Page last updated on July 15, 2025 at 3:32 pm
National Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from September 15th through October 15th, is dedicated to celebrating the history, culture, and contributions of Hispanics in the United States.
Within the framework of the National Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations, the City of Bloomington Community and Family Resources Department is hosting La Fiesta del Otoño 2025. The theme of this year’s celebration is “Nuestra Fuerza está en la Comunidad / Finding Strength in Community" and will take place on:
- Saturday, September 20, 2025
- 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
- Switchyard Park Pavilion, 1601 S. Rogers St., Bloomington, IN
La Fiesta del Otoño celebrates the unity, shared traditions, and contributions of Bloomington’s Hispanic and Latino residents. As we continue to bring people together through cultural celebration, we hope you’ll join us in honoring the richness of our collective experiences and helping build meaningful connections across our city. This event regularly attracts residents, students, and visitors from all over the area.
Save the Date for Fiesta del Otoño 2025!
2024 Fiesta Del Otoño
In 2024, around 500 people attended the celebration, joined by more than 40 participating organizations and four live performances, making it a standout celebration known for its energy and community spirit. 
National Latinx Hispanic Heritage Month began as Hispanic Heritage week under President Lyndon B. Johnson and was expanded to a full month under President Reagan in 1988.
The September 15th beginning of Hispanic Heritage month marks the anniversary of independence for five Latin American countries - Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Independence in Mexico, Chile, and Belize, as well as Columbus Day are also celebrated during this month-long festivities.
The term Hispanic refers to people from Spain, Mexico, and the Spanish-speaking nations of the Caribbean and Central and South America. Hispanics are the largest ethnic minority in the United Sates with over 46 million people identifying themselves as Hispanic in the latest Census poll. People of Hispanic or Latino heritage have lived continuously in the United States since the Spanish founded St. Augustine, Florida in 1565. Since that time, the United States has been influenced by successful Hispanic painters, musicians, scientists, activists, and actors, to name a few. Even many U.S. place names are derived from the Spanish language - Los Angeles, San Antonio, Santa Fe etc.