Celebrating Hispanic, Latinx and Chicanx Cultures September 15 - October 15
September 15 to October 15
Monday, Sept. 15th
6:30 pm; SRC Seminar Room
El gato con botas Rehearsals
Westminster Opera Theatre
Westminster Opera Theatre is proud to present El gato con botas by Xavier Montsalvatge this fall. In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, we would like to open some of our music rehearsals to our Rider community. You are welcome to stay for 30 minutes or the entire 3 hours of the rehearsal. Our space is limited, so it will be on a first come first served basis. If you let Susan Ashbaker (Director of Westminster Opera Theatre) know you are coming, we’ll have a seat set up for you. sashbaker@rider.edu All rehearsals are in the SRC Seminar Room (above Starbucks) and begin at 6:30 pm.
Other Dates: 9/16, 9/19, 9/22, 9/23, 9/26
Tuesday, Sept. 16th
11:30 am; Rue Auditorium
Pragda Spanish-language Film Festival
University Library and Department of Languages, Literatures & Cultures
The Pragda Spanish-language film festival brings fantastic films from Latin America, Spain, and the United States to our Rider community. Please join us in watching and discussing films that engage with themes of love, loss, human connection, belonging, migration, and much more. Hope to see you there!
Thursday, Sept. 18th
8:30 pm; Lynch Adler Hall 126
Ritmos y Raíces
Riders DominiRicans
Ritmos y Raices is our welcome-back event for both new and returning students. In this event, students will be able to get to know Riders Dominicans more and learn about Latino culture! We will provide the students with food, music, and many games that connect to the Latino culture, such as dominoes, bachata, and arroz con pollo.
Premiere Event: Monday, September 22
5:30 to 8 p.m.; Bart Luedeke Center Cavalla Room
Latin Beats & Eats: An Evening of Latin Music, Dance and Flavor
Center for Diversity and Inclusion
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with us at Rider University’s Latin Beats & Eats: An Evening of Latin Music, Dance and Flavor! Join us on Monday, September 22, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. in the Bart Luedeke Center Cavalla Room for a festive night of music, movement, food, and culture.
Enjoy the vibrant sounds of Rick Reyes and the Pasofino Social Club as they bring the energy of Latin music to campus. A professional instructor will guide participants through interactive dances that are fun for all levels—whether you’re an experienced dancer or stepping onto the floor for the first time.
Event Highlights:
- Live Music: Experience the rhythms of Latin culture with a performance by Rick Reyes and the Pasofino Social Club.
- Dance Instruction: Learn lively steps from a professional instructor in an inclusive, interactive setting.
- Food & Community: Enjoy delicious food while connecting with friends and celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month together.
- Cultural Celebration: Immerse yourself in a night of music, dance, and shared community spirit.
Come ready to dance, eat, and celebrate! This is an event you won’t want to miss.
Monday, Sept. 22nd
7 pm; Faculty Dining Room in Cranberry’s
Banderas y Buenas Conversaciones
Latin American Student Organization
Spanish Conversation Night where bilingual students, staff, and learners of all levels can connect through engaging conversations en español. We’ll paint colorful flags representing different countries and later use them for campus tabling to celebrate our diverse cultures. This is a relaxed, creative, and interactive way to practice your Spanish, meet new people, and share cultural pride.
Monday, Sept. 22nd
7:30 pm; Center for Diversity and Inclusion
Historia al Descubierto
Riders DominiRicans
Historia al Descubierto is a fun film screening event based off of a movie about a Latinx person or group. We will stream a film to students in the Center for Diversity and Inclusion, where we will provide popcorn and drinks for attending students and members. After the film ends, we will have the students play a fun trivia game based off of the movie that was streamed.
Tuesday, September 30th
11:30 am; Rue Auditorium
Art of Latinx: A Brown Solidarity Celebration
Rider’s BHP Program
Students from the BHP's Latinx in the 21st Century class will showcase the creative work they produced for the course and have a panel discussion about how their experience studying Latinx issues in the class.
Thursday, October 2nd
7:30 pm; Lynch Adler Hall 130
El Impacto de los Taínos
Riders DominiRicans
El Impacto de Los Tainos is an educational presentation-style event that explains the history and impact of Taino culture. We will provide a presentation to attending students about the Taino culture and its effects on modern-day Latino and Caribbean cultures. After the presentation, we will host a fun activity to recap on what they learned.
Friday, Oct. 3rd
11:30 am; Bart Ludeke Center Lobby
Tied to My Roots
Latin American Student Organization
Celebrate culture and creativity at our interactive pop-up! Choose to visit our temporary tattoo station, featuring designs inspired by Latinx symbols—such as flags, flowers, and meaningful phrases—each paired with an info card explaining its cultural significance. Or, create your own bracelet inspired by your flag colors while learning about different cultures, sharing stories, and reflecting on what heritage means to you.
Monday, Oct. 6th
7 pm; Lynch Adler Hall 129
Fichas y Cultura
Riders DominiRicans
Fichas y Cultura is a fun dominoes tournament that reflects on the traditional Latino board game. Attending students will be split up into even teams and be registered into a dominoes tournament bracket. The winning team from the tournament will win a prize basket filled with stickers and toys that reflect Latino culture. We will provide snacks and refreshments during the tournament.
Tuesday, Oct. 7th
11 am; Campus Mall
Mercado Central: Walk, Discover, and Celebrate Latinx Culture
BSW Program
Mercado Central aims to recreate the open-air public markets often found in Spanish-speaking countries and will take place outdoors on the Campus Mall on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, from 11:00 am – 1:30 pm. Our open-air market will feature food, local artists, music, arts and crafts, interactive dancing, tabling by student clubs and local and Latinx-based community organizations who will offer information on their services and programs.
Tuesday, Oct. 7th
2:50 pm; Rue Auditorium
Pragda Spanish-language Film Festival - Boca Chica
University Library and Department of Languages, Literatures & Cultures
The Pragda Spanish-language film festival brings fantastic films from Latin America, Spain, and the United States to our Rider community. Please join us in watching and discussing films that engage with themes of love, loss, human connection, belonging, migration, and much more. Hope to see you there!
Tuesday, October 7th
8 pm; Muller’s Pub
Karaoke Night
Latin American Student Organization
The Latin American Student Organization will host a Karaoke Night in the Rider Pub as part of the Hispanic Heritage Month program series. The event will feature music, snacks, and opportunities for students to share their voices. It is designed to highlight cultural pride and create a fun, welcoming space for the Rider community. Attendees can enjoy an evening of entertainment while celebrating Latin American heritage.
Wednesday, Oct. 15th
5 pm; Rue Auditorium
Pragda Spanish-language film festival - La Cocina
University Library and Department of Languages, Literatures & Cultures
The Pragda Spanish-language film festival brings fantastic films from Latin America, Spain, and the United States to our Rider community. Please join us in watching and discussing films that engage with themes of love, loss, human connection, belonging, migration, and much more. Hope to see you there!
Wednesday, Oct. 15th
7:30 pm; Lynch Adler Hall 129
Riesgo!
Riders DominiRicans
Riesgo! is a Jeopardy-inspired event that is based on Dominican and Puerto Rican culture. Attending students will be split up into even-set teams and will have the opportunity to answer questions in different categories on Dominican and Puerto Rican traditions and cultures, such as Taino culture, and history about the country. The winning team will receive a prize basket filled with Dominican and Puerto Rican stickers, toys, and supplies.