Ways to Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month in Memphis
Hispanic Heritage Month runs September 15 through October 15, and Memphis has plenty of ways to join in from riverfront festivals to family-owned kitchens that have been feeding the Mid-South for years.
Hispanic Heritage Month runs September 15 through October 15, and Memphis has plenty of ways to join in from riverfront festivals to family-owned kitchens that have been feeding the Mid-South for years.
Here's where to go, what to eat, who to support, and how to learn more about the Hispanic and Latino communities that have shaped our city.
Events to Add to Your Calendar
Events to Add to Your Calendar
United Festival: Cumbia en el Río — Sunday, September 13, 3-8:30 p.m. at Beale Street Landing.
This one marks 30 years of La Prensa Latina and Hispanic heritage in the Mid-South. The lineup includes a Flamenco Cumbia performance from Olé Studio, sets from DLR Studio and guest dance groups, and music from DJ Bambino, plus food vendors representing multiple Latin American countries, local artisans and nonprofits, a children's magic show, a kids' art contest, and a 10-person burrito eating contest at 6 p.m. Remarks from La Prensa Latina, local government, and Mexico's Consulate lead into the traditional Grito de Independencia at 7:20 p.m., followed by the Hernando de Soto Bridge lighting up at 7:30 p.m. Free; RSVP on Eventbrite.
Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration at Crosstown Concourse — Thursday, September 17, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
A full day of flamenco guitar and flute, a mariachi band, piñata breaks, a flower and gift pop-up, a Latin snack bar, and a Tropical Fusion performance. Free, no RSVP needed — just drop by during the day.
Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration at Titan Title & Escrow — Friday, September 18, 4-7 p.m. at 5702 Summer Avenue.
An outdoor community fiesta with food, music, lotería, vendors, giveaways, prizes, and a mechanical bull. Free; RSVP on Eventbrite.
Latin Fest 901 — Friday, September 26, 12-6 p.m. at Overton Square.
Hosted by Cazateatro Bilingual Theatre Group, this is the city's flagship Hispanic Heritage Month festival: live music and dance performances, cooking demos highlighting traditional dishes from across Latin America, story times for kids, informational booths on different countries and cultures, and food and craft vendors throughout the square. Free; details and vendor info at cazateatro.org.
Hispanic Heritage Celebration at the Overton Park Shell — Saturday, October 3, 7-9 p.m.
Part of the Shell's 90th-anniversary fall season, this free concert night features Los Kumbia Brotherz, DJ Mala Leche, Horacio Méndez, and Danza Azteca Xochiquetzal. Bring a blanket or lawn chair — food trucks will be on-site.
Día de los Muertos in Overton Park — Early November, after Hispanic Heritage Month wraps, but worth planning for).
The 2025 edition ran November 1, so watch for the exact 2026 date), starting at Overton Square before ending at the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art. A procession of floats, dancers, and marchers travels from Overton Square down Madison Avenue to the museum, followed by an afternoon of DJ sets, Aztec dance performances, a University of Memphis Marimba Ensemble set, and mariachi music closing out the day. Also expect face painting, art-making stations, and costumed performers.
Restaurants and Businesses to Support
Memphis has no shortage of great Hispanic and Latino-owned spots to eat your way through from long-standing neighborhood favorites to food trucks worth tracking down. Here are a few to get you started plus shops, markets and more businesses to check out.
- Caminos de Michoacán — A Mexican bakery and taquería on Macon Road, known for pan dulce, roscas, and chilaquiles. Bakers arrive at 2 a.m. daily to keep the case stocked, and owner Marisela Pérez runs it with her family.
- Cevicheria and Grill Chilemon — Peruvian and Colombian seafood and grilled dishes on Summer Avenue, with ceviche that regulars swear by and a welcoming, family-friendly atmosphere.
- Chukis Tacos #2 — An authentic Mexican spot on Poplar Avenue known for birria tacos, quesaburritos, chimichangas, and a build-your-own salsa bar.
- El Mero Taco — Runs a Cordova brick-and-mortar alongside its original food truck, which is still available for events and catering.
- El Sabor Latino — Authentic Colombian fare, including bandeja paisa and rotisserie chicken.
- Garibaldi Taquería — Known for some of the best tortas in town, including torta ahogada and pambazo.
- Global Café — This women-owned social enterprise inside Crosstown Concourse employs immigrants and refugees, and its rotating, scratch-made menu currently includes Mexican street food and Venezuelan comfort food alongside dishes from its Sudanese and Nepali chefs.
- Hippy Habitat — A women-owned plant, wellness, and gift boutique inside Chickasaw Oaks (3092 Poplar Ave).
- La Michoacana — Mexican-style paletas and popsicles, from traditional to dairy-free flavors, with multiple locations around the city.
- La Panadería Damaris — A bakery and café offering traditional Latin American baked goods.
- Las Tortugas Deli Mexicana — An upscale, Mexico City-style taqueria (locations in Germantown and East Memphis) that skips the Tex-Mex staples in favor of authentic fare like red snapper fish tacos, tortas, and black bean tamales.
- Los Comales — A longtime Memphis go-to for classic Mexican bar-and-grill fare in a lively, sit-down setting.
- Los Picosos — Sinaloan-style Mexican, known for pollo al carbón smoked over an open flame.
- Maciel's Tacos & Tortas — A Cal-Mex favorite with multiple locations, known for crispy tacos and California-style burritos stuffed with french fries.
- Mariscos Sinaloa — Fresh seafood, ceviche, and the showstopping Torre de Mariscos Gigante.
- Mercadito de Memphis — A long-standing, family-owned Mexican market featuring food, shops, a salon, and a nail bar.
- Mi Tierra — One of Memphis' longest-running Colombian restaurants, with a lively, tropical dining room.
- Mili's Flowers and Gifts — Founded by Miriam "Mili" Cordero at Crosstown Concourse, this shop grew from a vintage flower truck into a full storefront of floral arrangements and handmade gifts sourced from Mexico.
- Órale Tacos & Bakery — A daily breakfast-through-dinner spot on Whitten Road pairing traditional tacos with fresh bakery items.
- Panadería La Ilusión — A family-run Mexican bakery serving the community.
- Panadería Monterrey — A neighborhood Mexican bakery known for its pastries (and seasonal king cake around Mardi Gras).
- Panadería San Juan — A Mexican bakery on American Way.
- Pupusería Anita — Widely regarded as the best pupusas in town (cash only).
- Rincón Catracho — One of the few spots in town serving authentic Honduran cuisine.
- Rumba Room — Downtown on South Main Street, this salsa club has been a fixture of Memphis' Latin dance scene for nearly two decades, with free salsa lessons at 9:30 p.m. before the dancing kicks off.
- Sabor Caribe — Quick, affordable Venezuelan fare in Midtown — arepas, empanadas, and more.
- TacoNGanas — Started as a single food truck and has since grown to seven locations around town (including two inside FedExForum), known for birria ramen, steak burritos, and street tacos.
- Taquería Chelita — A family-operated food truck known for quesabirria tacos.
- Taqueria Express — A homegrown taco truck operation that's grown to numbered locations all over Memphis and Shelby County (Winchester Road, Summer Avenue, South Perkins, Kirby Whitten, and more), serving tacos, gorditas, and fresh-made pork and chicken tamales.
- Taqueria Las Cañitas — A newer taco spot on N Watkins Street, next to Otherfoods Kitchen, worth a visit if you're exploring North Memphis.
Organizations to Support
Organizations to Support
- Latino Memphis — West Tennessee's largest Latino-serving nonprofit, offering health, education, immigration, and community programs since 1995.
- Cazateatro Bilingual Theatre Group — Memphis and Mississippi's first bilingual theatre, using performance to build cultural connection.
- CasaLuz — Legal, educational, and emotional support for Latinx survivors of domestic violence and other crimes.
- MidSouth Latino Chamber of Commerce — Advocates for Latino-owned businesses across the tri-state area.
- Su Casa Family Ministries — Adult English classes and a bilingual preschool, serving Memphis families since 2005.
- World Relief Memphis — Resettlement, employment, legal, and language support for immigrants and refugees since 2012.
A donation, a volunteer shift, or simply sharing what these groups do all help.
However you choose to celebrate, Hispanic Heritage Month is a great excuse to try something new and get to know a community that's very much part of what makes Memphis, Memphis.
And, please, if you have more businesses, organizations and events to add.. email us at [email protected]
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