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Greetings!
With Halloween just around the corner, we can't wait to fill you in on what's new at the Park this week! From spooky improv comedy to family-friendly fall activites, there's something for everyone.
Join us this Saturday for Fall Frolic, the Park's Halloween family fun celebration! Come dressed in a Halloween costume and go Trick-or-Treating at our resident art studios and galleries. Free family activities include Halloween crafts and games, a costume contest, and a costume parade. Plus, we'll have some Halloween music provided by our very own Washington Conservatory of Music (WCM)'s Suzuki Strings & Flutes and Washington Conservatory Orchestra.
We're looking for volunteers at Fall Frolic! Volunteers ages 13+ can earn SSL hours by helping out at any of our special events. These opportunities are posted to Montgomery County Volunteer Center. Email volunteer@glenechopark.org to sign up!
The Halloween fun continues with an improv show on Saturday evening! Presented by Resonance Improv Alliance, Tall Tales from the Creepy Cupboard features spine-tingling, side-splitting stories inspired by the audience's ghoulish suggestions.
On Saturday morning, start your weekend with a DanceFit: Shake Your Soul class, meeting in the Hall of Mirrors Dance Studio this month. No dance experience needed, just come ready to move & groove. Drop in to any or all of these Saturday morning exercise classes for some mindful movement.
It's a wonderful weekend to enjoy some visual arts programming, too. Saturday morning, check out an online Artist Discussion with Gail Shaw-Clemons, a printmaker, mixed media artist, and art activist. I COME FROM... a retrospective exhibit by Karen Keating, Executive Director Emerita of Photoworks, opens in Photoworks Gallery Saturday evening. I COME FROM... was recently featured in Washington City Paper's 2025 Fall Arts Guide. Plus, be sure to check out a Yellow Barn Studio weekend exhibition showcasing work by artists Fern Loos Beu and Jane Baxter, open Saturday and Sunday only.
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 >> | | | | |
| | Check out our new job postings for a Donor Relations Manager and a Part Time Registration and Front Desk Assistant. | | | |
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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 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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1930's Great Gatsby Style Concert Party with Concerts for Causes
October 23 | 7:15pm - 10:00pm | Spanish Ballroom
Concerts for Causes welcomes you to a 1930's Great Gatsby style concert party, a Big Ballroom event at the historic Glen Echo Park.
With performances by the amazing "I am your Daddy Band" (Tribute to Kid Creole and the Coconuts) and more (Think Cotton Club). 1930's theme style and dress. Concerts for Causes Inc. provides musical instruments to students in underserved communities.
Ticket includes a free swing dance lesson with Tom & Debra of Gottaswing! The band will play for a variety of dance styles including latin, salsa, meregue, cha-cha, and jitterbug.
Purchase Tickets >>
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Contra Dance* with Dancing Planet
October 26 | 2:30pm - 6:00pm | Bumper Car Pavilion
Join us for a Contra Dance in the Bumper Car Pavilion, presented by Dancing Planet! Live music by Midnight on the Water (Tom Krumm- fiddle, Nathan Bishop- viola & fiddle & hardingfele, and Dani Hawkins - cello) and calling by Michael Karcher. An introductory session starts at 2:30pm, then dance the afternoon away from 3:00pm - 6:00pm.
Learn More >>
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THIS WEEK: AT-A-GLANCE
International Folk Dance* with Dancing Planet | Blues Dance* with Capital Blues | Salsa, Meregue, Cha-cha, and Jitterbug Dance* "1930's Great Gatsby style concert party" with Concerts for Causes | Contra Dance and Occasional Squares* with Friday Night Dancers | Balboa DJ Dance* with Gottaswing | DanceFit: Shake Your Soul | Country Western Dance* with DC Rawhides | Swing Dance* with Gottaswing | Contra Dance* with Dancing Planet | Ballroom Dance* with Ballroom Time | Evening Waltz Dance* with Waltz 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 >>
| | | | | | 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 | | | |
Folk Waltz Intermediate/Advanced
Begins October 27 | Mondays @ 7:15pm - 8:30pm | Ballroom Back Room
If you are comfortable with the skills and moves taught in our beginner/intermediate waltz series, or have attended at least four of our regular Sunday waltzes (lessons and dancing), this series will help you to the next level. You will focus on more challenging moves, learn 2-way communication between follows and leads, explore how to achieve greater musicality, and build a repertoire to interpret different tempos and styles of music. Anyone can lead, anyone can follow. No partner required but encouraged to enable ample practice opportunity. Arrive 5-10 minutes early to warm up for class at 7:15pm. Drop ins welcome ($17 per session).
More info: WaltzTimeLessons@gmail.com. Min age 17. 4 sessions.
Learn More & Register >>
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Salsa FUNdamentals: Intro II
Begins October 28 | Tuesdays @ 6:30pm - 7:45pm | Ballroom Back Room
For those who have taken FUNdamentals Intro I or know how to execute a basic turn, both leading and following, and transitions, especially from side step and Cumbia step. This class moves on to crossbody leads, hair combs, and getting in and out of closed position, as well as shines. We foster safety, community, and fun in dance! Practice time included in class.
More info: Amber.Dawn.Logan@gmail.com. Min age 15. 8 sessions.
Learn More & Register >>
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Holiday Art Show & Sale
November 15, 2025 - January 4, 2026
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With so many unique gifts, the Holiday Art Show & Sale is a great place to shop for everyone on your holiday list!
RSVP for the Opening Reception >>
RSVPs preferred, not required. There is no check-in at this event.
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Fall Frolic
October 25, 2025 | 1pm - 4pm
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Join us for some Halloween fun at Glen Echo Park with fall arts and crafts, Trick-or-Treating at resident resident art studios and galleries, a costume contest, and more! RSVP >>
RSVPs preferred, not required. There is no check-in at this event.
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Middle School Mixed Media Masterpieces (Ages 11-14)
Begins November 4 | Tuesdays @ | 5:00pm - 6:30pm | Crystal Pool Studio
Discover the beauty of combining different materials and techniques in this exciting 4-session mixed media class! Students will explore how to layer paint, ink, paper, and other materials to create visually rich and textured artwork. From abstract compositions to figurative pieces, students will learn to experiment with texture, color, and form to create bold, multi-layered masterpieces that reflect their unique artistic voice. All materials included.
More info: emma.p.stevenson@gmail.com. 4 sessions.
Learn More & Register >>
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STEAMtastic Ozobot Madness Workshop (Ages 7-11)
November 8 (one day) | Saturday @ 10:00am - 12:30pm | Arcade Building Room 202
Create an awesome program to take Ozobot on a coding adventure! Combine color coding, debugging, programming and more.
More info: STEAMtasticadventures@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. | | | | |
