To kick off Hispanic Heritage Month, the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden celebrates its fifth annual Hispanic Heritage Celebration on Saturday and Sunday, September 10th and 11th. Highlights include its signature Quinceañera Fashion Show, live musical performances from Havana NRG and Selena tribute band, Bidi Bidi Banda, cooking demonstrations, food and vendors. Presented by Bank of America, the Hispanic Heritage Celebration is included for all paid garden guests. Advanced online ticket reservations are required.*
The festival starts on Saturday, September 10th at 10 a.m. inside Rosine Hall with the much anticipated Quinceañera Fashion Show. Select participants showcase their beautiful and colorful quinceañera dresses and share their favorite traditions and future plans. Guest emcees are Adriana López, producer and host at Telemundo 39, and The Honorable Pauline Medrano, Dallas County treasurer. Following the show, the young women parade through the garden alongside music played by Mariachi Rosas Divinas, North Texas’ first all-female mariachi ensemble, allowing even more guests to see their dresses.
Dallas City Officials and other distinguished guests are scheduled to attend the Quinceañera Fashion Show and welcome participants, their families and garden visitors.
Mario Quintanilla, Dallas Arboretum board member and Hispanic Heritage Celebration chair, said, “The Hispanic Heritage Celebration at the Dallas Arboretum has grown in popularity these past few years, and we are excited to celebrate this event’s fifth year with plenty of fun for the family.”
Throughout the garden, the Dallas Arboretum has planned activities celebrating Hispanic culture and traditions including vendors, dance and musical performances, and cooking demonstrations.
Highlighting the diversity of Hispanic cuisine, these cooking demonstrations feature the expertise of four distinguished chefs, including Mexican American dishes from Chef Sara Carlock of Amor y Queso, Puerto Rican influences from Chef Isabel Snetsinger of the Dallas Arboretum and Gil’s Elegant Catering, Colombian cooking by Chef Dunia Borga of La Duni, and exquisite Dominican flavors courtesy of Chef Miriam Jiménez of Miriam’s Cocina Latina.
Saturday, Sept. 10
10 a.m. – Celebration of Quinceañera Fashion Show (Rosine Hall)
11:15 a.m. – Quinceañera Parade led by Mariachi Rosas Divinas (Paseo & A Tasteful Place)
10 a.m.-3 p.m. Vendor market (Entry Plaza)
10 a.m.-4 p.m. Girl Scouts make and take crafts (near Pecan Grove)
11 a.m.-12 p.m. Colombian cooking demonstration by Chef Dunia Borga of La Duni Baking Studio, (A Tasteful Place)
12 p.m.-2 p.m. – Rodrigo Garcia’s piano performance (Jeanne’s Pavilion)
1-2 p.m. Mexican American dishes from Chef Sara Carlock of Amor y Queso (A Tasteful Place)
2:30 p.m.–4 p.m. Havana NRG! (Rosine Hall)
4 p.m.-5 p.m. – Flamenca Rumbas and We Sevillanas dance performance (Jeanne’s Pavilion)
Sunday, Sept. 11
10 a.m.-3 p.m. Vendor market (Entry Plaza)
10 a.m.-11:45 a.m. Peruvian Consulate Performance (Jeanne’s Pavilion)
11 a.m. -12:00 p.m. Puerto Rican influences from Chef Isabel Snetsinger of the Dallas Arboretum and Gil’s Elegant Catering (A Tasteful Place)
12 p.m.-2 p.m. Henry Muñoz’s piano performance (Jeanne’s Pavilion)
1-2 p.m. Dominican cooking demonstration courtesy of Chef Miriam Jiménez of Miriam’s Cocina Latina (A Tasteful Place)
2-4 p.m. Bidi Bidi Banda, a Selena tribute band, performance (Rosine Hall)
Schedule is subject to change. Check the website and Dallas Arboretum’s social media for the latest information.
Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden:
Thanks to a generous donation from the Kelley Family, admission to the Rory Meyers Children's Adventure Garden is complimentary for the weekend of Sept. 10th- 11th with a paid garden ticket. This garden has many activities for children and families including the opening day of the #IfThenSheCan - The Exhibit.
From September 10 to December 31, 2022, the Dallas Arboretum presents 50 of the 3D-printed orange life-size statues from #IfThenSheCan - The Exhibit, the largest collection of statues ever assembled together, installed throughout the Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden. An array of in-person and virtual programs, an exhibit scavenger hunt activity, and sponsored school group visits throughout the fall brings to life inspirational stories of women in STEM who are shaping a better world. The exhibit has traveled to and from the National Mall and Smithsonian museums in Washington, D.C. and on the TODAY Show. Some highlighted Hispanic figures include Greetchen Díaz-Muñoz, Ph.D. (microbiologist/educator), Myria Perez (paleontologist/fossil preparator) and Roselin Rosario-Meléndez, Ph.D. (polymer/formulation chemist).
Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
L'Oréal USA Chemist Roselin Rosario-Meléndez, Ph.D., If/Then Ambassador:
Plantastic Natural Lip Balm Lab and Meet & Greet
Additional activities throughout this garden include the Walne Family Discovery Lab: Marvelous Maize (Exploration Center) 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
Did you know that maize, or corn, was grown in ancient Mexico? This lab investigates viscosity using a corn product commonly found in the food people eat.
Sept. 10-11 Hispanic Heritage Weekend, 10 a.m.-2.p.m. (Exploration Center Plaza)
Explore fruits and vegetables from Central and South America. Create your own traditional Mexican folk art papel picado. Learn about the important contributions that Latino scientists are working on to solve many of the world’s problems.
Those interested in applying to be a vendor can visit https://www.dallasarboretum.org/events-activities/hispanic-heritage-celebration/ or contact Jaci Ingram at jingram@dallasarboretum.org or 214.515.6605. Space is limited.
Special thanks to the Honorary Council Members:**
City of Dallas:
The Honorable Eric Johnson, Mayor, City of Dallas
The Honorable Chad West, Mayor Councilmember, District 1
The Honorable Jesse Moreno, Councilmember, District 2
The Honorable Casey Thomas, II Councilmember, District 3
The Honorable Carolyn King Arnold, Mayor Pro Tem, District 4
The Honorable Adam Bazaldua, Councilmember, District 7
The Honorable Tennell Atkins, Council Member District 8
The Honorable Paula Blackmon, Council Member, District 9
The Honorable Adam McGough, Councilmember, District 10
The Honorable Jaynie Schultz, Councilmember, District 11
The Honorable Cara Mendelsohn, Council Member, District 12
The Honorable Gay Donnell Willis, Council Member, District 13
The Honorable Paul Ridley, Councilmember, District 14
The Honorable Delia Jasso, Former Dallas City Council Member
Max Sanchez, Council Liaison
Dallas County:
The Honorable Clay Jenkins, Dallas County Judge
The Honorable Dr. Theresa M. Daniel, Dallas County Commissioner, District 1
The Honorable J.J. Koch, Dallas County Commissioner, District 2
The Honorable Dr. Elba Garcia, Dallas County Commissioner, District 4
The Honorable Pauline Medrano, Dallas County Treasurer
The Honorable Juan Jasso, Justice of the Peace
State of Texas:
The Honorable Kelly Hancock, Texas State Senator
The Honorable Nathan Johnson, Texas State Senator
The Honorable Rhetta Bowers, Texas State Representative
The Honorable Julie Johnson, Texas State Representative
The Honorable Terry Meza, Texas State Representative
The Honorable Victoria Neave-Criado, Texas State Representative
The Honorable Carl O. Sherman, Sr., Texas State Representative
Dallas Park and Recreation Board Members:
Estanislao Huerta, Council District 1
Fonya Mondell, Council District 2
Harrison Blair, Council District 4
Priscilla Rice, Council District 5
Timothy Dickey, Council District 6
Daniel Wood, Vice President, Council District 7
Bo Slaughter, Council District 8
Maria Hasbany, Council District 9
Robb Stewart, Council District 10
Jeff Kitner, Council District 11
Lane Conner, Council District 12
Calvert Collins-Bratton, Council District 13
Rudy Karimi, Council District 14
Arun Agarwal, Council District 15, President
Business and Dignitaries:
Consul General De Mexico Mr. Francisco de la Torre
Consulado General del Peru in Dallas Liliana Trelles
For more information on the Hispanic Heritage Celebration, including the latest list of Honorary Council members https://www.dallasarboretum.org/events-activities/hispanic-heritage-celebration/
A special thanks to the following sponsors:
Presenting Sponsor: Bank of America
Silver: ExxonMobil
Bronze: American Airlines
Friend: Frost Bank, McDonald’s of North Texas
Supporter: Silva, Mejia & Delgado; Lira Bravo Law
Patron: Dallas College, Regional Hispanic Contractors Association, Azteca-Omega Group, Jaime Ramon
Media sponsor: TELEMUNDO 39 and NBC 5.
**As of print date. Check the website for the latest list.
In addition to Hispanic Heritage Committee Chair Mario Quintanilla, additional members planning the celebration include Megan Ames, Rafael Luna, Regina Montoya and Mary Silva.
Tickets:*
Thanks to a generous donation from the Kelley Family, admission to the Rory Meyers Children's Adventure Garden is complimentary for the weekend of Sept 10th- 11th with a paid garden ticket. General garden admission is $10 for adults, seniors 65 and older and children 2-12. Admission is free for Arboretum members and children under two. Parking is $11.
About the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden:
The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden is located on the southeastern shore of White Rock Lake at 8525 Garland Road, Dallas, Texas 75218. The Arboretum is open daily from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. The Arboretum is supported, in part, by funds from the Dallas Park and Recreation Department. WFAA, Channel 8 is an official media sponsor for the Dallas Arboretum. The Dallas Morning News is the principal partner of the Dallas Arboretum. For more information, visit www.dallasarboretum.org.