Hispanic Heritage Month in Syracuse NY
From September 15 to October 15, Visit Syracuse welcomes you to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month.
Throughout the city and county, you can experience Hispanic heritage and culture by trying local restaurants, supporting entrepreneurs and artists, and watching (or joining in with) dancers.
These experiences help keep traditions alive while bringing communities together.
Want to celebrate? Come hungry, bring your dancing shoes and discover some of the people, places and experiences that make our community so diverse and special.
Hispanic Flavor
One of the easiest, and tastiest ways to experience another culture is through their food. Hispanic and Latino restaurants throughout Onondaga County offer the opportunity to explore flavors and cultural traditions passed down through generations.
Isla Caribbean Cuisine
Take a trip to the islands at Isla Caribbean Cuisine.
Isla brings Puerto Rican and Caribbean flavors into a vibrant downtown dining experience. Look for dishes like mofongo, churrasco, red snapper, piñon and Caribbean-style paella alongside an atmosphere designed to feel like an escape to the islands.
Inka’s
Add Peru to your culinary tour with a stop at Inka’s in Downtown Syracuse.
Inka’s celebrates the vibrant flavors of Peruvian cuisine through dishes like ceviche, arroz chaufa and other traditional and contemporary creations. Its downtown location makes it an easy addition to a day exploring the heart of Syracuse.
Don Juan Café
Don Juan Café has been part of Syracuse’s food scene since 1997.
Known for Puerto Rican comfort food, the longtime local favorite serves favorites like empanadillas, rice and beans, plantains, roast pork and more.
With multiple locations in Syracuse, Don Juan’s longstanding presence is a reminder that some of the best ways to experience our community are through the local businesses that have grown alongside it.
Mi Casa Grande
Come hungry! Mi Casa Grande serves a wide range of Latin American and Caribbean comfort foods with generous portions.
The menu spans everything from tacos and pupusas to empanadas, mofongo and trifongo, making it an easy place to bring a group and let everyone find something new to try.
Experience the Culture
The celebration doesn’t end when dinner does. Music, dance, visual art and cultural traditions offer even more ways to experience Hispanic Heritage Month throughout Syracuse.
Feel the Rhythm with La Familia de la Salsa
Ready to dance?
La Familia de la Salsa has spent more than two decades bringing people together through Latin dance in Syracuse.
Every Friday, La Familia hosts its “Havana Nights Latin Dance Party” at the Ukrainian National Home Ballroom on West Fayette Street. Salsa, Bachata, Merengue, Cha-Cha-Cha, Reggaeton and Timba are all part of the fun.
Beginners are welcome, and you don’t even need to bring a partner. Their mission of “bridging cultures through dance, one step at a time” feels especially fitting during a month dedicated to celebrating culture and connection.
Step Out with the Salt City Salseras
Keep those dancing shoes ready for the Salt City Salseras!
The Syracuse salsa group brings Latin music, movement and plenty of energy to the community. Through dance, the Salseras showcase how traditions can be shared, celebrated and carried forward while bringing people from different backgrounds together.
Celebrate Together at the Westcott Street Cultural Fair
On Sunday, September 27, one of Syracuse’s favorite neighborhood traditions returns.
The 33rd Westcott Street Cultural Fair celebrates the incredible diversity of the Westcott neighborhood through music, dance, art, food, local organizations and family friendly activities.
The parade kicks things off at noon, followed by entertainment from 12:30–6:30 p.m. throughout the Westcott neighborhood.
While the fair celebrates cultures from around the world, its focus on sharing traditions and bringing different communities together makes it a great way to spend a day during Hispanic Heritage Month.
Explore Hispanic Art, Stories & Traditions at La Casita
Hispanic Heritage Month is also an opportunity to learn the stories behind the culture.
Syracuse University’s La Casita Cultural Center connects the University and Central New York’s Hispanic communities through art, education, cultural heritage preservation and community programming.
Keep an eye on La Casita’s calendar throughout Hispanic Heritage Month for exhibitions, conversations and cultural experiences that offer another way to connect with the traditions and stories of our community.
The Celebration Started Early
If you were in Syracuse this summer, you may have already joined the celebration!
The Syracuse Latino Festival and Puerto Rican Festival brought people together for two exciting celebrations of Hispanic and Latino culture, complete with music, dancing, food, entertainment and plenty of cultural pride.
Didn’t catch them this year? Put them on your calendar for next summer!
Hispanic and Latino culture is part of Central New York all year long, and these annual festivals are a great reminder that you don’t have to wait until Hispanic Heritage Month to experience and celebrate it.
Try a dish you’ve never had before. Learn the story behind a family-owned restaurant. Dance a few salsa steps. Experience local art. Attend a cultural celebration. And continue supporting the people, businesses and organizations that make Hispanic and Latino culture such an important part of Central New York.
Celebrating our community means celebrating all the people and cultures helping shape what makes Syracuse the place we love.
Related Stories
