Long Branch Festival
September 13 & 14 , 2024
The Long Branch Festival is a collaborative partnership of the Long Branch Business League, Montgomery Housing Partnership, Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation and the Department of Housing and Community Development, with substantial support from Montgomery Parks and Purple Line Transit Partners.
The purpose of the Long Branch Festival is to celebrate the dynamic neighborhood, businesses and culture of Long Branch. Our goal is to bring communities together and celebrate our diversity, expand understanding of the crucial role of shared public spaces and highlight the value of locally-owned stores.
An additional goal is to help our community reimagine a future that includes both the current community and future changes.
The festival is also an experiment in placemaking — the process of adding small interventions to the built environment to make areas feel more walkable, accessible, and friendly. We want community members to start seeing the places they already use in a different light: maybe there are ways to increase support to local business by adding more seating in a certain area, or create more spaces for people to gather.
One of the several inspirations for this event came from a Montgomery Planning initiative in White Flint. We also want to reimagine the look and feel of Long Branch with a people-centered approach to the planning, design and management of public spaces while supporting the people and businesses who have called Long Branch home for many years.
Comida
Makers & Crafters
Community
Map
DRINK CRAWL
Buy a mug. Get drink specials. Support small businesses. The Long Branch Business League will continue their sale of Long Branch collector’s mugs and tumblers.
Buy OR bring your already purchased mug for drink specials at participating local restaurants during the event! Mugs will be for sale in Flower Avenue Urban Park. We hope you will join us for this Long Branch Business League initiative to support our restaurants.
SPECIALS ONLY APPLY WITH MUG OR TUMBLER FRIDAY NIGHT & ALL DAY/NIGHT SATURDAY
Check back for specials and updates.
Enjoy El Golfo & El Gavilan Margaritas at discounted rates with your Long Branch Mug!
COMIDA
NEW THIS YEAR!
El Gavilan Restaurant will be serving up delicious tacos, elote locos, street burritos, boozy (& kid friendly) SNOCONES, margaritas, and more at their OUTDOOR GRILL & BAR!
Enjoy a wide range of Latino flavors alongside games, live art and performers, and relaxed seating all weekend long!
FRIDAY
5:15pm LOTERIA
A Long Branch Festival family favorite! Be sure to plan dinner and Loteria in the park with the kids. Thank us later.
7:00pm BONGO DISTRICT
Washington D.C. five-piece band Bongo District is bringing their mix of reggae, ska, Latin, and funk music to Long Branch.
SATURDAY
11:00am ZUMBA MOVES W/ MELANIE
Start your Saturday off right and get your groove on with local Zumba expert, Melanie.
12:00pm MS. TERESA
Songs for kids in English and Spanish.
Canciones en inglés y español para niños.
1:00pm GENTLE EAST
Gentle East Martial Arts teaches taekwondo, a Korean martial art that translates to “the way of the hand and foot.” We teach both physical self-defense as well as self-improvement through discipline, self-control, physical fitness, and perseverance.
Our goal at Gentle East Martial Arts is to ensure that all our students get the best quality of training through our various programs available. All ages from 4 years old to adults are welcome. No matter your skill level, beginner to black belt, there is a place for you in our Gentle East Martial Arts family.
1:30pm ERIC ENERGY
Eric Energy offers live, interactive, hands-on science shows that will blow minds- (kiddos and adults alike)! The wide range of educational topics includes air, matter, sound, electricity, and more!
3:00pm CHEIK HAMALA DIABATE
Washington may be chock-a-block with lobbyists and consultants, but only one of them rocks the n’goni, the West African plucked lute covered with animal skin. He advises presidents and the World Bank. He’s played for everyone from a struggling couple trying to save their marriage, to the U.S. Congress. He’s hobnobbed with American string and Blues legends—from Bela Fleck to Corey Harris—and along the way reunited his beloved instrument with its long-lost grandchild, America’s banjo.
Though Diabate may stick to the old-school roles of the griot, his music embraces the panoply of sound he discovered in America, taking him beyond the traditional trio of griot instruments: the n’goni, kora (gourd harp), andbalafon (wooden xylophone). He has long explored the connection between America’s traditions and his own griot roots.
4:30pm CUBANO GROVE
Rene Ibanez, well-known Cuban percussionist currently residing in Washington, DC, has performed with many significant artists as well as the band Sin Miedo in the DC Metro area for more than 30 years. His band, Cubano Groove, keeps traditional Cuban Music – old and new – alive. Sit back and relax, or dance, and Enjoy as we come together once again for Live Music!
7:00pm SEE-I
See-I was founded by brothers Arthur “Rootz” Steele and Archie “Zeebo” Steele, who toured and performed for more than 15 years as frontmen for the Thievery Corporation live band. One of America’s premier Reggae party bands, the eight-piece group knows how to get people dancing all night with a smile on their face. The D.C. band boasts guest musicians and members from the Thievery Live band and the Chuck Brown band, among others.
SPONSORS & PARTNERS
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITY
✨Have you ever wanted to make a difference in your community? For the FIRST TIME, Long Branch Festival is opening up the opportunity for official sponsorship! Your kind donation creates 2 days full of magic and a lifetime of memories.
💃The purpose of Long Branch Festival is to celebrate the dynamic neighborhood, businesses and culture of Long Branch. Our goal is to bring communities together and celebrate our diversity, expand understanding of the crucial role of shared public spaces and highlight the value of locally-owned stores.
💕To get involved, shoot us a message or email cgillis@mhpartners.org.
Silver Spring, MD 20901