Montgomery County to Host 10th Annual Free ‘Friendship Picnic’ to Celebrate Diverse Cultures and Faiths on Sunday, Sept. 15, in Wheaton

For Immediate Release: Wednesday, August 28, 2024

The 10th annual Montgomery County “Friendship Picnic” will again bring people of many cultures and faiths together to celebrate the diversity of the County. The free picnic, whose goal is to enable people to make new friends and to build a stronger community, will be held from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 15, at Wheaton Regional Park.

Wheaton Regional Park is located at 2000 Shorefield Rd. in Wheaton. A free satellite parking shuttle will be available to and from the Wheaton Ice Rink and athletic fields.

The event is an initiative of the Montgomery County Committee Against Hate/Violence (CAHV), which works to eradicate acts of hate and intimidation through community education, advocacy, collaboration and legislation.

All are welcome to the celebration, which will include traditional American Kosher, Halal, Ethiopian and vegan lunch options. A wide range of activities for children and adults will include music, dancing, face painting, a petting zoo, a moon bounce, a carousel and rides on the park’s miniature train.

There is no need to register in advance to attend. Attendees do not need to bring food or drink to the event. All will be provided.

“Over the last decade, our ‘Friendship Picnic’ has become a County tradition for diverse communities to gather and celebrate the County’s inclusivity,” said Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich. “This picnic demonstrates that we are a place where people of all cultures, backgrounds and faiths can come together, learn from each other and build lasting relationships. I invite all residents to join this gathering.”

In addition to the recreation activities, there will be opportunities for small group conversations to share and discuss how to move toward a nonviolent community, peaceably and respectfully.

The Friendship Picnic is endorsed and supported by the Montgomery County Office of Human Rights, the Montgomery County Human Rights Commission, the Montgomery County Office of Community Partnerships, the Faith Community Advisory Group, Montgomery Parks, Montgomery County Police and the County Fire and Rescue Service, African American Health Program and Black Physicians Network.

For more information about the “Friendship Picnic,” call 240-777-8454.

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Release ID: 24-381
Media Contact: Jennifer Garfinkel 240-962-1506
Categories: Consumer