Heritage Month Celebrations and Events
In celebration of the histories and contributions of historically marginalized identities, Elon University commemorates heritage months and identity acknowledgments throughout the year. These recognitions provide an opportunity for all members of the Elon community to learn more about the traditions, people, scholarship, history, and current experiences of those who have overcome oppression to create opportunities for all.
Events and celebrations offered during different Heritage Months:
January
Celebrations
Martin Luther King Jr. Day – Monday, January 20th, 2025
Events
February – Black History Month
Celebrations
Black History Month – Black History Month, celebrated each February in the United States, is a time to honor the rich history, achievements, and contributions of Black Americans. Established nationally in 1976, it builds on the foundation of Negro History Week, first introduced by historian Carter G. Woodson in 1926. The month serves as an opportunity to recognize the central role Black individuals have played in shaping U.S. history, culture, and society, while also reflecting on the ongoing struggles for racial justice and equality. Through education, storytelling, and community events, Black History Month encourages a deeper understanding of the past and inspires action toward a more inclusive future.
Events
March
Celebrations
- Women’s History Month
- Multiracial Awareness Week – Typically held during March the CREDE celebrates Multiracial Awareness Week to bring about awareness and education to this emerging demographic of students. We will spend the week offering educational programming highlighting the experiences, challenges, and research on the multiracial collegiate experience.
April
Celebrations
Asian & Pacific Islander Heritage Month – Asian American and Pacific Islander (API) Heritage Month, celebrated each May (in April at Elon) in the United States, honors the rich histories, cultures, and contributions of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. This month recognizes the diverse experiences and identities within these communities, highlighting their vital roles in shaping American history, society, and culture. Originally established as Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week in 1978 and later expanded to a month-long observance in 1992, API Heritage Month commemorates significant milestones, such as the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants in the U.S. in May 1843 and the completion of the transcontinental railroad in May 1869, largely built by Chinese immigrants. It serves as a time for reflection, celebration, and education, fostering greater understanding and appreciation of API communities’ lasting impact on the nation.
The theme for 2025’s API Heritage Month is bouquets. The Asian & Pacific Islander community is comprised of many unique cultures, communities, and histories. This year, our celebration of APIHM focuses on how these rich and diverse individual communities have come together in the pursuit of something stronger.
2025 Events
Join the Center for Race, Ethnicity and Diversity Education (CREDE) for a cozy afternoon of conversation, community, and tea! Each Monday, we’ll provide a variety of teas and snacks—just drop in, hang out, and connect with others in a relaxed space. Each week we will have a different theme:
April 7th – Rainbows of Asia
April 14th – Floral Teas
April 28th – International Coffee & Teas w/ the GEC
When: Every Monday in April 12 – 2 PM.
Where: CREDE
Join us for the start of API Heritage Month with a special edition of college coffee, featuring different Asian beverages and snacks! The CREDE and APSA will also be tabling, so check out their tables to learn more about upcoming events!
Join us as we celebrate the rich and diverse cultures of Asian and Pacific Islander (API) communities at our API Heritage Month Kickoff Event! This celebration will feature different foods, cultural performances, local businesses and engaging activities that highlight the contributions and traditions of API communities.
- When: Thursday, April 3rd, 2025 from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.
- Where: Medallion Plaza
Time: 10–11 PM
Location: Upstairs Lakeside
Description: TBD
Time: 6–7 PM
Location: Moseley Kitchen
Description: Join us for a tasting of different types of instant noodles across Asia!
Think you can handle spicy food? Join us for our Spicy Food Challenge! Test yourself as you sample different spicy foods from different Asian cultures. RSVP here to reserve your spot.
- When: Tuesday, April 8th, 2025 from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.
- Where: El Centro Kitchen
Time: 7–8 PM
Location: Carlton Commons
Description: Join us for the Chinese Club’s 2nd language hour where we will practice Chinese and learn about the Qingming Festival—a traditional holiday dedicated to honoring ancestors. Enjoy a chance to eat spring rolls and other Chinese snacks!
Time: 7–8 PM
Location: La Rose Student Commons
Description: Get ready for a night of sweet treats and killer moves at Tanghulu & K-Pop Random Dance Night! Join us for Tanghulu and the ultimate K-pop dance showdown! Whether you’re here to snack, dance, or just vibe with fellow fans, this is the perfect event to indulge in sweetness and unleash your inner idol.
Time: 4 PM
Location: Moseley 224
Description: Join us for a talk with Maydha Devarajan, the interviewer for Southern Mix, an oral history project. Southern Mix is a travel exhibit that highlights the stories of Asian diaspora in the U.S South. The exhibit will be temporarily hosted in Moseley 224 until April 21st.
To learn more about the exhibit, visit their website here.
Want to get to know more people across Elon? Join us for our annual community dinner!
Together with the CREDE, APSA is hosting a dinner where you’ll have the chance to not only connect with people across campus, but also different faculty and staff at Elon. We’ll spend some brief time helping people connect, and then participants will enjoy different Asian foods. We encourage all to join us; RSVP here to reserve your spot.
- When: Thursday, April 17th, 2025 at 5:00 p.m.
- Where: Lakeside 212
Time: 1–3 PM
Location: El Centro
Description: Join us for an APIHM edition of Vamos A La Cocina, a cooking demonstration event hosted by El Centro!
Time: 6 PM
Location: Global Media Room
Description: Join Asian Studies for a film screening of the movie Upstream. Upstream follows Gao Zhilei, a 45-year-old software engineer who is unexpectedly laid off. Facing mounting family responsibilities and financial pressures—including his father’s medical bills and his daughter’s education—Gao turns to gig work as a food delivery driver. The film delves into the challenges of China’s gig economy, highlighting issues such as age discrimination, labor exploitation, and the resilience required to navigate such hardships.
Join us for our April Food For Thought, which will uplift Pacific Islander voices and communities.
Join us for Food For Thought: a monthly event where we explore different Asian & Pacific Islander cultures, communities, and personal experiences. This month’s FFT will explore Pacific Islander culture with Hawaiian food! We will also explore environmental issues in the Pacific Islands.
- When: Wednesday, April 23rd, 2025 from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.
- Where: CREDE (Moseley 221)
Time: 10–11 PM
Location: Upstairs Lakeside
Description: TBD
A Hindu spring festival of color and sharing love, Holi marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring. The Elon community gathers at Speaker’s Corner to throw colored powder on one another to celebrate the earth returning to color and life and good triumphing over evil. If you plan to throw color, please wear old clothing that can get dirtied by paint. There will also be crafts, food, and other ways to celebrate the holiday.
When: 4 PM
Where: Speakers Corner
Time: 5 PM
Location: Medallion Plaza
Description: Unleash your creativity under the open sky at Paint in the Plaza! Whether you want to follow along with a guided tutorial or let your imagination run wild with free painting, this event is perfect for artists of all levels!
Time: 4 – 6 PM
Location: CREDE
Description: Rainbow Boba was created to form a space for gathering and discussion on topics related to the intersections of the LGBTQIA+ and API communities. A colorful assortment of drinks and boba will be provided!
The end of year celebration to recognize the accomplishments and achievements among the API community at Elon.
Join us for our End-of-Year Celebration, a special gathering to honor the accomplishments and achievements of the API community at Elon! This event will recognize the hard work and contributions of individuals and organizations while also celebrating our graduating seniors as they’re getting a start on their next journey. Come together for an evening of reflection, appreciation, and community as we close the year with gratitude and joy. This event is RSVP-only.
- When: Thursday, May 8th, 2025 at 6:00 p.m.
- Where: Mckinnon Hall
September/October
Celebrations
Hispanic Heritage Month – Hispanic Heritage Month, celebrated annually from September 15 to October 15, is a time to recognize and honor the rich histories, cultures, and contributions of Hispanic and Latinx communities in the United States. The month begins on September 15, a date that marks the independence anniversaries of several Latin American countries, including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua, with Mexico and Chile following shortly after on September 16 and 18, respectively. This celebration highlights the diverse cultural traditions, achievements, and lasting impact of Hispanic and Latinx individuals across various fields, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of their vital role in shaping American society.
Events
Celebrate the arrival of Tita Ramirez’s debut novel, Tell It To Me Singing, an inventive work of fiction filled with passion, love, and questions of identity. Tita Ramirez, a professor in the English department at Elon, grew up in Miami and the novel focuses on a Cuban American family in Miami whose personal and cultural obsessions are dizzyingly alive.
- When: Wednesday, September 10th, 2024 at 7:00 p.m.
- Where: McBride Gathering Space, Numen Lumen Pavilion
Have fun with us as we kickoff Hispanic Heritage Month by celebrating the independence of Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica. There will be live performances, music, foods, vendors, and more. You don’t want to miss it!
- When: Saturday, September 13th, 2024 from 5:00 – 6:30 p.m.
- Where: Medallion Plaza
Come learn more about the Latinx-Hispanic Union, and our signature event, La Habana while enjoying yummy paletas.
- When: Tuesday, September 16th, 2024 from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.
- Where: Lakeside Patio
Join us for a special Hispanic Heritage Month themed college coffee, and enjoy some popular Hispanic breakfast items.
- When: Wednesday, September 17th, 2024 from 9:40 – 10:30 a.m.
- Where: Phi Beta Kappa Commons
Come celebrate the creation of LHU with cake and piñatas.
- When: Wednesday, September 17th, 2025 from 5:00 – 6:00 p.m.
- Where: Outside Mooney
Come check out books written by Latinx/Hispanic authors, as well as audiobooks on the Libby app.
- When: Wednesday, September 17th – Saturday, October 4th, 2024
- Where: Belk Library
Jarabe Mexicano captures the nostalgic spirit of their border roots with their brand of “Bordeño-Soul,” which honors the musical tastes and cultural influences of its members. Jarabe highlights the eclectic mix of genres they perform ranging from Mexican folk, Rock & Roll, and Norteño/Tex-Mex to Latin Rock, Trio Ramántico and popular Cumbia. Their traditional Mariachi string instruments and Norteño-inspired drums complement dramatic vocals in English, Spanish and Spanglish, and shows how this multi-generational ensemble embraces change while still honoring the past. Admission: $15 or Elon ID. Tickets will be available in August at the Elon University Box Office.
- When: Thursday, September 18th, 2024 at 7:30 p.m.
- Where: McCrary Theatre, Center for the Arts
The LatinX-Hispanic Union is throwing their semesterly dance party with great LatinX music and free food!
- When: Saturday, September 20th, 2024 from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
- Where: College Street Taphouse
An opportunity for Latinx/Hispanic students to have a deliberative dialogue on the topic of Machismo.
- When: Thursday, September 25th, 2024 from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
- Where: Mckinnon F
Join us for free coffee and pastries from a local bakery while networking with other Latinx/Hispanic faculty and staff on campus.
- When: Friday, September 26th, 2024 from 4:15 – 5:00 p.m.
- Where: Irazu
This lecture will analyze different emigration routes and entry points to Latin America from Nazi Germany and had to adapt to life on a new continent, whilst examining the different contexts of urban centers such as Buenos Aires (Argentina), Montevideo (Uruguay) and São Paulo (Brazil). This lecture will also raise questions about the long-term consequences of flight and forced migration.
- When: Wednesday, October 1st, 2024 from 2:30 – 3:30 p.m.
- Where: LaRose Student Commons 200
Learn about the complexity and intersectionalities of Latinx/Hispanic identities. There will be a panel formed by Elon students, faculty, and staff that identify as Latinx/Hispanic.
- When: Wednesday, October 1st, 2024 from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
- Where: Mckinnon F
Enjoy the night playing a traditional Mexican game, Loteria! You have the chance to win some amazing prizes.
- When: Friday, October 3rd, 2024 from 10:00 p.m. – Midnight
- Where: Mckinnon
This forum is a space for students to learn from each other and help create a support system at Elon. This Café Con Leche will be centered around the upcoming Election.
- When: Tuesday, October 7th, 2024 from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.
- Where: El Centro (Carlton 114)
Enjoy the Latinx/Hispanic version of a Flea Market! We will have different student organizations, departments and vendors.
- When: Wednesday, October 15th, 2024 from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.
- Where: Medallion Plaza
A celebration of Latinx/Hispanic student success. This event is dedicated to the empowerment of students, faculty, and staff who identify as Latinx/Hispanic.
- When: Saturday, October 18th, 2024 from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
- Where: LaRose Commons
November
Celebrations
Native American Heritage Month – Native American History Month, celebrated each November in the United States, is a time to recognize and honor the rich histories, diverse cultures, and significant contributions of Native American, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian peoples. This month serves as an opportunity to acknowledge the resilience and enduring traditions of Indigenous communities while also reflecting on the complex history of colonization, displacement, and systemic injustices they have faced. Through education, storytelling, and community events, Native American History Month encourages a deeper understanding of Indigenous perspectives, fosters respect for tribal sovereignty, and highlights the vital role Native peoples continue to play in shaping the nation’s past, present, and future.
Last Years Events