Montgomery County to Host 11th Annual Free ‘Friendship Picnic’ to Celebrate Diverse Cultures and Faiths on Sunday, Sept. 14 in Wheaton

For Immediate Release: Friday, September 5, 2025

The 11th annual Montgomery County "Friendship Picnic" will again bring people of many cultures and faiths together to celebrate the County's diversity. The free picnic, whose goal is to enable people to make new friends and build a stronger community, will be held from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 14, at Wheaton Regional Park.

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

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 community members are welcome to attend this free celebration. Registration is not required, and food and beverages will be provided. Attendees do not need to bring anything to participate.

The event will include various lunch options, such as traditional American, Kosher, Halal, and vegetarian meals. Activities for all ages will feature live music, dancing, face painting, a petting zoo, moon bounces, a carousel, and rides on the park's miniature train.

In addition to the recreational activities, small group conversations will provide space to share ideas and discuss ways to build a peaceful and respectful community through nonviolence.

"The Friendship Picnic is one of my favorite events because it brings people together in the most genuine way," said County Executive Marc Erlich. "At a time when division dominates so much of our national conversation, Montgomery County continues to show what it looks like when people of different cultures, faiths, and backgrounds live side by side with respect. We are one of the most diverse counties in the nation, and we are stronger because of it. This picnic is a chance to share food, music, and conversations, and to keep building the relationships that make our community work. I hope everyone will come out to join us."

The Friendship Picnic is endorsed and supported by the Montgomery County Office of Human Rights and the Human Rights Commission and the following County departments, organizations, and partners:

• Alcohol Beverage Services
• Black Physicians' Health Network
• Department of Agriculture
• Department of Correction and Rehabilitation
• Department of Environmental Protection
• Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security
• Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)
• Department of Permitting Services
• Department of Police
• Department of Technology and Business Solutions
• Department of Transportation
• DHHS African American Health Program
• Eagle Bank
• Faith Community Advisory Group
• Fire and Rescue Service
• International Planning and Development, Inc.
• Montgomery Parks
• Office of Community Partnerships
• Office of Procurement
• Office of Racial Equity and Social Justice
• Public Libraries
• Sheriff's Office

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

To view video from last year's event, visit the Montgomery County Government's YouTube channel.

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