September 19, 2026 - 5:11 pm

North Las Vegas continues to honor its diverse community — bringing together food, music and culture — as it hosted its sixth annual Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration Saturday at Craig Ranch Regional Park.

“It really matters because over 40 percent of our residents identify as Hispanic and so having this event really reinforces the unity and the strength that makes our community so special,” Councilwoman Ruth Garcia-Anderson said. “North Las Vegas is home to a rich tapestry of backgrounds — not just Mexican residents. We have residents from every part of the world.”

The roots of the nationwide celebration began in 1968, when President Lyndon Johnson signed a proclamation recognizing Hispanic Heritage Week.

Twenty years later, President Ronald Reagan signed a bill that expanded it to a full month, starting on Sept. 15.

The most recent U.S. Census data from 2025 showed that 20.5 percent of the country’s population identified as Hispanic or Latino.

Garcia-Anderson, who represents the area around the park, located at Craig Road and Revere Street, said North Las Vegas’s event has grown exponentially since it began at City Hall six years ago, requiring a larger space for the festivities.

This year’s event featured mariachi, folklórico and cultural performances, including a performance by Mariachi Plata from the College of Southern Nevada.

Patricia Cortés Guadarrama, the Consul General of Mexico in Las Vegas, also led El Grito de Dolores — the re-enactment of the battle cry in Dolores, Mexico that led to the Mexican War of Independence.

Guadarrama said she still gets goosebumps at the ceremony because it is a very emotional moment that brings pride and joy to the community. She added that Saturday’s event honoring Hispanic heritage was important to celebrate families and culture and pass on and share traditions.

“It’s not a celebration that goes against anything or anyone or any ideal,” Guadarrama said. “It’s actually the opposite, where it celebrates who they are, where they’re from, but also where they are now and what they bring to the community here. They are proud to be in the U.S., of course, and it’s been a struggle to come here and they’ve worked very hard for what they have or for their families.

“This is a moment of togetherness, a moment of being united and celebrating both, let’s say, their origin story but also where they are now.”

North Las Vegas also has several more events highlighting Hispanic food, culture and art scheduled over the next few weeks.

Garcia-Anderson emphasized that community members did not need to speak Spanish to enjoy the events, noting that food and music are universal languages and a way to learn from one another.

“When neighbors gather at local parks to share food, music and history, it really does unite and strengthen our community,” Garcia-Anderson said.

Contact Devan Patel at dpatel@reviewjournal.com.