On September 28, 2024, the Friends of Montgomery Hills put on its fourth Montgomery Hills Street Fest. Attended by more than 1,000 people, this year’s Street Fest was an unforgettable day that brought the community together for food, fun, and meaningful connection. Held along Columbia Blvd. between Seminary Road and 16th Street, the Street Fest provided an opportunity for neighbors throughout the greater Montgomery Hills community to socialize, listen to live music, interact and learn from local organizations, support local businesses, and sample food from local restaurants. It was also a great chance to show elected officials how much support there is for improving Georgia Avenue and the Montgomery Hills corridor. With incredible food, vibrant music, activities for all ages, and an impressive line-up of local leaders, this year’s Montgomery Hills Street Fest was a true celebration of community. The event showcased the best of what Montgomery Hills has to offer and left everyone excited for what’s next. We very much thank our sponsors for their support!

We always have opportunities for neighbors to get involved in what we are working on. Consider signing our letter to support the Georgia Ave improvements or contacting us by email below for other ways to get involved. You can also subscribe to our mailing list below to receive email notifications when we update the website with a new post about our other activities.

The festival featured over three dozen community organizations, offering opportunities for residents to engage, learn, and make a difference locally. Local businesses got to connect with residents.

The festival was also packed with fun for families and kids, from the ever-popular Fire Truck Touch to an exciting appearance by the Mounted Parks Police, both of which drew huge smiles from young attendees. Games and activities rounded out the experience, making it a fun-filled day for all ages.

The festival was a feast for food lovers, featuring an incredible array of vendors from Comma’s Food Hall and standout local restaurants like *Lime and Cilantro*—a Tom Sietsema pick for best restaurant in the DMV—and the flavorful Ethiopian dishes from Meleket. The food scene was a highlight, with something to delight every palate. Denizen’s beer and the Urban Winery were also a popular stopping point for many.

In addition to the festivities, the event was graced by numerous elected officials who addressed the crowd and shared their vision for Montgomery Hills and beyond. The Maryland District 18 and 20 Delegations made a strong showing, with Senator Jeff Waldstreicher and Delegates Jheanelle Wilkins, David Moon, Jared Solomon, and Aaron Kaufman connecting with residents. Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich, Council President Andrew Friedson, and Council Members Evan Glass, Kate Stewart, and Natali Fani-González also took the stage. The day was made even more special with a guest appearance by Congressman Jamie Raskin, whose words of encouragement and community spirit resonated deeply with attendees.

*Top* – *Congressman Jamie Raskin, Councilmembers Kate Stewart, Natali Fani-Gonzalez, and Evan Glass, and Delegates Jared Soloman and Emily Shetty speak to the crowd.*
*Bottom* – *Delegate Jheanelle Wilkins presents a certificate of appreciation on behalf of the state legislature to the FOMH Board with Senator Jeff Waldstreicher, Delegate David Moon, and Delegate Aaron Kaufman.*

The entertainment didn’t disappoint either, with four live bands providing a diverse soundtrack that kept the crowd energized throughout the day: Apollo 66, The Red Castle Blues Band, 49-Cent Dress, and Hollertown.

Thank you to Our Participants!

Thank you to Our Volunteers!

FOMH wants to thank the numerous volunteers who made this possible, in particular the Street Fest Planning Committee:

The FOMH Board
Don Slater
Stephanie Andrade
Tamara King
Dave Brandt
Heather Collick
Ramesh Kurup

FOMH also wants to thank the North Woodside neighbors who hosted a festival on their street, particularly Dave Brandt, Heather Lair, the Bettis, the and the Schumms, who provided staging locations, power, and their front yards.

Thank You To Our Sponsors!

In particular we want to thank our sponsors. Everyone who works on the Fest is a volunteer, but the event requires significant financial resources.

Premium Sponsor

Thank you to our Premium Sponsor, Ellsworth Place and Commas Food Hall!

Community Champion Sponsors

United Therapeutics
Finmarc Management
Jeff Russell
Montgomery County Government

Community Friend Sponsor

Woodside Forest Civic Association
Woodside Civic Association
Denizens
Montgomery Housing Partnership
Christopher Betti
Jill and Tim Pitner

FOMH is also grateful for generous donations from dozens of individuals and families throughout the area.

After a successful 2024 Street Fest, the organizing committee is already working on the next one. We look forward to seeing everyone in 12 to 18 months. Stay tuned for more details!