LANSING — Downtown Lansing promises to be rich with Hispanic culture, heritage and community this weekend.
Ourspace Foundation’s 3rd annual 517 Hispanic Heritage Weekend promises four days of activities honoring the traditions and contributions of the Hispanic community across Michigan and beyond.
At 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 18, a free “Pathways to Wholeness” seminar and mixer meant to promote Latino wellness, community, and culture is scheduled at City Hall, 124 West Michigan Ave.
From 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 19, a Latin dance class and mixer, featuring bachata and salsa lessons and a live DJ, will happen at Lansing Shuffle, 325 Riverfront Drive.
Saturday is a big day for the event, with a Taste of Hispanic Heritage Festival planned for 3:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. outside the state Capitol building. Live music, luchador wrestling, folklore dancing, a Kidz Zone and more than 70 food trucks and vendors celebrating Hispanic culture are part of the lineup.
At 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Latin Jazz Night is planned on the Lansing Shuffle patio.
Hispanic Heritage Month, from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, honors and uplifts diverse Hispanic and Latino communities throughout the state.
The timing of the period centers around Latin American nations, with five Central American countries — Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua — marking their national independence days Sept. 15, followed by Mexico Sept. 16, Chile Sept. 18 and Belize Sept. 21, the National Museum of the American Latino said.
Michigan is home to about 572,000 Latino residents, 5.7% of the state’s population, as of 2022, according to the Julian Samora Research Institute at Michigan State University. Nationwide, there are 65.2 million Hispanic or Latino residents, 19.5% of the U.S. population, as of July 1, 2023, per the U.S. Census Bureau.
Other Hispanic events happening in Lansing during Hispanic Heritage Month include the Friday, Sept. 26, Cafecito Caliente Awards, at The Cadillac Room in Lansing’s REO Town. A $50 ticket purchase is required.
Also, a Latino Business Expo is scheduled for noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, at the Causeway Bay Hotel, 6820 S. Cedar St.
Lansing leaders are also considering when to reschedule the Hispanic Heritage Month celebration they had scheduled for Monday, Sept. 15, at city hall. The event was canceled in the wake of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk’s assassination in Utah.
“Out of an abundance of caution given everything going at this time, the Hispanic Heritage committee has decided to postpone our celebration to a later date,” the city’s statement read. “We’re looking forward to coming together with the community soon. Stay tuned, we can’t wait to celebrate with you!”
Contact editor Susan Vela at svela@lsj.com or 248-873-7044. Follow her on Twitter @susanvela.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Lansing’s 517 Hispanic Heritage Weekend includes 4 days of activities
Reporting by Susan Vela, Lansing State Journal / Lansing State Journal
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