Gaithersburg, MD - The City of Gaithersburg invites you to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with educational and cultural presentations and activities happening throughout the City. An official proclamation designating September 15 through October 15, 2023, as “Hispanic Heritage Month” in the City of Gaithersburg was presented at the September 5 Mayor and City Council meeting.

Accepting this year’s proclamation was Yerania Benicio, Gaithersburg resident and member of the Multicultural Affairs Committee. Yerania was born in Mexico and graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Colima in Mexico. She is a member of the De Colores Mexican Folk Dance Company and enjoys doing volunteer work with her children. Yerania has worked for a multicultural institution for more than 13 years, where she has learned to value and treasure other cultures. View the presentation here.

Residents are encouraged to learn about and celebrate Hispanic culture and participate in local events and programs taking place throughout the month, many coordinated by the City’s Multicultural Affairs Committee (MAC). Explore the complete list of programs here.

Activities and programs celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month include:

 - Drop-in at the Museum: Hispanic Heritage Month: September 9 - 10, 11:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Gaithersburg Community Museum

 - Hispanic Heritage Festival, September 12, 5 – 6:30 p.m.
Asbury Methodist Village

 - Hispanic Heritage Month Educational Display: September 15 – October 15
Activity Center at Bohrer Park

 - Hispanic Heritage Celebration Exhibition, Sep 15 – Dec 10, 2023
Artist Reception: Thursday, Sep 21, 7 – 8:30 p.m.
Activity Center at Bohrer Park

 - Krafty Kids: September 22 and 29, 10:30 – 11 a.m.
Arts Barn

 - Family Pajama Party: We Don't Talk About Bruno!: September 22, 5:30 – 7 p.m.
Casey Community Center

 - Movie Night – Vivo: September 22, 7:30 p.m.
City Hall Concert Pavilion

 - Princess Party – Encanto: September 23, Timeslots 10 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Sensory Friendly 9:30 a.m.
Casey Community Center

National Hispanic Heritage Month began in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson. In 1988, President Ronald Reagan changed the designation to a 30-day time covering the dates of September 15 to October 15. The date of September 15 is historically significant as it marks the anniversary of independence of five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. The designation period also includes Mexico and Chile, which celebrate their independence on September 16 and 18, respectively. According to the U.S. Census, Hispanic Americans are identified by the parts of the world that they or their ancestors came from, including Puerto Rico, Cuba, Mexico, Spain, and the countries of Central and South America.

The mission of the Multicultural Affairs Committee is to enrich our City through the promotion of understanding, respect, and appreciation of the many cultures of Gaithersburg. Learn more here.