San Diego’s history and heritage are deeply intertwined with the influences and achievements of Hispanic artists, athletes and other stars who have enriched our community immensely over the decades.

Hispanic Heritage Month (HHM) takes place September 15 to October 15 every year as a time to recognize and celebrate the many contributions, diverse cultures, and extensive histories of the American Latino community.

To celebrate, the San Diego Tourism Authority is highlighting San Diego luminaries in the arts and sports communities, from music to visual arts to soccer and baseball. 

Rafael Payare
Music Director, San Diego Symphony

The Venezuelan-born Payare is an internationally renowned conductor who is now in his fourth season as the San Diego Symphony’s Music Director. Among his many career milestones, Payare presided over the opening of the Rady Shell at Jacobs Park, the symphony’s stunning outdoor venue on San Diego Bay. And under his leadership, the symphony will make its first-ever concert appearance in Tijuana, Mexico, in November 2023.

Roxana Velásquez
Maruja Baldwin Executive Director and CEO, San Diego Museum of Art

Since she took over leadership of this venerable Balboa Park museum, the Mexican-born Velásquez has played a key role in the institution’s rise to prominence as one of the top art museums on the West Coast. She has brought in high-profile exhibitions as well as led the acquisition of nearly 1,000 artworks, significantly increasing the size and range of San Diego Museum of Art’s collections.

Paola Villaseñor (aka Panca)
Muralist

Hailing from San Diego’s South Bay and now dividing her time between the U.S. and Mexico, Panca — born to an immigrant family — is known for her colorful murals that frequently feature fantastical faces and whimsical, eye-catching elements. Among her most notable works in San Diego are “SMILE,” a 48-foot mural highlighted by playful facial features and spanning an interior bridge at the New Children’s Museum; and the towering painting of a melting ice cream cone (complete with distressed-looking face) that graces the side of Bread & Salt in Barrio Logan.

Melanie Barcenas
Forward, San Diego Wave FC

A San Diego native and soccer prodigy, Barcenas made history at age 15 when she took the field for the San Diego Wave, becoming the youngest-ever player to see action in the National Women’s Soccer League. It was just the latest groundbreaking moment for the Mexican-American athlete, who also was the first high-school player to sign a “name, image and likeness” (NIL) deal, and appeared on the cover of Time magazine at age 9. In 2023, Barcenas’ team is also embracing Hispanic heritage with a new line of Wave merchandise inspired by the city’s Latino community and showcasing the artwork of Chicano Park in Barrio Logan, the San Diego’s oldest Mexican-American neighborhood. The Wave’s home venue, Snapdragon Stadium, also celebrates Mexican Independence Day and Hispanic Heritage Month with special September events.

San Diego Padres

The Padres, San Diego’s MLB team since 1969, have a rich history of fielding Hispanic talent both from the U.S. and other countries, and three of the team’s biggest present-day stars — Manny Machado, Juan Soto and Fernando Tatis Jr. — are all of Dominican heritage. The team celebrates its multicultural makeup with its colorful City Connect uniforms, which pay homage in part to the vibrant colors of Baja California. The Padres also celebrate Hispanic heritage during the month of September with multiple events.

Ricardo Breceda
Sculptor

Ricardo Breceda’s arresting, larger-than-life sculptures of horses, sea serpents and more are a vibrant sight near San Diego County’s Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, where the Mexican-born artist maintains an outdoor studio that’s open to the public. Over the past 25 years, he has created some 130 of the metal sculptures, many of them depicting mythical or fanciful creatures. His most well-known work is a 350-foot-long sculpture of a serpent, which is layered with more than 1,000 metal scales.

Mario Torero
Muralist

A legendary local muralist who pairs activism with art, Mario Torero has been painting and creating since the early 1960s. Torero, who is of Peruvian heritage, is a founding member of Centro Cultural de la Raza and of Chicano Park in Barrio Logan, and was deeply involved in the struggle to preserve what is now a celebrated home for murals. Torero’s art has in turn been preserved by the Library of Congress, which purchased 20 of his works for its collection of Chicano art.

For more about Hispanic heritage in San Diego, please read San Diego Hispanic Heritage Experiences and a listing of Hispanic-Owned Businesses on sandiego.org.

ABOUT SAN DIEGO TOURISM AUTHORITY

San Diego Tourism Authority is a private, non-profit, mutual benefit corporation composed of approximately 920 member organizations, businesses, local governments, and individuals seeking a better community through the visitor industry. San Diego Tourism Authority members include tourism-related entities in such categories as lodging, dining, arts, attractions, shopping, and transportation, among others, as well as other companies indirectly involved in tourism. Visit sandiego.org to learn more.