(Minghui.org) The In The Streets Festival has been a proud Frederick tradition for 40 years, and attracts more than 75,000 people annually. Falun Dafa practitioners participated in the popular event on September 13, 2025 to introduce the spiritual practice and raise awareness of the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) persecution. They also collected signatures on a petition calling to end the CCP’s egregious human rights violations.

Practitioners set up a booth at the In the Streets festival on September 13, 2025.

Demonstrating the Falun Dafa exercises at the festival on September 13, 2025

Visitors sign the petition calling to stop the CCP’s persecution.

Learning About Falun Dafa

Local residents Rosie and Fahud watched the exercise demonstration. Rosie said that she tried meditation before and was drawn by the Falun Dafa exercise demonstration. She said she liked the practice.

Fahud said he felt an inner connection with Falun Dafa. He said, “I feel connected. Something connected. The feeling. Coming over here, I don’t have any idea, but I feel like something [in me] connected to you.”

Elizabeth and her mother watched the exercise demonstration and took a flyer. Elizabeth said, “I think it looks really relaxing, really peaceful.” She said she wanted to try it.

Elizabeth (left) and her mother watch the exercise demonstration.

Julie is from Germantown nearby. She said watching the exercise demonstration made her feel peaceful, “I feel peace, quiet. It’s nice to see.”

Julie said she felt peaceful while watching practitioners do the exercises.

Jackie and Maynard watched the exercise demonstration from beginning to end. Jackie said she learned about Falun Dafa because she saw Shen Yun. Maynard said, “[Falun Dafa practitioners] very, very relaxed. I admire their ability to be in the zone, in such a distracted, loud area. So I think that definitely speaks to the value of the practice.”

Jackie (first on right) and Maynard sign the petition.

They signed the petition calling to stop the CCP’s persecution after learning about the issue. “I try to be a caring person,” said Maynard.