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Greetings!
Our winter season of events is in full swing at Glen Echo Park! As you visit with family and friends this holiday season, stop by the Park to enjoy holiday classes and workshops, live performances, open studios & galleries, and twinkling holiday lights.
Thank you to all who joined us this past weekend at the opening reception of the Holiday Art Show & Sale. We had a wonderful evening celebrating and supporting local artists! You can still catch the show until January 4, open in the Partnership Galleries (visit our website to view extended gallery hours). Be sure to also visit the Yellow Barn Studio and Gallery to view an exhibition by Jill McCowan, open this weekend only.
This weekend, it's a Latin Dance celebration at the Park! Friday night brings another sizzling evening of Salsa to the Ballroom Back Room with our monthly Back Room Salsa Nights. Also on Friday, District Zouk brings workshops and a social dance to the Bumper Car Pavilion. Then we'll be right back in the Ballroom Back Room the next day for a Saturday afternoon Sarau de Samba with EducArte and a Saturday night Bachata y más. Don't miss the special Latin Dance Weekend ticket deal, which lets you attend both Salsa & Bachata at a $5 savings!
🎉 It's also a birthday bash weekend for many of our social dancers! Saturday night, Gottaswing presents Debra’s Boogie Woogie Birthday Bash Swing Dance with MITCH WOODS AND HIS ROCKET 88S and DARYL DAVIS. Sunday afternoon, you're invited to Michael Hart's Surprise Birthday Party Dance, with live music by THE ROCK-A-SONICS and The Canebrake Cajun Band. More details below in "FEATURED DANCES."
DanceFit: Shake Your Soul is a dynamic movement practice that energizes your body, relaxes your nervous system, and awakens your soul through a dance repertoire set to world music. No dance experience needed, just come ready to move & groove. Drop in to any or all of these Saturday morning exercise classes, meeting in the Hall of Mirrors Dance Studio.
Check out an online discussion with Elzbieta Sikorska, an artist whose practice spans from small pencil sketches to large-scale multimedia works. Every other Saturday, tune into Stone Tower Studio's Art Clinic Online (ACO) to be a part of dialog between local artists with a variety of perspectives, backgrounds, and art making styles.
Sunday afternoon, the Washington Conservatory of Music (WCM) presents two concerts! Songs of Romania: A Celebration of Romanian Classical Music will be offsite at St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church and “R & R” Thomas Hecht Piano Recital, featuring works by Ravel & Rachmaninoff, will be in the Ballroom Back Room.
Mark your calendars! Giving Tuesday is just two weeks away on December 2, 2025. Stay tuned for more information about ways to support Glen Echo Park during this season of giving!
Read on for more details about these events plus other happenings this week, including upcoming classes, exhibitions, and social dances. We can't wait to see you at the Park soon, and as always, we appreciate your support!
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FALL/WINTER
CLASSES
Register Today!
| Visit our website for information on registering. Learn more >> | | | | |
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PRIVATE RENTALS
Now Booking 2026 & 2027
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Special Discount for Select 2026 Dates!
Bumper Car Pavilion at Glen Echo Park
| Planning a wedding, corporate gathering, or birthday celebration in the Spring? Many great dates are still available! Book a private rental in the Bumper Car Pavilion any date in March or April 2026 or on a Friday or Sunday in May 2026 and mention the code [Spring2026] to receive a 10% discount. View the Venue Availability Calendar >> | The Bumper Car Pavilion must be booked by December 31, 2025 to receive the discount. | | | | | | |
Our fun and affordable social dances are open to the public with no prior experience or partner required. When we say we offer something for everyone, we're not kidding! Styles range from folk, blues, and contra to waltz, swing, tango and ballroom ... and more!
New dancers are always welcome, and a pre-dance, introductory lesson is included with admission. Most dances feature live music by renowned local and national bands.
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Zouk Dance with District Zouk
November 21 | 8:00pm - 11:30pm | Bumper Car Pavilion
Join us for a Brazilian Zouk Social at Glen Echo in the Spanish Ballroom Back Room. This Brazilian dance has been growing in popularity in the US and around the world. We'll start with a lambada practica from 8:00pm - 8:30pm so those who enjoy dancing lambada can get in some practice. Then we have an open level class from 8:30pm - 9:30pm followed by social dancing with local DJs. Come learn and dance with us!
Learn More >> | Purchase Tickets >>
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🎉 Debra’s Boogie Woogie Birthday Bash Swing Dance
November 22 | 8:00pm - 11:00pm | Spanish Ballroom
Join Gottaswing for a fun and friendly swing dance. It’s Debra’s Boogie Woogie Birthday Bash Swing Dance with MITCH WOODS AND HIS ROCKET 88S and DARYL DAVIS. There will be birthday cookies! All ages welcome, and you never need a partner. Beginner swing dance lesson with Tom & Debra included with admission.
Learn More & Purchase Tickets >>
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🎉 Michael Hart's Surprise Birthday Party Dance
November 23 | 2:30pm - 7:00pm | Bumper Car Pavilion
Join Dancing by the Bayou's Michael Hart for a birthday dance! Two great bands, no lesson. THE ROCK-A-SONICS, whose authentic stylings in Rockabilly, vintage Country, and atomic age Rock & Roll music have made them a favorite band in the DC/Baltimore area. The Canebrake Cajun Band is back in DC, serving up a spicy mix of dancehall music of Southwest Louisiana. Tickets at the door, admission will be on a sliding scale: $5 - $25.
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Latin Dance Weekend Ticket
This special ticket lets you attend both Salsa (11/21) and Bachata (11/22) at a $5 savings!
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THIS WEEK: AT-A-GLANCE
International Folk Dance* with Dancing Planet | Blues Dance* with Capital Blues | Back Room Salsa Night Dance* | Contra Dance and Occasional Squares* with Friday Night Dancers | Zouk Dance*
with District Zouk | DanceFit: Shake Your Soul
| Sarau de Samba* with EducArte | Bachata y más (Bachata & more) Dance* | Swing Dance* with Gottaswing | Michael Hart's Surprise Birthday Party Dance | Ballroom Dance* with Ballroom Time | Tango/Milonga Dance* with Tango Brillante
*Includes beginner lesson & social dance
Partnership-presented social dance or class
Dance class (no social dance)
View the full dance calendar >>
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Volunteer for Partnership Dances
We need volunteers at many of our dances! Volunteer for one hour, to either help set up or break down for a dance or event, and gain free admission to the dance or event! To volunteer, please send an email to volunteer@glenechopark.org.
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LOST AND FOUND ITEMS
Items left in any dance venues will be donated to thrift stores by Monday, December 15, 2025. If you think you have left something, ask the dance presenter to get an event supervisor to assist you. Or you may come by the Partnership office on the 2nd floor of the arcade building to ask about your item Monday-Saturday between 10am and 6pm.
| | | | | | Glen Echo Park is your go-to place for classes & camps in visual arts, dance, music, and more! We offer a wide array of classes and workshops for children, teens, and adults, as well as camps for children & teens. We also present nature & aquatic life programs for kids. | | FEATURED ADULT & TEEN CLASSES | | | |
Elective: Close to Home
Begins December 1 | Mondays @ 10:00am - 12:00pm | Photoworks Studio
Students will explore “home” both literally and figuratively through weekly assignments and critiques. A focused exploration of a student’s environment requires careful “seeing” and fosters creativity. The final class includes a showcase of images and a shared artist statement.
More info: karenkeating5002@gmail.com. Min age 18. 4 sessions.
Learn More & Register >>
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Yoga For All Levels
Begins December 7 | Sundays @ 6:00pm - 7:15pm | Hall of Mirrors Dance Studio
This open level yoga class incorporates breath and movement to create a deeply transformative practice. Beginners build strong awareness and understanding of the fundamentals of yoga poses while more seasoned yogis take their practice to new depths. In a nurturing and safe environment, everyone gains strength, balance, flexibility and relaxation. Bring a yoga mat and props. Drop-ins welcome: $25.
More info: yogawithdena@gmail.com. Minimum age 14. 10 sessions.
Learn More & Register >>
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Holiday Art Show & Sale
November 15, 2025 - January 4, 2026
| With so many unique gifts, the Holiday Art Show & Sale is the perfect place to shop for everyone on your holiday list! The show features one-of-a kind artworks by local artists in a variety of mediums, including Glass, Ceramics, Photography, Painting, Jewelry, Holiday Ornaments, and more! | | | | |
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Winter's Eve
December 6, 2025 | 3pm - 6pm
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Gather with family at the Park for a winter celebration with kids' holiday crafts, music, open studios & galleries, and more!
RSVP for Winter's Eve >>
RSVPs preferred, not required. There is no check-in at this event.
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Deco Arts Toddler Class (Ages 18 months - 3 years)
Begins December 2 | Tuesdays @ 9:45am - 11:00am | Crystal Pool Studio
Introduce your toddler to the world of art in this fun and interactive morning class! Each week, young artists will engage in sensory play, group art activities, and simple projects that spark creativity and curiosity. Caregivers are encouraged to stay and create alongside their little ones, fostering bonding and learning through play. This class is designed to develop early motor skills and an appreciation for the creative process. Tuition covers one parent/guardian and child pair.
More info: emma.p.stevenson@gmail.com. 3 sessions.
Learn More & Register >>
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Nature-Inspired Art & Artists Workshop – Rocks (Ages 5 – 8)
December 7 (one day) | Sunday @ 2:00pm - 3:30pm | Crystal Pool Studio
Discover the world of nature inspired art and artists with your child. Learn about color and texture through rocks and minerals. We will read Byrd Baylor’s “Everybody needs a Rock”. We will choose our very own perfect rock. Then we will paint treasure boxes to hold our rocks.
More info: sarah.m.rizk@gmail.com. 1 session.
Learn More & Register >>
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Praline Cafe
Monday - Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday - Friday: 10:00am - 4:00pm
Saturday & Sunday: 10:00am - midnight
*open for dances and special events beyond these hours*
Stop by Praline, located in the Spanish Ballroom wing closest to the playground, for sandwiches, pastries, snacks, and drinks! More Information >>
| | | The Glen Echo Park Partnership for Arts and Culture is supported in part by the Maryland State Arts Council (msac.org) and also by funding from the Montgomery County government and the Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County (creativemoco.com). All programs are produced in cooperation with the National Park Service and Montgomery County, Maryland. | | | | |
