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Greetings!
As we move into a summer full of special events, don't forget to check out the full events calendar to stay up to date on everything going on at the Park each week. With social dances, open studios & galleries, children's theater, aquarium visits, classes & workshops, and carousel rides, there's always an activity for YOU!
It's a big week of dancing at the Park! Dance for PD® (Dance for Parkinson's Disease) continues, with free classes meeting each Wednesday. Saturday mornings instructor Janee Murray of DC Rawhides teaching fun, beginner-friendly line dancing at DanceFit: Line Dancing classes. And, of course, we have a wonderful line-up of social dances this week, including a Viennese Waltz Workshop with DanceSport Endurance and a special Ballroom Dance with a deal you can't beat—a $3 dance in honor of Ballroom Time's third anniversary. Plus, Capital Blues presents Red Hot Blues & BBQ, their annual Memorial weekend extravaganza with great food, local blues legends, and dancing!
Saturday morning, tune in to an online artist discussion with Tinam Valk, part of the bi-weekly Art Clinic Online series. Tinam’s work has been exhibited in solo exhibitions, selected group exhibitions and numerous juried shows on the East Coast. Her recent solo shows include Portico Gallery, German American Heritage Museum (with Jenny Kanzler and Sabine Carlson) and Athenaeum Gallery.
Stop by the Yellow Barn Gallery to view The Friends of the Yellow Barn Small Works Show XI, on view during Memorial Day Weekend. The gallery will be open Saturday-Monday, with a reception Saturday evening.
Join The Artless Bards, DC's longest-running Shakespearean Improv Comedy troupe, for a night of improv, sketch, and stand-up comedy in support of the Puppet Co. Playhouse. Saturday night at the Puppet Co., featuring The Artless Bards, Ashley Nimmo, Meridian Hill Comedy, Michael Schuirmann, Ingrid and Mollie, and more!
It's your last chance to catch Aesop’s Fables at Adventure Theatre MTC, a vibrant, theatrical adventure that brings timeless tales to life with wit, warmth, and whimsy! This retelling of five classic fables closes Sunday.
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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CALL FOR ARTWORK
Submission Deadline: Monday, June 15, 2026
The Glen Echo Park Partnership Galleries is pleased to announce a call for artwork for the juried exhibition Power of Place: Art and the Semi-Quincentennial, on view from July 3-August 2, 2026 in the Popcorn Gallery at Glen Echo Park.
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SPRING/SUMMER
CLASSES & CAMPS
Register Today!
Visit our website for information on registering. Learn more >>
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Sensory-Friendly Hours
at the Dentzel carousel
Weekly on Wednesdays | 10am - 11pm
Plus Select Weekend Dates | 11am - 1pm
No lights, recorded music at a lower volume, slower AND shorter rides, more time between rides, doors open 15 minutes early.
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PRIVATE RENTALS
at Glen Echo Park
Host your next corporate gathering, wedding, bar or bat mitzvah, birthday celebration, retirement party, or family reunion at Glen Echo Park!
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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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VIENNESE WALTZ WORKSHOP with DanceSport Endurance
May 23 | 2:30pm - 5:00pm | Spanish Ballroom
Learn the basics of social Viennese Waltz in this workshop with Todd and Migle of DanceSport Endurance which includes lessons and supervised and assisted dancing. Schedule: 2:30pm - 2:45pm Warm-up | 2:45pm - 4:15pm Lesson | 4:15pm - 5:00pm Social Viennese Waltz Dancing.
Learn More >> | Purchase Tickets >>
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Third Anniversary BALLROOM DANCE with Ballroom Time
May 25 | 2:45pm - 6:00pm | Spanish Ballroom
Ballroom Time celebrates its 3rd anniversary with a special $3 dance! A beginner lesson in East coast swing starts at 2:45pm. Music by DJ Broomtime (Ballroom Time volunteers) then plays from 3:30pm until 6:00pm. The music covers a variety of ballroom dance styles: Slow Waltz, Foxtrot, Tango, Quickstep, Viennese Waltz, Rumba, Bachata, Cha-Cha, Samba, Mambo, East Coast Swing, West Coast Swing, Hustle, Merengue, and more. During the afternoon there will be a mixer and optional line dancing whenever a Samba plays. Special Admission is $3 at the door for everyone!
Learn More >>
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THIS WEEK: AT-A-GLANCE
DANCE FOR PD® | FOLK DANCE* with Dancing Planet | BLUES DANCE* Red Hot Blues & BBQ! with Capital Blues | CONTRA DANCE & OCCASIONAL SQUARES* with Friday Night Dancers | DANCEFIT: LINE DANCING | VIENNESE WALTZ WORKSHOP with DanceSport Endurance | TANGO DANCE* with Tango Brillante | Third Anniversary BALLROOM DANCE* with Ballroom Time
*Includes beginner lesson & social dance
KEY:
bold = Partnership-presented social dance or class/workshop
italics = Dance class/workshop (no social dance)
View the full dance calendar >>
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Want to dance for FREE?
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 | Learn More >>
| | | | | | 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 | | |
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Visiting Artist Elaine S. Wilson: "Back to Basics: Deeper Seeing and Thinking" Workshop
May 30 - 31 | Saturday & Sunday @ 10:00am - 4:00pm | Stone Tower Studio
Careful seeing, creativity, and analytical thinking are all vital aspects of making art. This workshop will engage you in several key design projects that develop these skills, applicable to all media and forms of visual art. Like a good Pilates class, the most basic exercises can be done at a very deep level for new revelations. We will work with simple materials and share our discoveries with each other.
Visit jjbruns.com/class-notes/ to see the class syllabus and supply list or email Jordan at jjordanbruns@gmail.com with any questions. Minimum age 14. 2 sessions.
Learn More & Register >>
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Ballroom & Latin Sampler
Begins June 1 | Mondays @ 7:30pm - 8:30pm | Spanish Ballroom
Step into the joy of dance with this fun, beginner-friendly sampler class! You’ll explore a variety of popular Ballroom and Latin styles—such as Waltz, Rumba, Cha Cha, or Foxtrot—while learning easy-to-follow steps, rhythm basics, and simple partner skills. No experience needed and bringing a partner is not necessary. This light-hearted class is designed to help anyone feel comfortable on the dance floor, gain confidence, and discover which styles they enjoy most. Join us and try a little bit of everything! Drop ins welcome; $20.
More info: 301.448.0066. Minimum age 14. 4 sessions.
Learn More & Register >>
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Ride the Dentzel carousel
$2.00 per ride | $5.00 for an all-day pass
Join us for a ride on one of the greater Washington area’s true treasures! Tickets are available for purchase in person at the box office across from the carousel and online. It's a piece of art you can ride!
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Exhibit your work at the Park!
Glen Echo Park Partnership Galleries requests exhibition proposals from artists and curators for the Popcorn Gallery, Stone Tower Gallery, and Park View Gallery for the calendar year 2027. Exhibition proposals must be submitted by June 5, 2026 at 11:59pm EST.
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Ikebana in Origami - Parent and Child Workshop (Ages 8-10)
May 30 (one day) | Saturday @ 1:00pm - 3:00pm | Arcade Building Room 202
Through a hands-on fun workshop using plant and natural materials, young participants and their parents will learn basic skills and the concept of ikebana, oriental floral arrangements, including appreciation of nature, creativity and composition, use of color combinations as well as Ikebana’s cultural background. The containers will be customized using origami paper folding technique. Tuition is per person; All attendees are required to register separately. All materials will be provided, and each participant will take home their arrangement.
More info: motokofleurshimizu@gmail.com. 1 session.
Learn More & Register >>
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Wheel Teen Tuesday (Ages 13-18)
Begins June 2 | Tuesdays @ 4:00pm - 6:00pm | Large Pottery Yurt
A basic introduction to the potter’s wheel: wedging, centering, throwing and decorating techniques. Glazed and unglazed formats will be explored. Free expression is encouraged in both functional and nonfunctional ware. This class is for students attending Middle and High School and beginners are welcome. Teen classes do not include open studio hours. Tuition includes tools and supplies.
More info: margetgepottery@gmail.com. 7 sessions.
Learn More & Register >>
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2026 SUMMER CAMPS
Registration is open and ongoing!
Let your child spark their creativity and develop their artistic skills in a fun, non-competitive environment with classes in:
Aquatic Life & Nature | Arts & Media | Dance & Movement | Drawing, Painting & Crafts | Fused Glass | Music | Theater | & More!
| Check out this short video to see some Summer Camp fun! Watch the video >> | | | |
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. | | | | |
