Best Ways To Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month In Chicago

Whether you've already attended a number of festivities for Hispanic Heritage Month or are still looking for something to do, the Chicago area offers plenty of options. The annual month-long celebration, which ends October 15, 2014, features a number of events, including special art and museum exhibits, musical performances and crafts. Keep the following list of Chicago-area events in mind for Hispanic Heritage Month; for an additional list of events, check out this article.

2014 Latino Music Festival Presents: Gustavo Martín, Cellist
Harold Washington Library Center

Cindy Pritzker Auditorium
400 S. State St.
Chicago, IL 60605
(312) 747-4300
www.chipublib.org

Date: Sept. 30, 2014

Add "catch a musical performance" to your list of things to do this year during Hispanic Heritage Month. A performance by cellist and composer Gustavo Martín is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on September 30, 2014, at the Harold Washington Library Center. Admission to the concert is free, and seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. Martín has an extensive discography, and has recorded an eclectic mix of music that includes European chamber music, plus cello music from Mexico and Brazil. After the concert, make time to explore Harold Washington Library Center's collection of books and materials pertaining to Hispanic Heritage Month.

Samuel Del Real With Sureya
Old Town School of Folk Music
The Myron R. Szold Music & Dance Hall
4545 N. Lincoln Ave.
Chicago, IL 60625
(773) 728-6000
www.oldtownschool.org

Date: Oct. 10, 2014

Start your weekend with a performance by the Salsa Legend Piano King Samuel del Real and Sureya, known as la Dama de la Salsa. The duo will perform salsa music as part of Old Town School of Folk Music's Global Dance Party series. A dance class is also part of the evening's festivities, so get ready to get on your feet and dance the night away (don't forget to wear comfortable clothing and shoes, too). The concert kicks off at 8:30 p.m., and tickets are $10 each. Old Town School of Folk Music has plenty of bars and restaurants nearby, so you can cap off your evening with a quick meal or drink.

Harper String Orchestra Presents: Latin Influence, A 2014 Chicago Latino Music Festival Concert
Harper College
Performing Arts Center
1200 W. Algonquin Road
Palatine, IL 60067
(847) 925-6707
www.calendar.harpercollege.edu

Date: Oct. 12, 2014

Learn more about Latin influence through music by attending "Harper String Orchestra Presents: Latin Influence, A 2014 Chicago Latino Music Festival Concert" in the northwestern suburb of Palatine. The concert is performed by the Harper Symphony Orchestra and is directed by Maestro Brian Groner, who has conducted for the Joffrey Ballet, Ballet Chicago and the Moscow Classical Ballet, among others. The performance kicks off at 3 p.m., and ticket prices are available on Harper College's website. The concert is part of the Harper Symphony Orchestra's 2014-2015 season.

Related: Best Ways To Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month In Chicago

What May Come: The Taller De Gráfica Popular And The Mexican Political Print
Art Institute of Chicago
111 S. Michigan Ave.
Chicago, IL 60603
(312) 443-3600
www.artic.edu

Date: Through Oct. 12, 2014

For a look at politics through the lens of artwork, check out the Art Institute of Chicago's exhibit "What May Come: The Taller de Gráfica Popular and the Mexican Political Print." Taller de Gráfica Popular in Mexico City published a number of political works, many of which are in the Art Institute's collection today. Held in galleries 124 through 127, the exhibit includes a catalog and exhibit displays in both Spanish and English. After checking out the exhibit, make time to visit the Art Institute's extensive collection of art from around the world, especially those from Central and South America.

Rito y Recuerdo: Day Of The Dead
National Museum of Mexican Art
1852 W. 19th St.
Chicago, IL 60608                           
(312) 738-1503
www.nationalmuseumofmexicanart.org

Date: Through Dec. 14, 2014

For a deeper understanding of Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, consider checking out the exhibit "Rito y Recuerdo: Day of the Dead" at the world-renowned National Museum of Mexican Art. The exhibit, which is considered the largest Day of the Dead celebration in the U.S., features plenty of artwork, including paintings and sculptures, so that visitors can learn more about the celebration. Admission to the museum is free, and educational tours of the exhibit are also available. Located in Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood, the National Museum of Mexican Art features an extensive collection of artwork spanning thousands of years.

Related: Best Museum Tours In Chicago

Megan Horst-Hatch is a runner, reader, baker, gardener, knitter, and other words that end in "-er." She is also the president of Megan Writes, LLC. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.