Wheaton’s Hispanic Heritage Month festival has been canceled.
“Out of intense fear within the community as well as targeting of the communities, the decision was made to alter what we typically do,” County Assistant Chief Administrative Officer Luisa Cardona said during a media briefing with County Executive Marc Elrich on Wednesday.
The event was supposed to be Sunday, Oct. 12 at Marian Fryer Town Plaza.
Cardona confirmed to MCM that the festival is canceled and the funds that would have gone to the festival are going to grants for celebrations within schools.
Last year, Wheaton had a festival to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with music, performances, and food.
Grants for School Celebrations
Instead, this year there will be grants offered to Wheaton area elementary schools to cover cultural performances.
Through a program called “Arte y Alma,” which means “Art and Soul” in Spanish, grants of $2,000 are offered to elementary schools so they can host cultural performances honoring Hispanic Heritage Month — “within the spaces that communities feel safe,” Cardona said. Families will also receive bags with resource information.
The grants are provided by the Wheaton Arts and Entertainment District and the Wheaton Urban District, in partnership with Montgomery County Public Schools.
Elementary schools can apply for the grant here. The deadline to apply is Oct. 31 but the performance can be anytime this school year, according to the grant parameters. Multiple schools will be awarded.
County Officials React
“It is a sad reality that some of our neighbors are hesitant to attend the kinds of festive gatherings that should bring us together,” Elrich stated in a press release Wednesday announcing the performer grants. “That will not deter us from celebrating and honoring our Hispanic and Latino residents, whose presence enriches our County in so many ways.”
“We are proud to partner with the Wheaton Arts and Entertainment District and the Wheaton Urban District on this opportunity,” MCPS Superintendent Dr. Thomas Taylor stated in the release. “Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month through authentic cultural performances and family resources reflects our commitment to creating inclusive, welcoming schools where every student can see themselves and their community in their learning.”
Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from Sept. 15-Oct. 15.
