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
Friday, September 15, 2023
10:30 am - 11:00 am: Bilingual Baby Bounce (English/Spanish) @ West Branch | Berkeley Public Library, BerkeleySaturday, September 16, 2023
10:00 am - 5:00 pm: Hispanic Heritage Month Drop-in Craft Time @ Castro Valley Library, Castro Valley,1:00 pm - 1:30 pm: Herencia Guantanamera Haiti @ West Branch | Berkeley Public Library, Berkeley
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm: ¡LoterÃa! (13+) @ Hercules Library, Hercules
Thursday, September 21, 2023
11:30 am - 12:00 pm: Bilingual Stories/Cuentos Bilingües (English and Spanish) @ Hayward Public Library, Hayward4:00 pm - 4:30 pm: Mariela's Music Time @ Manor Branch | San Leandro Public Library, San Leandro
Friday, September 22, 2023
10:30 am - 11:00 am: Bilingual Baby Bounce (English/Spanish) @ West Branch | Berkeley Public Library, Berkeley5:00 pm - 9:00 pm: Friday Nights at OMCA: La Mezcla presents Convivencia @ Oakland Museum of California (OMCA), Oakland
Saturday, September 23, 2023
12:00 pm - 4:00 pm: Nuestros Colores: Art & Culture Festival of the Americas @ Chochenyo Park, Alameda2:00 pm - 3:00 pm: Cascada De Flores presents: AquÃles Va Un Cuento @ Hercules Library, Hercules
Thursday, September 28, 2023
11:30 am - 12:00 pm: Bilingual Stories/Cuentos Bilingües (English and Spanish) @ Hayward Public Library, Hayward3:30 pm - 4:00 pm: Hispanic Heritage Month Crafts @ Manor Branch | San Leandro Public Library, San Leandro
Friday, September 29, 2023
10:30 am - 11:00 am: Bilingual Baby Bounce (English/Spanish) @ West Branch | Berkeley Public Library, Berkeley5:00 pm - 9:00 pm: Friday Nights at OMCA with Esotérica Tropical Program @ Oakland Museum of California (OMCA), Oakland
Saturday, September 30, 2023
11:00 am - 12:00 pm: Meet & Greet: Encanto's Mirabel @ Pinole Library, PinoleThursday, October 5, 2023
11:30 am - 12:00 pm: Bilingual Stories/Cuentos Bilingües (English and Spanish) @ Hayward Public Library, HaywardSaturday, October 7, 2023
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm: Benvenue Beats: Ritmos Latinos @ Claremont Branch | Berkeley Public Library, BerkeleyThursday, October 12, 2023
11:30 am - 12:00 pm: Bilingual Stories/Cuentos Bilingües (English and Spanish) @ Hayward Public Library, HaywardSaturday, October 14, 2023
10:00 am - 10:30 am: EBI's Spanish Storytime @ Escuela Bilingue Internacional (lower school), Oakland10:00 am - 5:00 pm: Hispanic Heritage Month Drop-in Craft Time @ Castro Valley Library, Castro Valley,
3:00 pm - 3:45 pm: Bomba y Plena Workshop @ Central Library | Berkeley Public Library, Berkeley
4:00 pm - 4:30 pm: Buki the Clown's Bilingual Comedy Magic Show @ Tarea Hall Pittman South Branch | Berkeley Public Library, Berkeley
Latin & Hispanic Heritage Day at A’s Baseball Game
September 16. The Oakland A’s will celebrate Latin and Hispanic heritage during their game against the Padres. First pitch goes out at 1:07 pm. There’s also a themed sock giveaway to ticket holder who arrive at the stadium early through Gate A. Reserve tickets >
Latinx Heritage Month at Children’s Fairyland
September 30 & October 1. Children’s Fairyland, Oakland. A weekend filled with book readings, performances, and arts & crafts that represent the heritage and culture of the Latinx community. Learn more >
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 >
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.
Tell us: How will you observe and celebrate Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month with your kids?
