From Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, the City of Mesquite will celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with special recognitions and a wide variety of events.
Tributes to notable Hispanic Americans in Mesquite will be featured throughout the month on the City’s social media accounts, including recognitions of City leaders.
The City’s Parks and Recreation Department will host Vida Sana: Hispanic Heritage Health Fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sept. 21 at Florence Recreation Center, 2501 Whitson Way. The free event is part of the City’s Get Fit Mesquite program and will feature bilingual health-focused vendors, demonstrations including clean cooking, and crafts and activities for kids. Attendees will get a free bag and t-shirt while supplies last.
On Sept. 19 and Oct. 10, Visit Mesquite will host festive Lotería Nights from 7-9 p.m. at Taco City y Mas restaurant, 3600 Gus Thomasson Road #122 in Mesquite. Lotería is a traditional Mexican board game of chance, similar to bingo. Instead of numbers, lotería uses colorful images on a deck of cards, each representing a different aspect of Mexican heritage. Lotería Nights will feature prizes and a DJ. Visit www.VisitMesquiteTX.com for more details.
Join us for a special Hispanic Heritage edition of the Downtown Farmers Market on Sept. 28, spotlighting Hispanic vendors and products and including a special performance. The Farmers Market at Front Street Station is held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and features a wide variety of items including artisanal products, locally grown produce, baked goods, bath and body products, food vendors and more. Learn more at www.DowntownMesquiteTX.com.
Downtown Mesquite also will do a special feature during Hispanic Heritage Month on its social media accounts of Dallas-based artist Daniel Yanez, whose works include a mural in downtown Mesquite inspired by the City’s rodeo history.
The Mesquite Public Library System will have events throughout Hispanic Heritage Month, including Young at Art - Frida Kahlo art project at 4 p.m. on Sept. 12 at the Main Library and Art 101 with traditional Mexican folk art amate drawings at 4 p.m. on Sept. 19 at the North Branch. Experience the beauty and traditions of Hispanic culture with performances by Alma y Corazón Tejano Ballet Folklórico at 6 p.m. on Sept. 30 at the Main Library and at 2 p.m. on Oct. 12 at the North Branch. Both library locations will have displays featuring books about Hispanic culture, books written by authors of Hispanic descent as well as materials in Spanish. Visit www.cityofmesquite.com/library for more information.
On Oct. 7, the Mesquite Arts Center will open exhibitions by Texas artists Juan Carlos Escobedo and Patricia Rodriguez. In “Derelict Display x J.ESC” in the Main Gallery, Escobedo utilizes sustainable materials and explores themes of race and socio-economic status. Rodriguez’s “Second Nature” will be shown in the Chamber Gallery and is inspired by the natural world and driven by color and movement. Both exhibitions will be on display through Dec 21.
All month long, the Mesquite Arts Center will include Hispanic heritage-focused projects in its free Tote-and-Go kits for kids. There is a limited supply of Tote-and-Go kits, so please register in advance. The Arts Center also will host two Latin Heritage Month Craft Stations at its free Just for Kids monthly event – one on Sept. 7 and the next on Oct. 5. Just for Kids is held from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Learn more and register at www.mesquiteartscenter.org.
The Arts Center will keep the celebration of Hispanic culture going with its annual Dia de los Muertos event on Oct. 26. This free, family-friendly Day of the Dead festival will be held from 3-6 p.m. inside the building and on the grounds of the Mesquite Arts Center and will feature cultural arts workshops, music, dancing, theatrical performances, food trucks and vendors. See more details at www.mesquiteartscenter.org.