Community festivals highlight solar energy’s role in an affordable, sustainable future, featuring children’s activities, live performances, and conversations about Maryland’s clean energy leadership.

TAKOMA PARK, MD — Sunshine, live music, and the power of community brought hundreds of residents together in Takoma Park and Baltimore this past weekend for “Maryland Sun Day” celebrations, part of a global movement calling for the large-scale deployment of solar energy that is cheap, reliable, and ready to go. Residents of all ages are invited to enjoy music, art projects, kids’ programming, and hands-on educational activities while connecting with local leaders to send a clear message: we have the tools to power our communities with clean energy and overwhelming public support to do it.

In Takoma Park, families, neighbors, and local legislators gathered at the Takoma Urban Park Gazebo to enjoy an afternoon of music and community activities. Local musician Teresa Jiménez headlined the family-friendly concert, while kids participated in sun-inspired projects and interactive learning stations highlighting the promise of solar power. The event showcased the city’s deep-rooted commitment to sustainability and clean energy leadership in Maryland.

“Solar energy projects are the cheapest and quickest to build energy projects on the planet,” said Delegate Lorig Charkoudian, MD District 20. “We can lower bills, stabilize the climate, and create family-sustaining jobs by creating market certainty for solar energy of all types — residential, community solar, and utility scale.”

Other speakers at the event included Maryland State Senator William C. Smith, Jr. (District 20, Montgomery County), Delegate David H. Moon (District 20, Montgomery County), and Bryan Bomer, Sustainability, Energy, and Mechanical Manager, Montgomery County. 

In Baltimore, families gathered for an afternoon of children’s crafts, food trucks, and solar education programming. Attendees enjoyed music performances from Tavair Dominique, Buzz Merrick, and Dan and Claudia Zanes, reinforcing the joy and creativity at the heart of Maryland’s transition to renewable energy.

 

“Takoma Park and Baltimore came together this weekend to show what solar power really means: healthier communities, affordable energy, and a brighter future for our kids,” said Brittany Baker, Maryland Director for Chesapeake Climate Action Network. “Maryland has the chance to lead the nation in clean energy, and these celebrations prove residents are ready and eager to see it happen.”

Both events were part of the DMV region’s participation in International Sun Day, a weekend of “Sun Day” actions across America and around the world – organized by a broad coalition of groups, including Third Act, Fossil Free Media, and others, as well as CCAN. More than 300 events were planned across all 50 states. In the DMV region alone, CCAN sponsored or co-sponsored 9 events.

###

Chesapeake Climate Action Network is the first grassroots organization dedicated exclusively to raising awareness about the impacts and solutions associated with global warming in the Chesapeake Bay region. Founded in 2002, CCAN has been at the center of the fight for clean energy and wise climate policy in Maryland, Virginia, Washington, DC, and beyond.