NATIONAL HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH September 15-October 15 Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated nationwide and begins on September 15, 2010, the anniversary of independence for five Latin American countries – Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Mexico achieved independence on September 16th and Chile on September 18th. Hispanic Heritage Month has been celebrated in the United States since 1974, when President Gerald Ford issued a Presidential Proclamation extending Hispanic Heritage Week into a month-long observation. To learn more about Hispanic Heritage Month, visit hispanicheritagemonth.gov.   Hispanic Heritage Month Kick-Off Reception Wednesday, September 15, 2010 Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce RSVP Required nashvillehispanicchamber.com   Latino Family Festival Sunday, September 19 - 9am-4pm Nashville Zoo at Grassmere nashvillezoo.org   2010 Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration Friday, September 24, 2010 - 7pm Cannery Ballroom conexionamericas.org   Hilos ("Threads") World Premiere by Gabriela Lena Frank, commissioned by ALIAS Friday, October 1, 2010 - 8pm Turner Hall at the Blair School of Music aliasmusic.org/hilos   Celebration of Cultures Saturday, October 2, 2010 - 10am-6pm Centennial Park celebrationofcultures.org   Hispanic Heritage Month Party Thursday, October 7, 2010 - 5:30-7:30pm Tennessee Hispanic Chamber of Commerce tnhcc.org   6th Annual Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration & Awards Ceremony Thursday, October 14, 2010 - 6-8pm Tennessee State Museum nashvillehispanicchamber.com   Cheekwood's El Dia de los Muertos Festival Saturday, October 30 - 11am-5pm Cheekwood Botanical Garden & Museum of Art cheekwood.org   Search all events in September and October.   Spend a day, a week or the entire month. Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month in Music City. Book your trip here.