Safety concerns, tight budgets halt some Hispanic heritage celebrations in Oregon, but many will go on

At Shute Park in Hillsboro, La Guelaguetza attracted thousands to the open grassy park and concrete staging area to watch Oaxacan musical and dance performances. In Woodburn, the city’s annual Fiesta Mexicana had its second largest gathering yet , welcoming over 25,000 attendees over three days.

From Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, Latino nonprofits, city governments and other community organizations are preparing a slate of festivals, performances, exhibitions and storytelling events to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month.

Read more: Where to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month 2025 in Oregon

Yet despite recent large-scale successful events celebrating Latino culture, some organizations are pulling back or canceling events entirely due to safety concerns and budget cuts. Events affected includ