba demonstrations and an art show hosted by local Latino artists are planned and vendors will offer authentic Latin American food and beverages. In the Latin American Cultural Village, tents will present the unique culture and history of over a dozen different Latin American countries with exhibits, food samplings and more. Admission to Hola 2014 is free. The festival's organizer, Norsan Media, sponsors several other Latino events every year.

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24th Annual Latin American Festival
Symphony Park at SouthPark Mall
4400 Sharon Road
Charlotte, NC 28211
(704) 941-2557
www.festivallatinoamericano.org

Date: Oct. 12, 2014

This festive event in SouthPark's Symphony Park features two stages of Latin American music and dance by both local and international performers. Headliners this year include Bomba Estéreo from Columbia, Plena Libre from Panama and Latin Grammy award-winners Los Rabanes, plus Venezuela Danza y Tambor and flamenco dancers from locally based El Alma de la Luna dance academy. Artworks by Latin American artists will be on display in the Plaza de Artistas, and vendors will offer native Latin American crafts and traditional foods from the region. Admission is $5 with children under eight admitted free.

Día De Los Muertos Festival Of Souls
Levine Museum of the New South
200 E. 7th St.
Charlotte, NC 28202
(704) 333-1887
www.latinamericancoalition.org

Date: Nov. 2, 2014

This free annual event celebrates Mexican Day of the Dead traditions with lots of family-friendly programming including traditional dances and foods, Day of the Dead arts and crafts, a recreation of a traditional offering table dedicated to the memory of ancestors and more. Admission is free, with free parking at the adjacent 7th Street Station deck validated at the museum. Charlotte's Latin American Coalition also sponsors a variety of other events every year, including a Brazilian festival in February, a Caribbean festival in June, a Cinco de Mayo festival and the CineMas film festival in April. A continuing series, CineMas: A Latino Film Series, screens films at the Mint Museum Randolph all year, with the next event scheduled for November 5, 2014.

LaCa Projects
1429 Bryant St.
Charlotte, NC 28208
(704) 837-1688
www.lacaprojects.com

Date:  Oct. 13 – 31, 2014

The first gallery in the region dedicated to exclusively exhibiting Latin American art, LaCa presents thought-provoking exhibits by both emerging and established Latin American artists, with new shows monthly at its gallery in the South End. For Hispanic Heritage Month, LaCa plans a retrospective of artists featured in the past, including works by artists from Costa Rica, Cuba, Argentina and Puerto Rico. The show runs October 13-31, 2014. Through October 11, the gallery is showing an exhibit of vintage couture by famed Peruvian designer Luis Machicao, winner of the Best Designer Award at Paris Tiffany Fashion Week for his 2014 spring collection and designer for the First Lady of Peru from 1991 to 1998. LaCa is open free to the public Monday to Friday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Taste Of The World Restaurant Showcase
Charlotte East International District
Charlotte, NC 28205
www.charlotteeast.com/totw

Date: Oct. 2, 2014

This annual tour takes visitors to three international restaurants in the Charlotte East International District, located along Central Avenue, Albemarle and Sharon Amity roads. The area forms the heart of the city's international community, with Latin American, Asian and Middle Eastern cuisines situated side by side. The bus tour is tremendously popular and always sells out, but if you can't score a ticket, visit the Taste of the World website to download a guide that will help you design your own exploration. You'll find restaurants offering authentic Mexican, Dominican, Salvadoran, Honduran, Peruvian, Caribbean and Colombian cuisines, where you can not only sample unique dishes, but also meet friendly families from these countries eager to share their culture.

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With 15 years of experience covering restaurants in Charlotte and the Carolinas, and two regional guidebooks under her belt, Renee Wright examines the dining scene with enthusiasm plus a deep knowledge of food trends and outstanding local eating ops. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.