From Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, communities across Oregon will celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month with festivals, music, dance, food, film, storytelling and other events highlighting the state’s Latino communities and their histories and traditions. The month begins just as many communities are also marking Mexican Independence Day, which falls Sept. 16.
This year’s calendar is a mix of longtime traditions and newer gatherings, but it also reflects the uncertainty facing some organizers. Centro Cultural’s El Grito celebration in Hillsboro has been canceled for 2026 after organizers said they were unable to secure everything needed to produce a safe, organized and welcoming event. The Latino Community Association’s Latino Fest in Madras is also canceled for a second consecutive year, citing safety concerns related to immigration enforcement.
Other events have changed course for different reasons. ¡Viva Salem!, the Riverfront Park festival that ran in 2023 and 2024, remains on hiatus after the city canceled the 2025 event because of staffing shortages. And Fiesta Latina en el Parque in Milwaukie has moved from Hispanic Heritage Month to May…