The Morton Arboretum celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month

—Celebración de los Árboles festival, cultural installations, Spanish-language programs and family activities highlight cultures and connections to trees—

LISLE, Ill., Sept. 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Morton Arboretum will celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 with cultural programs, family activities, Spanish-language experiences and community-led installations, including the two-day Celebración de los Árboles (Celebration of Trees) festival. Visitors can experience Latin American cultures and traditions while exploring connections among people, trees and nature and learning about the Arboretum's conservation work in Latin America.

"We're excited to continue building meaningful connections with the Latino community through programs that celebrate culture while creating opportunities to connect with trees and nature," said Brooke Pudar, the Arboretum's head of community engagement. "Hispanic Heritage Month is also an opportunity to share the Arboretum's work beyond our grounds and highlight the importance of protecting trees and ecosystems throughout Latin America."

The month's centerpiece will be Celebración de los Árboles, presented in partnership with the DuPage Hispanic Alliance, Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 26 and 27, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The festival will feature music, dance, food, storytelling and cultural performances, along with Lucha Libre matches culminating in a Sunday championship match and luchador meet-and-greet, Spanish-language tram rides, mariachi bands, salsa music and dance lessons, artisan vendors, food trucks and more. The festival is included with Arboretum admission.

"The DuPage Hispanic Alliance is proud to continue our valued partnership with The Morton Arboretum for Celebración de los Árboles during Hispanic Heritage Month," said Maria Rodriguez DiGioia, president of the DuPage Hispanic Alliance. "This wonderful event brings people together to honor the richness of Latino cultures and traditions while sharing our heritage with the community in the beautiful natural setting of The Morton Arboretum. We are honored to be part of a celebration that so meaningfully connects culture, community and nature."

More than a dozen local artists and vendors will offer handcrafted goods, art and traditional foods, including tamales, conchas, paletas, empanadas and aguas frescas. An Artists' Gallery will feature work by Latino artists. Visitors also can take Herbarium tours for a behind-the-scenes look at how the Arboretum collects and preserves Mexican oak species and other plant specimens. The tours will highlight research by Arboretum scientists and collaborators in Mexico on oak diversity in Mexico and Central America. Tours are free with advance registration and recommended for ages 7 and older.

Throughout Hispanic Heritage Month, visitors can experience Cultivando Comunidad: Tree Stories in Papel Picado, a cultural installation in the Visitor Center featuring papel picado, a traditional Mexican folk art made from intricately cut paper. Created by Chicago artist Jason Guzman, the installation tells stories of people and community organizations that plant trees in their neighborhoods and support trees through the Chicago Region Trees Initiative's Tree Ambassador Program. Visitors can create and add their own papel picado story to the display.

Spanish-language and bilingual programs include Tranvía en Español/Spanish-Language Tram Tours, one-hour guided tours aboard the Acorn Express through the Arboretum's woodlands, wetlands and prairies. Tours will be offered during Celebración de los Árboles on Sept. 26 and 27 and on Sundays through mid-November, weather permitting. Caminata en la Naturaleza/Hike in the Nature will be offered Oct. 4, providing an opportunity to explore the Arboretum's trails while learning about its history, plants and animals.

Families can join Bilingual Acorn Express Adventures on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 for an English- and Spanish-language experience featuring a short hike and take-home craft focused on eagles and their significance in Hispanic culture. Spanish-language programs also include Terapia de Bosque/Forest Therapy Walks, led by Spanish-speaking certified forest therapy guides and followed by a tea ceremony.

The month will conclude with Family Lotería and Lotería Nights on Sunday, Oct. 11. Family Lotería, from 1 to 4 p.m., will feature the traditional Mexican game of chance, custom Arboretum-themed cards by artist Jazmin Rodriguez, bilingual hosting and prizes, with food and drinks available for purchase. From 5 to 8 p.m., Lotería Nights, for ages 21 and older, will offer an adults-only evening with bilingual hosting, custom cards, prizes and authentic food and drinks in the Firefly Pavilion. Tickets for both programs are available now at mortonarb.org.

Hispanic Heritage Month connects the Arboretum's cultural programming with its mission as a tree-focused botanical garden and research center. Arboretum researchers work with partners in Mexico and Central America to conserve threatened trees and ecosystems while supporting local communities. Visitors can learn more about this work through Hispanic Heritage Month programming, including Herbarium tours during Celebración de los Árboles.

Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates the cultures, histories and contributions of people whose ancestors came from Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America. The observance, from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, includes Día de la Raza and Indigenous Peoples' Day on Monday, Oct. 12, as well as the anniversaries of independence for Latin American countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Mexico and Chile.

Spanish-language maps are available year-round at the Information Desk in the Visitor Center, and free tree-care information is available in English and Spanish at mortonarb.org. For admission, program and scheduling information, visit mortonarb.org.

About The Morton Arboretum
The Morton Arboretum is an internationally recognized tree-focused botanical garden and research center near Chicago in Lisle, Illinois. Its 1,700 acres include specialty tree and plant collections, nine miles of roads and 16 miles of hiking trails, a central Grand Garden, Children's Garden, educational programs and a Visitor Center. Information about exhibitions, events and admission is available at mortonarb.org.

Admission Rates
Admission rates to The Morton Arboretum vary by day. Please see the website for daily rates. Guests are encouraged to purchase general admission tickets in advance online for the lowest prices. Guests will save $2 per ticket if they order online on the same day of their visit, before arriving at the gatehouse. DuPage County residents may receive a 33% discount on Wednesdays. Senior pricing is available daily. Parking is free with admission. Members receive free general admission.

Media Contact:
Nicole Bruce
Public Relations Specialist
[email protected]

Eds: Photos and b-roll are available in Dropbox. 

SOURCE Morton Arboretum