Nashville Zoo is throwing open its gates this Saturday for its annual Hispanic Heritage Festival, blending bilingual animal encounters, Spanish-language historical tours, and a spread of Latin food with the zoo's regular lineup of exhibits. The celebration runs from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on September 26, with all festival activities included in standard admission.
As reported by WKRN News 2, the festival features authentic food, live entertainment, cultural performances, and up-close animal encounters at the Nashville Zoo. The event is co-hosted with Conexión Américas, a Middle Tennessee advocacy organization, and presented by convenience store chain Twice Daily, according to Williamson Source. This marks the fifth consecutive year the two organizations have partnered on the event at the zoo, the outlet notes.
Bilingual Programming Across the Grounds
Visitors can expect animal encounters and shows conducted in both English and Spanish, along with Spanish-language historical tours of the zoo's Grassmere Historic Home, according to Nashville Parent. The historic home sits on the zoo's property and normally offers guided tours of its own. Regular adult admission runs $28, with youth tickets for ages 2 to 12 priced at $24, per the same outlet.
Festival-goers will also find Catrina performers stationed in the Exhibition Peru area, Spanish storytime sessions hosted with the Nashville Public Library, and samples of traditional pan dulce, per the Williamson Source report. Culinary offerings across the grounds include empanadas, horchata, and street tacos, the outlet adds.
The Festival's Community Partner
The festival takes place at Nashville Zoo.
Conexión Américas, the festival's non-profit partner, was established in 2002 to assist Middle Tennessee's growing immigrant population and now serves more than 8,000 individuals and families annually out of its Casa Azafrán community center on Nolensville Pike, according to background provided by Conexión Américas. Casa Azafrán functions as a collaborative hub housing the organization alongside nine partner groups.
Part of a Bigger Month
The zoo festival is one stop in a broader slate of 2026 Hispanic Heritage Month programming organized by Conexión Américas, which also included The Latin Party at the Nashville Farmers' Market on September 18, as Hoodline previously reported. National Hispanic Heritage Month runs from September 15 through October 15.
Sponsor Twice Daily is the festival's presenting sponsor. Twice Daily has similarly backed other major seasonal events at the zoo, including the annual Easter Eggstravaganzoo.
