Free Hispanic Heritage Festival and Health Fair Oct. 6

Montgomery County will host its first Hispanic Heritage Festival and Health Fair from Noon. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 6, at the Marian Fryer Plaza in Wheaton. The free festival will celebrate the county's growing diversity, honor Hispanic heritage and promote a greater understanding of diverse traditions. 

Marian Fryer Plaza is located at 2424 Reedie Drive in Wheaton.  

The festival will have live musical performances from Luis Garay, Ocho de Bastos and Pepe Gonzales, the Albert Einstein High School Salseros and special Hora Loca finale. 

A health fair will be running throughout the festival. Participants can receive free health screenings, visit resource tables, pick up resources and enjoy family-friendly activities. Food will be available for purchase throughout the event and Hispanic food vendors will be on site.  

Street parking is available around the venue and a free shuttle service will be available from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the following locations: 

• Germantown Transit Center, 19843 Crystal Rock Drive, Germantown
• Long Branch Community Recreation Center, 8700 Pinery Branch Road, Silver Spring  
• Wheaton High School, 12401 Dalewood Drive, Silver Spring 
• Paint Branch High School, 141211 Old Columba Pike, Burtonsville 
• Richard Montgomery High School, 250 Richard Montgomery Drive, Rockville

For a detailed schedule of events at the festival, visit the Latino Health Initiative website. 

Kid activities at the festival will include Barrios Mágicos de Montgomery County (Magical Neighborhoods of Montgomery County). The theme is “Encanto” (“enchanted”). While supplies last, children will have the opportunity to make piñatas and guitars from recycled cardboard and participate in a game of environmental Loteria (lottery). Attendees can also get their faces painted or take a photo in the photo booth.  

The festival was organized as a joint effort by the Wheaton Urban District, the Mid-County Regional Service Center, the County’s Department of Health and Human Services’ Latino Health Initiative, the Department of Recreation, the Department of Transportation, the Fire and Rescue Service, the Police Department, Alcohol and Beverage Services, the Community Engagement Cluster, the Office of Public Information, the Department of Environmental Protection, County Public Libraries, the Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, the Department of Housing and Community Affairs, the Office of Community Partnerships and the Department of General Services.  

Montgomery County is encouraging participants to share their experience at the festival on social media via Facebook, X (Formerly Twitter) and Instagram using the hashtag #AmaTuVida24.