Every year from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, Hispanic Heritage Month serves not just as a commemoration of Hispanic culture, but an invitation to take stock of how it shapes our communities. In Sarasota and Manatee counties, that impact is both visible and enduring. Nearly 10 percent of Sarasota County residents and close to 18 percent of Manatee County residents identify as Hispanic or Latino, a demographic shift that points to the same truth: Hispanic heritage here is not a side note. It's central to the region’s identity—past, present, and future.

The month started when President Lyndon Johnson introduced National Hispanic Heritage Week in 1968. During Ronald Reagan’s presidency, Congress passed a law to extend it into a month-long holiday that was first celebrated in 1989. 

Hispanic Heritage Month at The Bay (Full Series)

A month-long celebration featuring dance, bilingual yoga, family movie nights, and Latin music programming. Tickets: Free; some events may require RSVP. They include:

Salsa & Sunsets Community Celebration

Wednesday, Oct. 1, 6:30-8:30 p.m., The Nest at The Bay, 1055 Blvd. of the Arts, Sarasota

Learn a few new dance moves and then put them to practice at a Latino-inspired dance party with live music by the Millie Puente Band. This event is free. Click here for more information.

Cinema at The Bay: West Side Story

Thursday, Sept. 18, 7:30-10 p.m. The Oval at The Bay,  1055 Blvd. of the Arts, Sarasota

A free outdoor screening of the iconic musical, part of The Bay’s Hispanic Heritage Month series. Tickets are free.

Sundays at The Bay featuring Los Rumberos

Sunday, Sept. 21, 6 to 7 p.m. The Oval at The Bay,  1055 Blvd. of the Arts, Sarasota.

A free, live performance by Los Rumberos, celebrating Hispanic heritage with vibrant Latin rhythms. Tickets are free.

Tertulia Latina: An Evening of Spanish Literature & Live Music

 Tuesday, Sept. 16, 6-8 p.m., Bookstore1Sarasota, 117 S. Pineapple Ave., Sarasota.

Join an evening blending Spanish literature with live music in a cultural gathering that celebrates the power of language, story, and sound. Engage with writers, poets, and musicians who will compartir (share) readings, songs, and conversation in Spanish and Spanish-inspired voices. Buy tickets here

First Annual Hispanic Heritage Fiesta

Wednesday, Sept. 17, 6-9 p.m., Gold Coast Eagle Distributing, 7051 Wireless Court, Lakewood Ranch.

An evening celebrating Sarasota’s Sister City connection with Mérida, Mexico—bringing together community members for food, live music, culture, and friendship. Commemorates 15 years since the Sister City agreement between Sarasota and Mérida (signed December 10, 2010). Tickets are $45 for Sister Cities Association members; $50 for non-members. Click here for tickets.

Nuestro Vaivén (Our Sway)

Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025–Sunday, March 22, 2026, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Ringling Museum (Ulla R. and Arthur F. Searing Wing), 5401 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota

This landmark exhibition at The Ringling marks its first major show by Latin contemporary artists. Featuring 22 creators from Latin America and Florida, the work ranges from abstract to realistic and includes painting, sculpture, photography, textiles, and video. Community voices from Sarasota and Manatee are woven into the show through personal stories about work, family, and identity. Tickets are included with museum admission. More info here.

Rafael Ramírez: Chronicle of a Time That Was

Wednesday, Oct. 29, at 11 a.m.; Thursday, Oct. 30 at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, Oct. 31, at 7:30 p.m., Historic Asolo Theater, 5401 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota

Art and flamenco converge in this visceral performance from Rafael Ramírez, paying tribute to the iconic flamenco dancer and film artist Antonio Gades on the 20th anniversary of his passing. Key moments from Gades’ life are reinterpreted through contemporary flamenco dance and live music, exploring essence, audacity and creative innovation. Tickets: $40-$50 (subscribers save 10 percent off single ticket prices).

Did You Know?

68 million

The Hispanic population of the United States as of July 1, 2024, making it the nation’s largest racial or ethnic minority — 20 percent of the total population. 

15

The number of states with one million or more Hispanic residents in 2024 — Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and Washington. 

31.2

The median age of the Hispanic population in 2024, up from 30.9 in 2023. 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau 

To learn more about local Hispanic and LatinX advocacy, programs, events and culture throughout the year, check out nonprofits, Unidos Now and CreaArte Latino Cultural Center, Gulf Coast Latin Chamber of Commerce and Latinas of the Women's Resource Center.