Casa Latina Celebrates Latinx Heritage Month this October
September 26, 2025
MACOMB, IL – Western Illinois University’s Casa Latina Cultural Center will celebrate Latinx Heritage Month this October with a month-long series of cultural showcases, educational programs and community gatherings.
The celebration kicks off with Bring Your Own Tortilla (BYOT) on from noon-3 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 1, on the MCC Lawn. Students are invited to bring a tortilla, which Casa staff will fill with hearty servings of your favorite protein and toppings.
From 2-4 p.m. Monday, Oct. 6, Casa Latina will host Café y Hablamos in the Casa Lounge, offering a welcoming space for meaningful conversation over coffee. Later in the month, programs such as Crossroads in History on Wednesday, Oct. 8 and Latinidad on Monday, Oct. 13, will highlight pivotal moments in Latinx history and explore themes of culture and identity.
The excitement continues with Kultural Fusion from 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 14, in the Multipurpose Room, a collaboration between Casa Latina and the Gwendolyn Brooks Cultural Center. Designed to celebrate the intersection of cultures, the event will bring people together through food and fellowship.
Mid-month highlights include El Baile: Jaripeo on Friday, Oct. 17, an outdoor music and dance celebration featuring a mechanical bull on the MCC Lawn and a partnership with UUB to host Lotería on Wednesday, Oct. 22, a traditional game of chance similar to bingo but played with illustrated cards.
From 3-5 p.m. Friday Oct. 24, Latinos in Uniform will recognize the service and experiences of Latinx individuals in uniformed professions in the Multipurpose Room.
As October draws to a close, Casa Latina will celebrate Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). A Muertos Photoshoot on Monday, Oct. 27 and Día de los Muertos Decorating on Thursday, Oct. 30, invite the campus to help create community altars. The month concludes with the annual Día de los Muertos Celebration from 6-8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31, in the Multipurpose Room, honoring the cultural significance of remembering loved ones with food, music and reflection.
“Latinx Heritage Month is a powerful reminder of the resilience and creativity of our communities,” said Casa Latina Graduate Assistant Christian Carson.
The Casa Latina Cultural Center continues to foster cultural pride and belonging by providing resources, hosting events and uplifting diverse voices.
“We are excited to celebrate together and to highlight the stories that enrich our collective history,” Graduate Assistant Giovanni Donato said.
Students, faculty, staff and community members are invited to attend, support local Latinx artists and engage in conversations that celebrate the contributions of Latinx communities throughout history.
Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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