Best Ways To Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month In Pittsburgh

The Daily Meal Staff|Sept. 29, 2014 7:00 am EST

Photo Credit: Thinkstock

Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated nationally from September 15 through October 15. There's a number of things you can do with your kids and family to honor your family's rich cultural traditions. While there may not yet be tons of events in the Steel City, below are the five best ways to make your own unique celebration, begin your own traditions and teach your kids everything there is to know about Hispanic heritage.

Games

Using a world map, point out all of the countries where Spanish is spoken. See who can name the most in the shortest amount of time. You can make crafts with your little ones, too. Challenge them to create tiny animals, flowers and people just like artisans in Nicaragua. To make moldable dough, each participant will need one slice of white bread, crust removed, and one teaspoon of white glue (Elmer's works best). The dough will be sticky at first, but will become manageable with kneading. Mold the "dough" into tiny shapes and allow to air dry overnight.

Read

Spend your after-dinner time reading. From Spanish characters after adventure, to friendships, family issues and storytellers in small villages, Hispanic themes run deep in these reads. The following are some outstanding works by authors that everyone in the family will love:

"The Dreamer" By Pam Muñoz Ryan
"Firefly Letters" By Margarita Engle
"I Love Saturdays y Domingos" By Alma Flor Ada
"Just in Case" By Yuyi Morales
"Laughing Tomatoes and Other Spring Poems/Jitomates y Otros Poemas de Primavera" By Francisco X. Alarcón
"Neighborhood Odes" By Gary Soto
"Return to Sender" By Julia Alvarez
"The Storyteller's Candle/La velita de los cuentos" By Lucia Gonzalez
"Waiting for Biblioburro" By Monica Brown
"What Can You Do with a Rebozo" By Carmen Tafolla

9th Annual Hispanic Heritage Gala Dinner/Dance Party
Sheraton Station Square
300 W. Station Square Drive
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
(412) 261-2000
www.ymlp.com

Date: Oct 11, 2014

If you're looking to really party, search no further than the Pittsburgh chapter of the LACU's gala; the preeminent event of Pittsburgh's Hispanic Heritage Month. This wildly popular event annually attracts not only the diverse Latino population of the Steel City, but everyone who enjoys Latino culture. With an annual attendance between 250 and 350 individuals, it's not only the region's largest gathering, but most popular event, as well. Call 877-412-3702 for tickets. Please be advised that no tickets will be sold at the door for this event.

2014 Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration
Uptown Ultra Lounge
1014 5th Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
(412) 281-8786
www.pghuptoan.com

Date: Sept 30, 2014

This annual event is a great way to meet like-minded individuals in order to network, market and mingle. The majority of participants will be these who work in or for Hispanic-owned enterprises, or for companies who seek to hire exclusively Latinos. Head down after work for a few drinks and prepare for an evening full of chatter, useful business tips and great camaraderie. Entrance is free, and appetizers will be served.

Nikki Tiani-Moroney is a full time mum of two boys, wife of a professional poker player/photographer/amateur pencil-sharpening competitor and writer from Pittsburgh, PA. When she isn't studiously neglecting her housework in favor of a good book, she's out simultaneously fighting crime and picking up sidewalk litter while savoring an occasional cigarette. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.