Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month begins September 15 and the celebration continues through October 15 to mark the vibrant histories, cultures, and contributions of Latinx individuals. For parents and teachers, here is a helpful resource to fill in any knowledge gaps and start conversations with kids.
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month as a family with events, storytimes, games, as well as books and movies! We’ll be adding new kid-friendly activities as we find them. At the bottom of this post, we’ve linked to a few delicious, local restaurants to try (ones that kids really like).
Hispanic Heritage Month Events in the East Bay
Thursday, September 15, 2022
3:30 pm - 5:00 pm: LoterÃa for Kids and Families @ Central Library | Berkeley Public Library, BerkeleyFriday, September 16, 2022
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm: Hispanic Heritage Month Film Screening: Encanto @ Tarea Hall Pittman South Branch | Berkeley Public Library, BerkeleySaturday, September 17, 2022
11:00 am - 12:00 pm: Family Concert with 123 Andrés @ Cesar Chavez Branch | Oakland Public Library, Oakland11:00 am - 12:00 pm: Family Dance Lesson with Cunamacué @ Asian Branch | Oakland Public Library, Oakland
2:00 pm - 2:45 pm: Family Concert with 123 Andrés @ 81st Avenue Branch | Oakland Public Library, Oakland
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm: Family Dance Lesson with Cunamacué @ Dimond Branch | Oakland Public Library, Oakland
Wednesday, September 21, 2022
6:30 pm - 8:00 pm: Family Fun Night: Colombian Folkloric Dance @ Main Branch | San Leandro Public Library, San LeandroSaturday, September 24, 2022
10:00 am - 5:00 pm: Hispanic Heritage Day @ USS Hornet @ USS Hornet Sea, Air & Space Museum, Alameda11:00 am - 11:30 am: Cuauhtli Mitotiani Mexica Performance @ North Branch | Berkeley Public Library, Berkeley
Sunday, September 25, 2022
12:00 pm - 5:00 pm: DÃa de la IngenierÃa/Latinx Engineering Day 2022 @ Exploratorium, San FranciscoWednesday, September 28, 2022
2:00 pm - 3:30 pm: Manor Teen Zone @ Main Branch | San Leandro Public Library, San Leandro4:00 pm - 5:00 pm: Cascada De Flores Performance @ Richmond Public Library, Richmond
Thursday, September 29, 2022
10:30 am - 11:15 am: Mariela's Music Time/La hora de la música de Mariela @ Brookfield Branch | Oakland Public Library, Oakland,Saturday, October 1, 2022
10:30 am - 11:15 am: Bilingual Music & Movement @ Main Branch | San Leandro Public Library, San Leandro10:30 am - 11:30 am: Family Dance Lesson with Cunamacué @ Rockridge Branch | Oakland Public Library, Oakland
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm: Lowriders at the Library @ Central Library | Berkeley Public Library, Berkeley
Saturday, October 8, 2022
3:00 pm - 3:30 pm: Cascada de Flores Performance @ Tarea Hall Pittman South Branch | Berkeley Public Library, BerkeleySaturday, October 15, 2022
12:00 pm - 3:00 pm: DÃa de los Muertos, Fall Family Day @ Richmond Art Center, Richmond3:00 pm - 6:00 pm: Benvenue Beats Mini Music Festival: Latinx Rhythms @ Claremont Branch | Berkeley Public Library, Berkeley
Hispanic Heritage Weekend at Filoli, Woodside
September 24-25. Musical performances, food trucks, and Dia de los Muertos ofrendas along the Main Orchard Path. Regular admission prices. Website >
Visit the Mission Murals, San Francisco
Anytime. Walk or drive to see the fabulous, colorful community murals in San Francisco’s Mission District. Audio tour is available. Map and details >
Create a cultural headdress, Oakland
Sundays from 2 pm – 3:30. Attend a headdress-making workshop at Mannequin Madness in Oakland to create a special floral crown for Latinx Heritage Month or Dia de los Muertos, appropriate for ages 8+. $60 each. Website to register >
See Diego Rivera’s America, SFMOMAÂ
On view through January 2, 2023
Introduce your child to the art of Diego Rivera. See more than 150 paintings, frescoes, and drawings that touch on the artist’s Mexican and American identities in the exhibit. Guests under 18 always get in free. Website >
Favorite Latinx Heritage Books to Read and Movies to Watch with Kids
Some of our favorite books by Latinx authors or illustrators:
- Dreamers by Yuyi Morales
- TÃa Isa Wants a Car by Meg Medina
- The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson
- ¡Vamos! Let’s Go to the Market by Raul the Third
- Alma and How She Got Her Name by Juana Martinez-Neal
Plan a family movie night to open the door to bigger conversations. Look to films that may be familiar to your kids, like Disney’s Coco or Encanto. These plot lines capture some cultural traditions and history that you can discuss together.
Find Latinx Restaurants Kids Love in the East Bay
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with a delicious meal. Some of our favorite East Bay restaurants are:
- Cholita Linda (Oakland + Alameda) | Peruvian-American street-food favorites
- Picante (Berkeley) | Mexican cuisine
- Cafe Platano (Berkeley + Oakland) | Salvadoran cuisine
- Tacos Oscar (Oakland) | Taqueria, vegan friendly
- Casa Latina Bakery (Berkeley) | Mexican bakery and eatery
For more kid-friendly Latinx restaurants, see 99 Restaurants kids love or global eating for East Bay kids.
