National Hispanic Heritage Month kicked off on Sept. 14th in Richmond with upbeat music, tasty tacos and bounce houses for kids at a music festival at Restaurante La Revolucion in the Hilltop Mall area.
The month, which is observed from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, is important in Latin American culture, as it celebrates the independence from Spain nearly 200 years ago of former colonies such as Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua (Sept. 15), Mexico (Sept. 16), and Chile (Sept. 18). The month-long celebration further includes Columbus Day, or Dia de la Raza, on Oct. 12.
Approximately 400 guests attended the event, where several bank and private sponsors initially chipped in to make the day possible.
“Events like this definitely encourage less violence,” resident Patricia Zuniga said. It helps “discourage kids to do something else and instead come in, have fun.”
Loi Ameera Almeron 