New York knows how to celebrate, and this fall it has one more reason to do so. On the occasion of Hispanic Heritage Month, from September 11 to October 26, the five districts of the city will come to life with a program that invites you to enjoy music, dance, theater, gastronomy, history and traditions that enrich the Latin culture of New York.
The New York City Tourism + Conventions proposal brings together nearly 30 experiences to discover—or rediscover—the enormous diversity of the Hispanic and Latino communities that are part of New York’s identity.
From the stage to the dance floor
In Manhattan, the theater will have a Puerto Rican flavor with the return of “La Gringa”, by Carmen Rivera, which celebrates 30 years in Repertorio Español with the story of a New Yorker who travels to Puerto Rico in search of her roots. The play, presented in Spanish with English subtitles, returns on September 11.
If dancing is your thing, the New Swing Sextet will get Lincoln Center’s David Rubenstein Atrium moving on September 18 with an irresistible mix of salsa, Latin jazz, pop and boogaloo, that sound born on the streets of New York.
The celebration will also travel to Cuba with “The Essence of Us: A Cuban Story,” an evening combining film, dance and music on September 19 at The 92nd Street Y.
And there is more: the Venezuelan Gustavo Dudamel will inaugurate his stage as musical and artistic director of the New York Philharmonic with a program that includes a new work by the Cuban composer Tania León, from September 25 to 29.
Flavors, stories and traditions
For those who prefer to celebrate with their senses, options also abound. The Pasatono Trio will bring the traditional sounds of Oaxaca to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian on September 26, with free performances.
In the Bronx, the New York Botanical Garden will be transformed from October 3 to November 2 with its Day of the Dead celebration, filled with flowers, skulls and offerings that honor memory and life.
In Queens, the Queens Night Market will celebrate Hispanic heritage on September 19 with food, entertainment and community activities.
Brooklyn also gets into the swing of things with a Latin music season at Barclays Center, including artists like Don Omar, Arcángel, Rawayana and Young Miko during the fall. Additionally, New York Liberty will celebrate its Latin Night on September 21, featuring themed entertainment, fan experiences and community programming.
Staten Island will also have its share of humor with a performance by comedian George Lopez on October 9, while rock lovers will be able to discover the Colombian sound of Nicolás y Los Fumadores, who will debut in the United States on October 9 at Lincoln Center.
And for those who want to know the history beyond the stage, a tour of Spanish Harlem on October 4 will discover the lives and legacies of figures such as Julia de Burgos, La Lupe and Pura Belpré.
Because in New York, Hispanic Heritage is not limited to a date on the calendar: it is heard, danced, eaten, told and lived in each district.
To discover the complete schedule and plan your next Latin experience in New York, visit NYCTourism.com.
