Diversity on Display at 'World of Montgomery' Festival

An International Village. A parade of nations. A whirlwind of song and dance. A culinary battle royale, Salvadoran-style.

That and more will be in store on Sunday at the World of Montgomery Festival in downtown Wheaton, the fourth annual celebration of the county's far-flung roots.

The festival runs from noon to 5 p.m. at Grandview Avenue and Reedie Drive, one block from the Wheaton Metro station. Thanks to a partnership with Kid International Discovery Museum, it will be the largest free event Montgomery County has ever orchestrated. 

The festival is fit for all ages, but is especially kid-friendly. The county partnered with the KID Museum to create an International Village, with four large tents representing China, India, El Salvador and Ethiopia. Children can get a "passport" stamped at each tent for participating in different activities, such as a scavenger hunt.

"The World of Montgomery Festival is a time to celebrate the tremendous diversity of our region, while cultivating children’s creativity, curiosity and compassion through playful exploration of the world,” Cara Lesser, co‐founder of KID Museum, said in a statement. “… Through a mix of immersive cultural exhibits, fun art and science activities, and exposure to a variety of community service activities, we hope to inspire kids’ passion for learning about the world and making it a better place.”

This year's celebration will also feature:

• Dancers, singers and musicians performing on two stages
• A map-making exhibit hosted by National Geographic
• An exhibit on rice, inspired by the children’s book “Everyone Cooks Rice,"  exploring the varieties, cultivation and use of the world’s most ubiquitous grain.
• Chef demonstrations and tastings
• A quilting exhibit hosted by Needle Chasers of Chevy Chase
• Tents for Habitat for Humanity and Manna Food Bank
• A slew of vendors selling international craft and wares

Or, for $5, take a seat at the proverbial table of a culinary showdown to see who makes the best pupusa—those delectable Central American pockets of cornmeal, griddle-fried and stuffed with various meats and cheeses.

Get to the Wheaton Triangle between noon and 3 p.m. to taste and vote for your favorite of the five eateries putting their pupusas to the test: Los Cobanos, Napolito Grill, El Boqueron, La Frontera and El Mogotillo. To buy your pupusa ticket ahead of time, click here.

For more information on the fetival, visit www.worldofmontgomery.com