Olé!

Join the fiesta at these 11 Hispanic Heritage Month events in Austin

Enjoy Chiles en Nogada at El Naranjo for a special seasonal snack.

Photo courtesy of El Naranjo

September may mark the end of summer fun for many, but for Latinos in the U.S., it’s the beginning of a month-long celebration of culture, food, and traditions.

National Hispanic Heritage Month was signed into law in 1968 by President Lyndon B. Johnson — it was only a week back then — as a way to recognize the contributions and influence of Hispanics/Latinos in the United States. It's observed every year from September 15 to October 15, giving local organizations a wide window to plan events.

The dates also coincide with a few Latin American countries’ independence day from Spain — Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua on September 15; Mexico on September 16; and Chile on September 18 — making it an even more significant time for all the festivities.

There are many ways for everyone to celebrate here in Austin from food festivals, to live performances, family-friendly events, and traditional food and drink specials. (Even a trip to San Antonio might be in order.) And because we all love a good fiesta, we put together this list of events so you, too, can join in the fun.

Fonda San Miguel: Various events
All month of September
Fonda San Miguel’s all-month-long culinary celebration includes drink specials inspired by Mexican personalities such as beloved entertainer Cantinflas; a Fiesta De Moles featuring two traditional moles every week; and on September 16, a live performance by Mariachi Cielo Azul to celebrate Mexico’s independence from Spain. Reserve on Resy.

El Naranjo: Special menu
All month of September
El Naranjo’s seasonal menu honors Mexico’s Independence Day with traditional flavors and dishes such as Kibi, a Yucatecan street food staple inspired by guest Chef Christian Bravo. The main course features Chile en Nogada and for dessert, a beautiful Tri-Color Panna Cotta showcasing the colors of the Mexican flag. Reserve on OpenTable.

Hopdoddy Burger Bar: Special burger and shake
September 6 to October 3
Hopdoddy joins the Hispanic Heritage Month celebration with the release of the Birria Burger, its spin on a birria taco, with house-made chorizo, Oaxacan cheese, and a side of consumé for dipping. The shake of the month is a churro flavored (available while supplies last) in collaboration with Texas-local, Siete Foods. For more information visit hopdoddy.com.

Meanwhile Brewing: Birth Comadres Fundraiser
September 15
To kick off Hispanic Heritage Month, Meanwhile Brewing will donate $1 of every Meanwhile Pilsner sold to Birth Comadres Doula Collective, an organization empowering the birthing experience and perinatal period in Central Texas. Members of the collective will be onsite that day from 6-8 pm to share more about their work. RSVP at birthcomadres.com.

ESB MACC: Viva Mexico!
September 16
If you’re looking for a free, family-friendly event, come celebrate Mexico’s Independence Day at the Oswaldo Cantu Pan Am Recreation Center and Neighborhood Park. There will be live performances by Mariachi Corazon de Texas and Ballet Folklórico de Austin among others, plus food trucks and an artisanal market. Join the festivities from 5-9 pm, for more information visit austintexas.gov.

BookPeople: Storytime, talks, and more
September 16
A full day of bookish activities awaits at BookPeople’s Hispanic Heritage Celebration event. Things kick off at 10:30 am with El Niño y El Cuento storytime, and return later in the afternoon a book talk with authors who contributed to Dining with Dead: A Feast for the Souls on Day of the Dead. The latter will include sugar skull decorating, aquas frescas, and a Hispanic Heritage-themed "Blind Date with a Book." Free to the public. For more information visit bookpeople.com.

Sazón Latin Food Festival
September 16-17
Celebrate the flavors of Latin America with food, drinks, and music during the Sazón Latin Food Festival. More than 20 food vendors will be representing the Caribbean, and South and Central America with an array of traditional dishes and flavors. The weekend-long festival is a free and family-friendly event, but reservations are encouraged due to limited space. Reserve on Eventbrite.

The Gallery ATX: "Como La Flor: Blossoming Identities Through Trans Latina Cinema”
September 23
The Gallery ATX is hosting "Como La Flor: Blossoming Identities Through Trans Latina Cinema,” a film festival honoring trans Latina cinema. The four films — GIRLS LIKE US, Te Extraño, Portals, and The Transition — explore themes of identity, resilience, and transformation, and will start with a pre-screening social. The event will take place at Moontower Cider Co. from 6-9 pm. Tickets for the festival ($8-$20) can be purchased on Eventbrite.

Pease Park Conservancy: Bilingual conservation walk
September 30
Pease Park Conservancy is putting together a bilingual conservation walk through the hillside trails at Pease Park to celebrate the community and learn about conservation efforts, while identifying native and invasive species. The walk begins at Terrace of the Tudor Cottage in Kingsbury Commons at 9:30 am. This event is free to the public. For more information visit peasepark.org.

Anniversary screening: The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez
October 6
The French Legation joined efforts with Benson Latin American Collection and LAVA Los Angeles to bring a special 40th anniversary screening of the Chicano film The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez. The story is based on the Mexican-American folk hero who evaded a manhunt led by Texas Rangers before returning to East Austin. Gates opens at 6:30 pm. Reserve tickets (free) on Eventbrite.

The Crafty Adult: "The Art of Alebrijes"
October 21
Learn about Mexican artist Pedro Linares Lopes and the folk-mythic art of Alebrijes, a term coined and popularized by the artist, while painting sculptures inspired by the bright and colorful mythical creatures. This event by the Austin Public Library is free to the public and will be held at the Windsor Park Branch from 11 am to 1 pm. For more information visit library.austintexas.gov.

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Red Light

San Antonio leads Texas on ending horse-drawn carriage rides by 2030

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Horses will no longer pull carriages on the streets of downtown San Antonio.

San Antonio has pulled off something that the rest of Texas has yet to do, but it didn't come without some contentious conversations. City Council has unanimously voted (with one abstention) to phase out the use of horse-drawn carriages over the next five years. That means by January 1, 2030, there will be none on the streets at all; instead, there will be electric carriages.

These plans have been in the making since 2022 — if not always at the same level of intensity — when District 2 Councilmember Jalen McKee-Rodriguez and District 3 Councilmember Phyllis Viagran wrote up some concerns about the horses' wellbeing. A special session at the end of October 2024 hinted to San Antonians that the end for this practice was neigh — sorry, nigh — and the final vote was made on December 12. In addition to accepting the plan, it extended its timeframe by two years.

The initial proposal included worries about the horses' exposure to traffic and pollution, as well how their presence might exacerbate those issues for the environment at large by slowing traffic. It also raised concerns about the effects of standing or walking on hard surfaces for too long, or spending time in extreme weather.

At the December 12 meeting, San Antonians gave impassioned speeches about animal welfare — both to call attention to the need for better conditions and to defend the reputations and jobs of current horse drivers — but it wasn't the first time the council heard from the public about the issue.

In a prior city survey, 50,476 respondents weighed in. Of those respondents, 51.98 percent said they liked the idea to "Transition horse-drawn carriages to electric carriages and pedicabs and ban horse drawn carriages completely." There were alternative solutions listed, but respondents were less drawn to them.

A cultural divide emerged in the data and continued in the December meeting: some people avoided the carriages because they worried about the treatment of the horses, while others enjoyed them because of their historical echoes and living legacy. Many speakers in favor of the plan used this to form their argument, raising questions about history versus progress.

More tangible objections to the plan hinged on the businesses — specifically five companies — and jobs that would be lost, which was the main factor behind extending the adjustment period.

Discussions about the particulars of the electric vehicles are still to come, as confirmed in the discussion near the end of the meeting. Councilmember Jalen McKee-Rodriguez addressed concerns about what would happen to the horses, mentioning the Brady Hunter Foundation as a future partner in finding them rescue homes.

Some council members also brought up rhetorical questions about animal exploitation by groups like Sea World, the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo, military and police forces, and even various groups in the Fiesta parade, although these did not come with a formal motion to pick the issues up.

This decision could have a ripple effect on other Texas cities. Dallas has recently considered a similar ban, but it appears to have stalled; Austin's attempts at a ban have been unsuccessful, but according to the Austin-American Statesman, only one operator is permitted to bring horses downtown. She declines to do so because the long hours are unfair to her and the horses. Houston does have horse-drawn carriages, and there seems to be little conversation about banning them.

Cities like Chicago and Salt Lake City have led the charge in the United States with some of the most prominent successful bans. Other cities around the world with bans include Brussels and Guadalajara, which both switched to electric models. Bans that have been around for years, like Guadalajara's and Prague's, still aren't out of the woods — people are still pushing back on the decision, so it sounds like San Antonio still has much work cut out for it.

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