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Greetings!
Happy St. Patrick's Day! 🍀 It's your lucky week—from dances to exhibitions, there's an activity for everyone to enjoy at the Park. Plus, with Spring Break just around the corner, there's still time to register your kids for a Spring Break Camp that provides fun-filled artistic exploration!
Saturday morning, tune in to an online ACO Artist Discussion with Adjoa Jackson Burrowes, a mixed media artist working across printmaking, painting, and sculpture. Saturday is also the last day to visit New Everything, New by artist Winston W. Harris in the Park View Gallery. Closing Sunday is Vicky Perry's Secret Life of Flowers in the Stone Tower Gallery and Critical Ground: Art and Environmental Justice, a group show by members of the Washington Sculptors Group. Be sure to catch these exhibitions before they close!
Check out two performances this Saturday! Celebrate J.S. Bach’s 341st birthday with the Washington Conservatory of Music OFFSITE at the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer. The afternoon includes an informal recital, a festive sight-reading party, and of course, cake! Then, back at the Park join the Puppet Co. for a Puppet Slam: March Madness event for adult audiences (18+). Getcha head in the puppet game for an evening of "sports, puppets, and insanity!"
It's a great week for dancing! March Dance Madness continues with a spectacular lineup of social dances. We hope you'll come have a ball with us at the Park 🏀! This Sunday, we're offering a multi-dance discount at the door for the Cajun/Zydeco dance, Ballroom dance, and Contra dance. Show proof of purchase for one of these three dances and receive a discounted ticket price to attend another one!
This Wednesday's Dance for PD® class (Dance for Parkinson's Disease) will be taught by our very own Emily Crews, Dance and Events Program Director at the Park, who was recently trained as a Dance for PD® instructor. These classes are free for participants, care partners, and family members thanks to the generous support of pilot program donors. Sign up is encouraged, but walk-ins are also accepted.
Our second Salsa & Bachata y más! will take place this Friday! We'll start the evening off with beginner lessons in Salsa & Bachata taught by instructors Amber Logan and Kat Boroday followed by open dancing with DJ Sidekick. This series meets on the third Friday of the month in the Ballroom Back Room, open to all levels of experience. Expect friendly faces and effortless connection!
Join us for a Sunday afternoon Cajun/Zydeco dance to live music by Rose & The Bros, a powerhouse ensemble rooted in southern dance tradition. The band has a distinctive rhythmic presence which is based in the Louisiana sound, with additional Reggae and melodic drum tones. We'll start off the afternoon with a beginner-friendly dance lesson led by Sharon Schiliro and Michael Hart of Dancing by the Bayou (free with the price of admission!).
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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SPRING/SUMMER
CLASSES & CAMPS
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 Summer 2026 Dates
Bumper Car Pavilion at Glen Echo Park
| Planning a wedding, corporate gathering, or birthday celebration in Summer 2026? Many great dates are still available! Book a private rental in the Bumper Car Pavilion any available date between July 1, 2026 - August 31, 2026 and mention the code [Summer2026] to receive $250 off. View the Venue Availability Calendar >> | |
The Bumper Car Pavilion must be booked by
May 1, 2026 to receive the discount.
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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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CONTRA DANCE with Dancing Planet
March 22 | 2:30pm - 6:00pm | Ballroom Back Room
Enjoy a fabulous afternoon of contra dancing in the temperature-controlled Ballroom Back Room, presented by Dancing Planet. Melissa Chatham will call to the inspired music of Crow, Morrison, and Gordon: TJ Crow (mandolin, fiddle), Owen Morrison (guitar, feet), and Ralph Gordon (bass).
Learn More >>
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BALLROOM DANCE with Ballroom Time
March 22 | 2:45pm - 6:00pm | Spanish Ballroom
Ballroom Time presents a ballroom dance in the Spanish Ballroom on Sunday afternoon, March 22, 2026. Guest instructors Paul and Diane McRoberts will give a beginner lesson in Foxtrot at 2:45pm. Night & Day Band will then play music covering a variety of dance styles from 3:30pm until 6:00pm. The afternoon will feature a mixer and some Samba line dancing.
Learn More >> | Purchase Tickets >>
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THIS WEEK: AT-A-GLANCE
DANCE FOR PD® | FOLK DANCE* with Dancing Planet | BLUES DANCE* with Capital Blues | CONTRA DANCE & OCCASIONAL SQUARES* with Friday Night Dancers | SALSA & BACHATA Y MÁS! | DANCEFIT: SHAKE YOUR SOUL | CONTRA DANCE* with Dancing Planet | CAJUN/ZYDECO DANCE* with Rose & The Bros | BALLROOM DANCE* with Ballroom Time | TANGO DANCE* with Tango Brillante
*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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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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Intermediate/Advanced Irish Flute and Tin Whistle
Begins March 25 | Wednesdays @ 7:0pm - 8:00pm | Washington Conservatory of Music
Combined class for advanced beginning players. Some basic knowledge of the instrument, fingering, simple scales, and simple tunes is required. Explore the rich mostly aural tradition of Irish music and expand your repertoire. Irish tunes learned by ear: jigs, reels, hornpipes, polkas. Learn about fingering, ornamentation, breath control, intonation, basic repertoire and listening recommendations. Bring Irish flute or tin whistle in key of D and recording device.
More info: Tinaeck@yahoo.com. Minimum age 13. 10 sessions.
Learn More & Register >>
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Elective: The Magic of iPhone Photography 4/7
Begins April 7 | Tuesdays & Thursdays @ 7:00pm - 9:00pm | ONLINE
This class will teach you the amazing capabilities of the camera you always have with you – your iPhone. While you can take the most simple photos with this iPhone/Camera, this class will show and teach you the far more sophisticated features that can take your photos from ordinary to extraordinary!
More info: sue@suebloom.com. Minimum age 16. 4 sessions.
Learn More & Register >>
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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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Spring Break Camp (Ages 5-9) Treasure Island- Wednesday
April 1 (one day) | Wednesday @ 9:00am - 3:00pm | Glen Echo Park Aquarium
Seek clues and explore the world as we try to find buried treasure! We will set sail onboard the SS GEPA in search of gold as well as aquatic life. Journey with us to explore a variety of habitats as we play games, take hikes, and create crafts from the treasures we find outdoors. Let’s see where our outdoor treks take us! Supply list provided via email. Tuition includes a $15 non-refundable deposit.
More info: info@GEPAquarium.org or 301.955.6256. 1 session.
Learn More & Register >>
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Kids Salsa (Ages 6 – 12)
Begins March 30 | Saturdays @ 1:00pm - 2:00pm | Ballroom Back Room
Dancers/Students should wear tennis shoes and socks with gym clothes. This class focuses on the basic moves of salsa, basic step, right turn, and various solo movements called “shines.” Salsa is great exercise, while also very cultural, moves all of the body, and allows for social interaction. At the end the kids will learn a combo they can perform for parents.
More info: Amber.Dawn.Logan@gmail.com. 4 sessions.
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. | | | | |