The Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center is celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month with a festive evening of fun and activities from 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 8.

The event is free and open to the public. No tickets are required for attendance at the Arts & Heritage Center, 8788 Metcalf Ave., Overland Park.

From Spanish explorers, to Mexican traders and laborers, to recent Central and South American immigrants, the Kansas City region has deep Latino history. Today, the Latino community is Johnson County’s fastest growing population.

National Hispanic Heritage Month is from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 to honor the cultures and contributions of Latino Americans across the United States.