Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration at the French Market

Para español clic: Celebración Mes de la Herencia Hispana en el Mercado Francés

By AnaMaria Bech

As most know, the United States celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15. This commemoration serves as a platform to highlight the contributions of immigrants and Latino citizens in the country and celebrate Latino culture on a grand scale.

The historical New Orleans institution, the French Market District, takes part in this celebration by highlighting the Latino artists and vendors at the market, and it also organizes a great festival that provides entertainment to the entire community and, in turn, offers visibility to Latino cultural acts, musical bands, restaurants, and non-profit organizations.

Although the organization has held several events that showcase Latin performances and food, it officially established the Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration in 2022. On its second edition, the festival will take place on September 16, starting at 11 a.m. at the flea market section of the French Market. This celebration includes live performances by various local bands every hour until 4 pm.

The Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration is a free festival for the whole family with activities for children, live music, delicious Latin food and drinks for sale, and the opportunity to find out about the programs of various organizations that support the Latino community in the city.

 The French Market District administration and organizers have done a great job putting together events that genuinely embrace the diversity of the New Orleans community and provide a space for an authentic representation of those participating in the festivals. Last year, bands like Arpa with the Garifuna Connection, Papo y Son Mandao, Merengue 4, and Julio & Cesar, among others, showcased various Latin music genres. At the same time, restaurants like El Gato Negro, La Milpa, and La Chilanga offered their already-recognized dishes from Mexico and Central America, while up-and-coming vendors like Numada and Punto Criollo had the opportunity to showcase their delicious meals.

We invite you to enjoy this annual Latin celebration in the heart of the French Quarter. Join the party, taste the delicious flavors of various restaurants in the city, dance to the contagious Latin rhythms, and browse through the French Market o discover the artists and vendors that bring a bit of Latino culture to the oldest market in New Orleans every day.

For an updated list of performances and participating restaurants during the 2023 Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration at the French Market, visit frenchmarket.org.