HUNTINGTOWN, Md. — SOMD Reviving the Community Fair is gearing up to host its second annual Festival in the Park, a resource fair and music festival. The event features local bands, guest speakers, food, horses and animals, and kids’ activities. The event is free and will be held in Kings Landing Park at 3255 Kings Landing Road, Huntingtown, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 26.
Linda Stock, a CADAA-certified ADA advocate and the event’s founder, developed the event last year with the hope of encouraging people in the community to get outside, get to know each other, and learn more about the many resources Southern Maryland has to offer for helping each other and connecting families.
And those resources aren’t just official assistance programs — the organization tapped family networks, local churches, nonprofits, shelters, food pantries, local farms, recovery resources, and more to set up booths or come speak to guests. Speakers will focus on topics related to mental health and family life.
Stock wrote in a letter on the website that through her work as a domestic violence advocate, she realized that many families are still unaware of the resources in the community, despite there being such an abundance. She knew something big needed to happen to bring the community together — and she hadn’t seen something like the Festival in the Park, which is “a family fun park day.”
“As I was traveling and working in the community I was amazed at the amount of resources we have — just in our little county, it’s incredible. And unless you spend countless hours on the internet or talking to people you just don’t know they exist,” Stock said.
She aimed to create a “different way to be in the community” that required stepping outside of our own buildings and getting to know each other in person. She envisioned an old-fashioned resource fair paired with a music festival because it would appeal to families and bring people together over common topics.
Stock, who also works as a graphic designer and real estate agent, calls the festival “her mission work.” The event is free to the community and wholly about bringing people together to see the great work people do and how we can help each other.
“I want everyone to love each other and for everyone to know how amazing our community really is,” Stock said. “We have community-driven hearts. We want to help people, and you see that time after time.”
In her work planning the festival, Stock has connected with over 400 groups that help people all over the state of Maryland. Last year, the festival had 60 participants; this year, they’re expecting over 100.
That includes speakers like Ted Greenfield of Invisible Angels, a group that helps survivors of human trafficking, and Jim Atkinson, a local author and advocate for suicide prevention. Dr. Jasmine Russel-Peter and Stock will also host a panel about managing trauma.
All that and fire trucks will be there for a touch-a-truck event.
“I don’t know what part I’m not excited about,” Stock said. “It comes down to how many community people say yes, on a Sunday, I want to be there, and we can all be family for a day.”
Join in on the event this Sunday and learn more online about the festival’s activities and vendors.
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