Gaithersburg Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month
The City of Gaithersburg invites you to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with educational and cultural presentations and activities happening throughout the City. An official proclamation designating September 15 through October 15, 2025, as "Hispanic Heritage Month" in the City of Gaithersburg was presented at the September 2 Mayor and City Council meeting.
City resident Marcela Urtubey accepted this year's proclamation. Born in Costa Rica, Marcela has dedicated the past 12 years to serving families as a Parent Outreach Worker at the Gaithersburg High School Wellness Center. Her role has allowed her to connect deeply with families, schools, and community organizations, building trust, promoting communication, and empowering parents to advocate for their children's education and well-being.
As a proud mother of two sons raised in Gaithersburg, Marcela's shift in efforts began when she noticed a gap in support for Spanish-speaking parents during her children's middle school years. She saw a need and stepped forward with a simple but powerful goal: to ensure that every parent feels seen, heard, and supported. Accepting a position with Identity, Inc. in 2013, Marcela's work has grown into a mission rooted in empathy, advocacy, and empowerment. She organizes monthly Latino Parent Meetings and workshops, collaborates with educators, counselors, local organizations, and creates inclusive spaces where families feel welcomed and respected.
Her efforts have helped parents communicate freely in their native language, feel less intimidated by the school system, and become more engaged in their children's education and activities. Beyond her professional role, Marcela volunteers within the school system, county teen programs, promotes family involvement in community events, and helps demystify the college-bound process for first-generation families. View the presentation here.
Residents are encouraged to learn about and celebrate Hispanic culture and participate in City events and programs taking place throughout the month. An educational exhibit is on display at the Activity Center at Bohrer Park throughout the month-long celebration. The City's Multicultural Affairs Committee has partnered with De Colores Mexican Folk Dance Company to one again present the Altar del Día de los Muertos exhibit at the Activity Center at Bohrer Park from October 19 through November 4.
Additional programs include:
September 17 - 21 (during Museum hours)
Community Museum
Free
The Weekly Challenge will be making paper flower crowns, a traditional Mexican craft.
September 19, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Casey Community Center
Enjoy a family night full of culture, community, and celebration with craft activities, games, the rhythms and energy of a live performance, and Loteria.
Coffee Klatch and Crafts: Hispanic Heritage Tote Bags
September 27, 10 – 11:30 a.m.
Casey Community Center
Dive into the rich cultural traditions of Spanish-speaking countries by exploring the vibrant flowers that represent different regions of Spain and Latin America. Join us for an exciting craft class where you'll decorate a tote bag inspired by these stunning and colorful flora.
Make a Traditional Latin American Craft
October 1 - 5 (during Museum hours)
Community Museum
The Community Museum celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month by making traditional crafts from Latin America.
Talavera History
Friday, October 3, 2025, 11 a.m. to noon
Benjamin Gaither Center
Discover the beauty, history, and artistry of Talavera—a traditional ceramic technique that originated in Spain and flourished in Mexico. Explore how this stunning craft, known for its signature cobalt-blue designs, evolved over time to include vibrant yellows, greens, and reds.
October 7, 12:30 - 1:45 p.m.
Benjamin Gaither Center
Unleash your creativity with Talavera Tile painting. Inspired by the beautiful hand-painted traditions of Talavera, we will bring to life the cobalt-blue geometric patterns rooted in Spanish and Mexican artistry. Participation in the Talavera History presentation on October 3 is encouraged to understand and grasp the artistry of the tile creation.
Art Night Out: Sugar Skull Dotting
October 24, 6:30 – 9 p.m.
Arts Barn
Join us for a fun night of dot mandala painting inspired by Día de los Muertos sugar skulls. Learn techniques to create intricate and beautiful designs on wooden skulls, flowers or other shapes.
Elena Torres y amigos: Stand Up en Español
November 7, 8 p.m.
Arts Barn
¡Acompáñanos en el Arts Barn de Gaithersburg para un show de comedia stand-up completamente en español! Elena Torres es una ex-actriz de telenovelas que ahora es comediante.
Join us at the Gaithersburg Arts Barn for a stand-up comedy show performed entirely in Spanish with Elena Torres, ex-telenovela actress turned stand-up comedian.
Explore the complete list of all programs here.
About Hispanic Heritage Month
The roots of Hispanic heritage in North America span more than 500 years, and individuals sharing this heritage have made vast contributions to the strength, prosperity, and culture of our nation. The observance celebrates the culture and traditions of U.S. residents who trace their cultural heritage to Spain, Mexico, and the Spanish-speaking nations of Central and South America and the Caribbean.
The Hispanic American community is the largest ethnic minority in the United States, with the 2020 Census indicating that approximately 28.5% of the City of Gaithersburg's population identify themselves as Hispanic or Latino up from 24.2% in 2010.
The mission of the Multicultural Affairs Committee is to enrich our City through the promotion of understanding, respect, and appreciation of the many cultures of Gaithersburg. Interested in volunteering and helping plan Heritage Month celebrations? Please email MAC@gaithersburgmd.gov.
