San Diego’s proximity to Mexico and Central America makes our city the perfect destination for fun events, cultural activities, and delicious bites. While the celebrations started on September 15th 2024, there are still so many things to do before Hispanic Heritage Month ends on October 15th 2024. Check out some of them below!
1. Enjoy the Art Crawl in the beautiful Barrio Logan neighborhood
Every second Saturday of the month, you can discover amazing Chicano art and cultural highlights through the Barrio Art Crawl. The district is filled with artwork, crafts, exhibits, and music that will have your hips moving the whole time. While the tour happens throughout the entire year, the vibes will be impeccable during Hispanic Heritage Month, making it the perfect time to join in the fun.
If you’d like to learn even more about the area and make sure you hit the best spots for food and drinks, get a guided tour with a local! You can grab your tickets for the guided Barrio Art Walk here.
📍Location: Barrio Logan
📆 Date: Oct. 12 2024
2. Visit the Chicano Park and Museum
Also located in Barrio Logan, the Chicano Park is home to over 100 Chicano murals, making it the largest collection of its kind in the world. While the art itself is impressive enough, the museum will give you a better understanding of the area’s importance and its history. During Hispanic Heritage Month, Chicano Park has partnered with The City of San Diego’s Office of the City Clerk to host “Telling our Stories – Preserving Our Histories: The Chicano Movement in San Diego”, which takes place at the City Administration Building. You can read more about the activities of this event here.
3. Grab a bite from some of the best restaurants in San Diego
The Art Crawl is sure to help you build an appetite, but the good news is that you couldn’t be in a better spot to try some Hispanic classics. You can grab “the best chilaquiles in San Diego” at historical El Carrito, which used to be an old cable car, a shoeshine stand, and later on, a space for local politicians to meet.
If you’re in the mood for tacos, head to Las Cuatro Milpas. They serve fried tacos made the same way since 1933, and you can actually see the chefs working their magic behind the counter. The rice and refried beans are also a popular choice with the crowds.
Not too far from Barrio Logan, you can also stop by El Savadoreño for its famous pupusas, filled with pork, beef or chicken, in all sorts of interesting combinations. Vegetarian and vegan options are available.
📍Location:
El Carrito – 2154 Logan Ave, San Diego, CA 92113
Las Cuatro Milpas – 1857 Logan Ave, San Diego, CA 92113
El Salvadoreno – 2845 Imperial Ave, San Diego, CA 92102
You can also check out this article for more awesome finds when it comes to the best Mexican restaurants in San Diego.
4. Catch an amazing show at the famous La Jolla Playhouse
Known as the theater that sets the tone for what’s next in American plays and musicals, La Jolla Playhouse will host the Latinx New Play Festival. It’s a free event where you can watch new plays, live readings of the best scripts, and panel discussions. The event has gotten a lot of attention, which means it’s currently at capacity – but, there is a waiting list, and a newsletter where you can subscribe to be the first in line.
📍Location: 2910 La Jolla Village Dr, La Jolla, CA 92037
📆 Date: Oct. 4 – 6 2024
5. Grab a delicious coffee from one of the many Hispanic-owned cafes
San Diego offers so many options for coffee lovers, and plenty of those are Hispanic-owned cafes. To get even more immersed in the Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations, grab a delicious Mexican Mocha Latte at Cafecito on Palm. Stick around and enjoy their beautiful garden patio, which makes you feel like you escaped the city for just a bit.
Looking for some horchata to go with your cup of coffee? Head to Dia Del Cafe for unique drinks that are sure to hit the spot, and give you some fresh new energy.
📍Location:
Cafecito on Palm – 1550 Palm Ave, San Diego, CA 92154
Dia Del Cafe – 2873 Adams Ave A, San Diego, CA 92116
6. Explore Centro Cultural de la Raza
Conveniently located in downtown San Diego, this cultural arts center aims to educate about Latino, Chicano, Mexican and Indigenous cultures. Exhibits here rotate periodically, and you’ll find live performances with theater, dance, and music. Moreover, it’s housed in a unique location: an abandoned water tank! Head to their website for an agenda of upcoming events, and choose your favorite.