Seattle's Child

Your guide to a kid-friendly city

Hispanic Heritage Month in Seattle

It's Hispanic Heritage Month. Visit a new neighborhood or restaurant, or try a new food. (Photos courtesy of Frelard Tamales)

It’s Hispanic Heritage Month; here’s what to do with kids around Seattle

Festivals, events and restaurants highlighting a culture that's very much a part of the Northwest fabric.

Hispanic Heritage Month is Sept. 15-Oct. 15, 2023. Learn about and celebrate the history and cultures of people of Hispanic or Latinx ancestry. They may have roots in Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean or Central and South America. The impact of Hispanic and Latinx people can be felt in Seattle and across Washington.

Seattle’s South Park neighborhood and White Center have long been home to Latinx families and businesses. In addition, the influence is being seen more and more in SeaTac and Burien.

“Hispanic Heritage Month should be a reminder to all of us about the positive contributions Latinx communities, including Latinx immigrants, have made in communities across the U.S.,” said Osbaldo Hernandez, co-owner of Frelard Tamales. “Latinx folks are a crucial part of America’s fabric who have helped write the history and the story of the United States.”

Additionally, here’s a cool introduction to select businesses: Visit Seattle and Intentionalist (with support from Seattle Sounders FC) are hosting Visit Seattle-sponsored tabs offering freebies to people who show up and ask. Here’s how it works and who is being featured.

 

Hispanic Heritage Month events:

Sounders FC has been celebrating all month, and it culminates Wednesday, Oct. 4, at Lumen Field. The club takes on LA Galaxy and celebrates Latinx Heritage Month. A special group ticket offer for fans includes a ticket to the home match and an item of their choice from Latinx-owned restaurant Maiz.

In addition, Latinx-owned food trucks will be onsite at matchday with special deals. Dance troupe Bailadores de Bronce will be there, too. (They’re celebrating their 50th anniversary this year, by the way.)

KEXP Aqui y Ahora (Here and Now) – Seattle radio station KEXP celebrates Latino-identified communities across the world with performances, podcasts, stories and music on-air through Oct. 15.

MEXAM Northwest Festival: This multi-event, multi-venue festival features music, film, visual arts, poetry and dance.

Seattle Latino Film Festival: The 14th annual edition of the film festival runs Oct. 6-14 with feature films, short films and documentaries at several locations.

Sea Mar Museum of Chicano/a/Latino/a Culture: A museum in Seattle’s South Park featuring the history of Chicanx and Latinx people from postwar to now; open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.

 

Hispanic Heritage month: learn more

Intentionalist is a great resource for people looking to “vote with their wallets.” Its businesses directory is searchable by neighborhood, type of business and ownership: female, veteran, person with disability, Asian, Native, Black, Latino, etc.

King County Library System has resources, reading lists and events.

Seattle Public Library recommends these kids books, plus more books for kids and teens.

More things to do in Seattle’s Child:

Great spots around Seattle for fall colors and family photos

Check out Burien: What to do, see and eat with kids

 

 

About the Author

Julie Hanson

Julie Hanson is a longtime journalist, South King County resident and mom to a 15-year-old girl.