National Hispanic Heritage Month is observed in the United States from September 15th to October 15th each year. Under a law signed by President Lyndon Johnson, it was originally observed for one week starting in 1968. In 1988, President Ronald Reagan signed the month-long observance into law. This commemorative month recognizes Hispanic Americans’ contributions and influence on the United States’ history, culture, art, and other achievements.
The starting date was selected to celebrate the five Hispanic countries that declared independence on September 15, 1821: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua.
Here are 7 ways you can celebrate this month with your family:
1. Art and Essay Contest
Deadline: September 21, 2026 at 5:00 pm ET
The Governor’s Hispanic Heritage Month Art and Essay Contest’s 2026 theme is “Celebrating Florida’s Hispanic Heritage.”
The essay contest is open to all students in grades 4-12 attending any Florida school (public, charter, private, home, or virtual). Six winners will be selected: two elementary school students (grades 4-5), two middle school students (grades 6-8), and two high school students (grades 9-12). Each winner receives a 2-year Florida College Plan scholarship from the Florida Prepaid College Foundation and a $200 gift card for school supplies. A companion art contest is open to K-3 students.
Essays must be written in English, no longer than 500 words, about a Hispanic Floridian who has had an impactful effect on the state.
2. Mindful Archaeology at Immokalee Pioneer Museum
October 3, 2026
9:00 am–2:00 pm
Immokalee Pioneer Museum at Roberts Ranch
1215 Roberts Avenue West, Immokalee, FL 34142
Part of Collier County Museums’ Honorando Nuestra Historia (HNH), a month-long celebration engaging Latin communities in archeology and heritage. This event is free, but registration is required.
3. Discover Florida Hispanic Heritage Facts
A timeline of Hispanic history, contributions, and influence in Florida.
4. Día de los Muertos at Marco Island Historical Museum
October 10, 2026
10:00 am–1:00 pm
Marco Island Historical Museum
180 South Heathwood Drive, Marco Island, FL 34145
Día de los Muertos is a Central American tradition honoring ancestors. It occurs very close to Halloween but holds very different meanings and traditions. Come learn how to decorate calaveras (skulls), create ofrendas (altars), and learn more about this tradition that is important to many Indigenous American cultures.
This event is free and open to all ages. It is part of the Honorando Nuestra Historia series of events.
5. The Untold Stories of the Mexican Railroad Braceros of World War II
September 8 – December 23, 2026
Naples Depot Museum
1051 5th Avenue South, Naples, FL 34102
This exhibit tells the story of the Mexican laborers, or “braceros,” who worked on U.S. railroads during World War II under a bilateral labor agreement — a lesser-known chapter of Hispanic history in America. Part of Honorando Nuestra Historia.
Beyond Hispanic Heritage Month
These Día de los Muertos and heritage-focused events land just after the official month ends but are well worth the wait.
6. Día de los Muertos Celebration at Naples Botanical Garden
October 31 & November 1, 2026
10:00 am–4:00 pm
Naples Botanical Garden
4820 Bayshore Drive, Naples, FL 34112
Discover the cultural significance of Día de los Muertos through community altars, live music, folklórico dance performances, and family-friendly arts and crafts. The Fogg Café will feature blue corn empanadas both days. Included with Garden admission; free for members.
Want to keep the celebration going? Visit Artis—Naples on November 1 from 4–7 pm for a companion Día de los Muertos celebration featuring a musical performance, an ofrendas altar, and traditional Mexican dance.
7. There & Here: New Perspectives of the Permanent Collection
Now on view
The Baker Museum at Artis—Naples
5833 Pelican Bay Boulevard, Naples, FL 34108
In celebration of The Baker Museum’s 25th anniversary, this exhibition explores how people preserve their identities and connections to their ancestry despite geographical dislocation — co-curated with a community advisory committee.