FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – One of the main events of this year’s Hispanic Heritage Month is the annual Plaza de las Americas – Festival de las Manos Unidas, which will be held from 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 17 in the Arkansas Union Ballroom. It will feature music, dancing, food, friendship and more in a celebration of Latin American culture in Arkansas.

Lioneld Jordan, mayor of Fayetteville, will be the guest of honor and will give the Hispanic Heritage Month proclamation to begin the festivities.

There will be booths to represent the various Latin American countries and provide an educational opportunity to learn about all the cultures south of the border.

Plaza de las Americas – Festival de las Manos Unidas has been a staple of the Hispanic community in Northwest Arkansas for more than a decade, and is only one of many events taking place for more than a month throughout the area. Other events  include:

 

Current

• "Al Norte al Sur: Latino Life in the South."  Exhibit of Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist José Gálvez's photography. At the West Foyer, Mullins Library, through Tuesday, Sept. 16.  Free and open to the public.

Thursday, Sept. 11

• 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.: "Shine." A presentation by Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist José Gálvez. At Giffels Auditorium in Old Main. Free and open to the public.

Saturday, Sept. 13

• First Hispanic Heritage Family Festival, sponsored by the Rodeo of the Ozarks, at Parsons Park, Springdale. There will be a petting zoo, youth events, a soccer tournament, and a Hispanic Heritage beauty contest. Free and open to the public.

Friday, Sept. 19

• 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.: “We The People.” 14th Annual Hispanic Women’s Organization of Arkansas conference, Jones Center, Springdale. The keynote speaker will be Carlos Gutiérrez, former U.S. Secretary of Commerce.

Friday, Sept. 26

• Campus Day: 11th and 12th grade Latino students will visit the U of A to meet with current student leaders, faculty and staff. Students will receive ACT prep, tour of the campus, and have lunch. This is a collaboration between the La Oficina Latina and the Office of Admissions.

Saturday Oct. 4 and Sunday, Oct. 5

• Second Annual Hispanic Heritage Festival, sponsored by the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce and Univision Arkansas. At Mae Farms in North Fayetteville (next to Lokomotion and Lewis & Clark). Free and open to the public. 

Thursday, Oct. 9

• 6 p.m.: Líderes de Corazón Award Ceremony, at the Rogers Metroplex Event Center. Award-winning motivational speaker Pegine Echeverría will be the keynote speaker. Sponsored by ALPFA.

Friday, Oct. 10

• 6 p.m.: Latino Alumni Society’s Third Annual La Pachanga, at the U of A Alumni House. A scholarship fundraiser and award ceremony.

Monday, Oct. 13

• 7 p.m.: The Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra will accompany the recently restored 1928 silent film classic "Ramona". This will be shown in Giffels Auditorium, Old Main as part of this year's University of Arkansas Native American Symposium.

Saturday, Oct. 18

• Noon to 5:30 p.m.: ArkanSalsa, Emma Avenue, downtown Springdale. This is an eclectic art and music festival to raise money for scholarships and to inspire community leaders. Includes an ArkanSalsa Train Ride from A&M Railroad. Sponsored by OneCommunity.

Saturday, Nov. 1

• 6 p.m.: 13th Annual LULAC Gala, at the John Q. Hammons Convention Center, Rogers, sponsored by LULAC Council 754.