This year’s “Floreciendo Juntos (Blooming Together)” theme centers on honoring identity, culture and well-being while bringing the Elon community together through art, music, food and shared traditions.
Elon University will host a series of events and programs to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. Hosted by the Center for Race, Ethnicity, and Diversity Education and El Centro, the month-long celebration features the theme “Floreciendo Juntos (Blooming Together): Honoring Identity, Culture and Well-being, ” highlighting the diverse backgrounds, unique stories and rich history that shape Hispanic and Latino communities.
“We invite the Elon community to join us in celebrating and honoring Hispanic Heritage Month by immersing ourselves in the vibrant art, music, food, and traditions that unite and inspire the community,” Amy Gutierrez-Luviano, assistant director of the CREDE, said. “By doing so, we are creating supportive spaces focused on mental, physical and holistic health that uplift the community.
Observed annually from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, Hispanic Heritage Month recognizes and honors the histories, cultures and contributions of Hispanic and Latinx communities in the United States. Established by President Lyndon Johnson in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week, the celebration expanded to a month-long observance under President Ronald Reagan in 1988 and became law on Aug. 17 that year. The month highlights the lasting impact of Hispanic and Latinx individuals across various fields, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of their vital role in shaping American society.
The celebration begins with the independence anniversaries of several Latin American countries, including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua, with Mexico and Chile following shortly after on Sept. 16 and 18.
Hispanic Heritage Month programming at Elon will run from Sept. 10 to Oct. 30. Highlights of this year’s events include the annual Hispanic Heritage Month kickoff and “Crossing Borders: Images of Migration and Voices of Minorities,” featuring film producer and poet Françoise Nieto-Fong, sponsored by Latin American Studies, Peace and Conflict Studies, the Department of World Languages and Cultures, the Center for Advancement of Teaching nd Learning, and Belk Library.
Hispanic Heritage Month 2026 events at Elon
Hispanic Heritage Month Kickoff
Tuesday, Sept. 15
5:30 p.m. | Medallion Plaza
Crossing Borders: Images of Migration and Voices of Minorities
Wednesday, Sept. 16
2-3:40 p.m. | Turner Theatre
Campus Screening: Sunset over America and The Return-Family Separation
Sponsored by Latin American Studies; Peace and Conflict Studies; the Department of World Languages and Cultures; the Center for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning; Belk Library.
Noche Latina
Tuesday, Sept. 29
7 p.m. | Rudd Field
Perspectivas
Wednesday, Sept. 30
5:30-7 p.m. | McKinnon Hall
Soccer Tournament
Friday, Oct. 2
4-8 p.m. | Intramural Fields
Perspectivas
Thursday, Oct. 8
5:30-7 p.m. | McKinnon Hall
Café con Leche Homecoming Edition
Friday, Oct. 9
3:30-5 p.m. | El Centro (Carlton 114)
Café con Leche w/ friends!
Monday, Oct. 19
5:30-7 p.m. | Irazú
Gala Latina
Friday, Oct. 30
5:30-8 p.m. | McKinnon Hall
Explore the detailed schedule of events for Hispanic Heritage Month on the CREDE website. For questions or more information, please contact Amy Gutierrez-Luviano at agutierrezluviano@elon.edu.