Hispanic Heritage Month

Visit The Morton Arboretum during Hispanic Heritage Month to celebrate the cultures, histories, and contributions of Hispanic peoples.

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Visit The Morton Arboretum during Hispanic Heritage Month, September 15 through October 15, to enjoy and take part in special events and programs that highlight Latin American cultures and traditions. As fall colors begin to show in the Arboretum’s woodlands and natural landscapes, it’s the perfect time to enjoy the outdoors with family and friends.

Learn more below about bilingual and Spanish-language events and programs during Hispanic Heritage Month, community-led cultural installations, and the weekend-long Celebración de los Árboles cultural festival on Saturday, September 26, and Sunday, September 27.

Past Events

About Hispanic Heritage Month

Hispanic Heritage Month includes Día de la Raza and Indigenous Peoples’ Day on Monday, October 12—as well as the anniversaries of independence for Latin American countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Mexico, and Chile.

Plan Your Visit The Morton Arboretum

Save $2 per ticket when you buy general admission online. To enter any day without general admission, become an Arboretum member. Members can purchase $10 add-on admissions, based on their membership level, for those visiting with them.

Cultural Installations

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Cultivando Comunidad: Tree Stories in Papel Picado

Throughout Hispanic Heritage Month, the Arboretum’s Sterling Morton Library will host an exhibition of papel picado, a traditional Mexican folk art made of intricately cut paper designs, created by Chicago artist Jason Guzman.

The exhibition tells the stories of people and community organizations who plant trees in their neighborhoods and build community support for trees through their participation in Chicago’s Tree Ambassador Program.

Through the Tree Ambassador Program, the Arboretum’s Chicago Region Trees Initiative provides community partners with training, resources, funding, and priority status to request trees to be planted in parkways by the City of Chicago.

Guests who view the exhibition will have the chance to create and add their own simple papel picado story to the display wall.

Día de los Muertos Community Ofrenda

View an ofrenda, or altar, crafted from Arboretum wood and decorated with cempasúchil (marigolds) and offerings to the departed at the Arboretum’s Visitor Center, on display from Monday, October 26, through Monday, November 2, in honor of Día de los Muertos. This Mexican celebration honors the memory of loved ones with symbols rooted in the elements of nature.

Everyone is welcome to contribute to the ofrenda. Write a note or draw a picture with provided supplies to reconnect with friends or family members who have passed. Trinkets will be available for purchase at The Arboretum Store. Note that any items left cannot be returned.

The community ofrenda will be on view from Monday, October 26, through Monday, November 2.

The Morton Arboretum offers a variety of family-friendly activities throughout the months of September and October, and many fun places to explore outdoors that are exceptionally beautiful during this time of year.

Family activities and sculptural exhibitions are included in Arboretum general admission.

Bilingual Bingo

Visit the Information Desk in the Visitor Center during open hours to pick up a bilingual bingo card. As you explore the Arboretum, look around you to see how many squares you can fill. Try and get four in a row!

View or download Bilingual Bingo card.

Children’s Garden

Far more than just a playground, the Children’s Garden is a 4-acre outdoor play space that encourages children to safely romp, climb, splash, see new things, and wonder about trees and nature.

There are ponds, streams, things to climb on, and plenty of places for adults to sit while children play. Many of its interactive features are based on tree science. It is designed for children from toddlers to 12-year-olds.

Fall Color Festival

During the monthlong Fall Color Festival in October, The Morton Arboretum offers seasonal events and attractions to celebrate this time of transformation in the natural world. Visit on weekends for the Fall Color Festival Concessions tent in Arbor Court, offering apple cider doughnuts and other treats that are only available this time of year.

Maze Garden

Next to the Children’s Garden is a twisty Maze Garden made of living green shrubs. Find the secret to reach the big sycamore tree for a towering view! Children love to solve the puzzle.

Vivid Creatures

Explore The Morton Arboretum’s art exhibition, Vivid Creatures! You can find five giant, colorful animal sculptures along the Arboretum’s trails and paths.

Four of the sculptures are connected by paved, accessible trails that lead through the Arboretum’s central area, around Meadow Lake, and through the shaded canopy of the Conifer Collection. The fifth sculpture is on a hill near parking lot P-4, following an inclined, wood-chipped trail.

Ginkgo Restaurant and Café

The Ginkgo Restaurant and Café is the perfect choice for lunch with friends or weekend brunch after a walk through the woods. The menu of internationally inspired meals includes vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options, as well as craft beer and wines, baked goods, and coffee.

There are a limited number of tables and seating near the Café in the Visitor Center. Tables inside the Ginkgo Room are reserved for Ginkgo Restaurant guests only.

The Ginkgo Restaurant is open Monday through Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The Gingko Café is open 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily.

Spanish-Language and Bilingual Tram Tours

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Spanish-Language Tram Tours

Narrated in Spanish, these one-hour rides take you on an adventure through woodlands, wetlands, and prairies. Spanish-language tram tours include information about the Arboretum’s history, grounds, and activities, along with cultural connections to nature.

Tram tours are wheelchair accessible.

Tickets

Tram tour tickets must be purchased at the Information Desk in the Visitor Center on the day of your visit.

Adult: $10
Child (4 and older): $5
Infant (3 and younger): Free
Family (up to 6 people): $30

Member adult: $8
Member child (4 and older): $3
Member infant (3 and younger): Free
Member family (up to 6 people): $24

Schedule

Tours take place during Celebración de los Árboles weekend and every Sunday through mid-November, weather permitting.

Saturday, September 26, 2026, 4:00 to 5:00 p.m.

Sunday, September 27, 2026, 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 to 5:00 p.m.

Sundays through mid-November, 4:00 to 5:00 p.m.

Bilingual Acorn Express Adventures

Hop on the Acorn Express for a family-friendly tram ride that includes a short hike and a take-home craft. Narrated in both English and Spanish, tours will focus on the theme of eagles and their significance in Hispanic culture. Tours are recommended for families with children aged 2 and older.

Tickets

Acorn Express Adventure tickets must be purchased at the Information Desk in the Visitor Center on the day of your visit.

Cost: $8
Member cost: $6

Schedule

Wednesday, September 30, 2026, 11:00 a.m.

Thursday, October 1, 2026, 11:00 a.m.

Bilingual Acorn Express Adventures tram tours meet in the Visitor Center.

Science is the foundation of The Morton Arboretum’s work for trees. Learn how Arboretum researchers conduct on-the-ground tree conservation action projects with local partners in Mexico and Mesoamerica to benefit ecosystems while supporting local communities.

Chicago Region Trees Initiative

The Chicago Region Trees Initiative is The Morton Arboretum’s urban and community forestry program, working to improve people’s lives by supporting the health, diversity, and equitable distribution of trees in the Chicago region and throughout Illinois.

Tree Ambassador Program

In partnership with Our Roots Chicago, CRTI’s Tree Ambassador Program provides community organizations with training, resources, funding, and priority status to request trees to be planted in parkways by the City of Chicago.

Global Tree Conservation Program

Working around the world, The Morton Arboretum’s Global Tree Conservation Program is dedicated to safeguarding tree species in biodiversity hotspots like Mesoamerica through global collaborations. Arboretum staff lead integrated, science-based conservation action projects that support sustainable livelihoods and respect local cultures and traditional knowledge.

Conservation Gap Analysis of Native Mesoamerican Oaks

Published in 2025, The Arboretum’s Conservation Gap Analysis of Native Mesoamerican Oaks was a landmark report that identified key concerns and areas of opportunity for conserving threatened oak species. The report is available in both English and Spanish.

Opportunities in Science

The Arboretum’s Center for Tree Science offers many opportunities for students and young people to get involved in tree conservation and STEM. Learn more about youth volunteer opportunities and the Arboretum’s Integrated Mentorship Program.

The Morton Arboretum is proud to support and partner with the DuPage Hispanic Alliance. They work with the Arboretum to inform and improve its offerings, as well as to co-create programming and initiatives that increase access to its beautiful landscape, education, and other activities.

DuPage Hispanic Alliance

Celebración de los Árboles is presented in partnership with DuPage Hispanic Alliance, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that promotes the rich Hispanic culture throughout DuPage county and the surrounding areas. A cultural, civic, and community network, the organization works to unite Latinos and non-Latinos in preserving and promoting the richness in diversity of the Latin American heritage through educational, cultural, and civic activities.