Semana Cultural Latina Iowa City 2026
Sept. 12–Sep 19, 2026 Iowa City
Ongoing Exhibitions
Exhibitions at the Iowa City Public Library / Exposiciones en la Biblioteca Pública de Iowa City
Presented by Semana Cultural Latina Iowa City as part of Latino Heritage Month, this exhibition series highlights Latino and Latina artists and their stories, identities, traditions, and creative perspectives.
Location: Iowa City Public Library, 123 S. Linn St.
ENTREGA DE SUEÑOS
An Exhibition by Chica Dalia
Sept. 15–Oct. 15
Iowa City Public Library, 123 S. Linn St.
Entrega de Sueños brings together five works by Chica Dalia exploring identity, spirituality, womanhood, and the purpose of being.
Through flowers, skulls, female figures, light, and symbols inspired by her faith, the artist reflects on what we carry within us and what makes us who we are.
The skulls remind us that beneath the skin, we share the same human essence, while flowers represent life, the present, and hope.
Women appear as symbols of strength, creation, and the giving of life, while also inviting us to reflect on what it means to be a woman.
Her work is rooted in the belief that talent is a gift meant to be shared, like a lamp that must be uncovered so it can shine and illuminate others.
Schedule
Saturday Sep. 12
Sunset Salsa
Sunset Salsa™ brings the heart of Latin dance to downtown Iowa City, transforming the Weatherdance Fountain Stage into a lively open-air dance floor throughout the summer and early fall. From 6:00 to 10:00 p.m., the Ped Mall comes alive with salsa, bachata, and other Latin rhythms led by DJ Edwin Valladares.
Free and open to everyone
Monday Sep. 14
Vamos al Cine: La Cocina
Join us for a special Spanish-language film night during Semana Cultural Latina Iowa City. Experience La Cocina, directed by Mexican filmmaker Alonso Ruizpalacios, and celebrate Latino culture, storytelling, and cinema with the community.
Monday, September 14 · 6:30 p.m.
FilmScene, Iowa City
Bring your family and enjoy an evening that reminds us that el cine también nos une — film brings us together
Tuesday Sep. 15
Spanish Bilingual Storytime
Tuesday, September 15, 2026, 10:30 a.m.
Storytime Room
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month and Semana Cultural Latina Iowa City with a special appearance by Latin Thunder!
Join us for a fun, family-friendly event as Latin Thunder reads an exciting children’s book inspired by the world of lucha libre, signs autographs, and poses for photos with us.
Come discover the colorful world of wrestling, celebrate Latino culture, and enjoy a memorable experience with the whole family. Don’t miss the fun!
Día de Muertos Art: Teen Drop-In
Tuesday, September 15, 2026, 4:30 – 6pm
Teen Center
Each Tuesday, we’ll have a project ready for you, but you can bring your own and work on that too. This time is carved out for art.
Learn about the symbolism and artistic traditions connected to Día de Muertos while decorating a skull or a wooden frame inspired by this meaningful celebration.
Finished artwork will be displayed at the Library in October as part of our Día de Muertos celebration and community altar.
This drop-in event is open to the public and designed especially for teens. No registration is required, and all materials will be provided.
Open to the public
Latino and Hispanic Proclamation
Join us at the Iowa City City Council meeting for a special proclamation recognizing Latino and Hispanic Heritage Month and celebrating the culture, history, and contributions of Latino and Hispanic communities in Iowa City.
During the regular City Council session, the Mayor of Iowa City will present the official proclamation, with local Latino community leaders joining the recognition and sharing a few words about the importance of heritage, representation, and community.
Tuesday, September 15 · 5:45 p.m.
Iowa City City Council
Thursday Sep. 17
Here We Are: Stories of Identity, Memory, and Belonging. Your story deserves to be heard.
Thursday, September 17, 2026, 6 – 7pm
Meeting Room A – Iowa City Public Library
As part of Latino Cultural Week, we invite you to join us for a community workshop centered on connection, remembrance, and reflection—a space to explore the stories we carry within us and the experiences that connect us.
Through music and drumming, guided reflection, conversation, and writing, we will create an opportunity to pause and reconnect with ourselves. We will listen, reflect, and allow the music to invite memories, emotions, and stories that may not always have had a space to be expressed.
Together, we will explore our experiences of migration, our roots, our identities, and what it means to create a sense of home and belonging here in Iowa. We will reflect on the things we have learned to keep silent, the burdens we have carried, and the messages that can make us feel as though we are not enough, that we do not belong, or that we must change who we are in order to fit in.
We will also make space to remember and celebrate: What do you love about latinidad? What part of your roots fills you with pride? What story, memory, or tradition do you want to preserve and share?
You do not need to be a writer or have any writing experience. You only need to bring your memories, your emotions, and your story.
This will be a space to express what we carry, give words to what may have gone unspoken, reconnect with our roots, and celebrate who we are. Together, we can transform our experiences into words, our memories into connection, and our stories into a source of strength and belonging.
Here we are. Here are our stories. Here is our voice.
Your story deserves to be heard.
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Friday Sep. 18
Chicano Printmaking: Relief Print Workshop with Seso Marentes
Friday, September 18, 2026, 4:30 – 5:30pm
Meeting Room A – Iowa City Public Library
Join multidisciplinary artist and printmaker Seso Marentes for a hands-on workshop exploring Chicano art and the creative possibilities of relief printmaking.
Using foam printing plates, participants will learn the fundamentals of relief printing, including design, line work, inking, and hand-printing techniques. This accessible process eliminates the need for sharp carving tools, making it easy for participants of different experience levels to experiment with printmaking.
Seso will guide participants through developing an image and using visual storytelling, symbolism, and composition to create bold, high-contrast artwork.
Seso describes his artistic practice as using art to tell stories about his culture, with work focused on cultural documentation, lineage, contemporary Chicano identity, and community-centered visual narratives. His recent recognition includes the 2025 Micaela Salinas Artist Fellowship and the 2024 G. David Hurd Innovator in the Arts Award.
Participants will design, print, and take home their own original, limited-edition prints.
No previous printmaking experience is necessary. All supplies will be provided and will be first come, first serve.
Open to the public
Saturday Sep. 19
Latino 5K with Iowa City Parkrun
Start your Saturday with movement, community, and celebration! As part of Semana Cultural Latina Iowa City, we’re partnering with Iowa City Parkrun for a free, timed 5K open to runners, joggers, and walkers of all experience levels.
Come celebrate Latino culture, connect with the community, and enjoy an active morning in the park. The event is completely free, but participants should register with Parkrun in advance to receive a personal barcode for official timing.
Saturday, September 19 · 8:00 a.m.
Iowa City Park
Register at parkrun.us/cityparkiowa.
Iowa City Latino Fest 2026
Celebrate the grand finale of Semana Cultural Latina Iowa City at Iowa City Latino Fest, a vibrant community celebration of Latino culture, traditions, music, dance, food, and heritage.
Enjoy an afternoon and evening filled with live performances, traditional dance, music, food vendors, community organizations, family activities, and cultural experiences that bring people together from across Iowa. Latino Fest is a space to celebrate our roots, share our traditions, and recognize the many contributions of Latino communities to Iowa.
Saturday, September 19 · Noon–9:30 p.m.
Ped Mall, Downtown Iowa City
