National Hispanic Heritage Month at New Mexico State University is kicking off with a Fan Fiesta today and continuing throughout the month with events hosted by the NMSU Chicano programs.  

Set between Sept. 15 and Oct. 15, the month’s purpose is to celebrate the history and culture of Hispanics and Latinos.  

New Mexico Athletics has partnered with Coors Light to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Day with a free Fan Fiesta beginning at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 14 before NM State takes on San Diego State at Aggie Memorial Stadium.  

Entertainment at the event will feature DJs, El Paso street artist Jari “WERC” Alvarez, a performance from the Las Cruces International Mariachi Conference and a Lucha Libre match from Xtreme Cruces Wrestling.  

NMSU Director of Athletics Mario Moccia described the importance of creating and amplifying a crowd before a home game.  

“Even though it’s a home opening football game, there’s all this excitement around and that we’re playing a great opponent, I think it’s up to us to do things to draw people in and we wanted to do a specific day where we can tie in with the month,” Moccia said. 

The fiesta will begin at 2 p.m. and will be held in the lot north of the Aggie Memorial Stadium. 

Keeping the border as a central theme, NMSU Chicano Programs is set to have a presentation regarding the effects of immigration detention on children.  

Speaking on the presentation will be NMSU assistant professor and Director of The Center on Immigration and Child Welfare Megan Finno-Velasquez. 

The presentation will be on Thursday, Sept. 19 at 6 p.m. at NMSU O’Donnell Hall, Room 111.