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Greetings!
With spring starting to bloom, it's another full week at Glen Echo Park! And with so many great events & activities to talk about, there's a lot happening at the Park that we simply can't fit in these newsletters! So if you're planning a visit, don't forget to check out the full events calendar to stay up to date on everything going on at the Park.
Looking for kid-friendly activities? You can grab tickets to a children's theater show or book an aquarium visit throughout the week. Or check out creative classes and workshops for students of all ages—there's always something new to learn at the Park!
Dance for PD® (Dance for Parkinson's Disease) continues, with free classes meeting each Wednesday at the Park. Sign up is encouraged, but walk-ins are also accepted. If you've been attending Dance for PD® classes, we invite you to share a few words about your experience to help with promotion and fundraising for the program.
Experience the JOY of dance with a Saturday morning DanceFit: Shake Your Soul class. We welcome all movers and music lovers. Drop-in at the door, pre-register in advance to grab the early bird discount, or try the 10-class package for a special deal on any DanceFit class in 2026! And, of course, we have a wonderful line-up of social dances this week, including a Ballroom Dance with Ballroom Time, a Viennese Waltz Workshop with DanceSport Endurance, and a FREE anniversary Contra Dance with Friday Night Dancers!
In addition to a great week of dancing, we've got some exciting visual arts programming coming up! Saturday morning, tune in to an ACO Artist Discussion with Susan Stacks, a local artist whose work explores concepts like value, labor, illness, community, and safety. It's also the final weekend to catch 2026 Expressions in Glass, the fused glass exhibition on view at the Art Glass Center. Visit open studios & galleries each weekend to see the work of local and regional artists.
Enjoy a concert with WCM's Accord Symphony Orchestra, featuring winners of the Accord Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition. This OFFSITE spring concert includes Carmen Fantasie, “Spring” from Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons, and Mozart’s Symphony No. 29.
Watch Ain't No Back to a Merry-Go-Round to learn about the Civil Rights history of the Park. In honor of Easter and Passover, the film is available for streaming until April 13. Ticket holders will also have access to an April 12 Zoom panel discussion and Q&A with filmmaker Ilana Trachman, Desmond K. Blackburn (President/CEO of Facing History & Ourselves), and Rabbi Joshua Stanton (Jewish Federations of North America).
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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Support the Gala by donating to or securing a donation for the Silent Auction!
Support the Gala in the Park—our most important annual fundraiser for this beloved local cultural resource—by donating to our silent auction. The auction features a range of items, from unique experiences to distinctive goods and services. If you have something to donate—or could secure a donation from a friend, colleague, or local business—please contact Susan Gerstenzang, Donor Relations Manager, sgerstenzang@glenechopark.org
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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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Carousel Day Brunch
Saturday, May 2
Join us as we kick off the summer carousel season with a morning of brunch and mahjong. Tickets are $125.
Purchase Tickets >>
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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
April 11 | 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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BALLROOM DANCE with Ballroom Time
April 12 | 2:45pm - 6:00pm | Spanish Ballroom
Ballroom Time presents a ballroom dance in the Spanish Ballroom on Sunday afternoon. A beginner lesson in Ballroom Waltz will take place at 2:45pm, followed by dancing to music by the Night & Day Band from 3:30pm - 6pm. During the afternoon, there will be 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 | BALBOA DANCE* with Gottaswing | DANCEFIT: SHAKE YOUR SOUL | VIENNESE WALTZ WORKSHOP with DanceSport Endurance | SWING DANCE* with Gottaswing | BARN DANCE* with Folklore Society of Greater Washington | 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)
underline= Free
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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Embodied Aging
Begins April 18 | Saturdays @ 10:00am - 11:00am | Spanish Ballroom
This class is for any aging body - yes, yours! We’ll explore new movement possibilities, accessing joy and pleasure through dance. Together, we’ll cultivate spatial awareness, ease in coordination and choreography with emphasis on balance, stability, flexibility, and flow. And, most importantly, we’ll build new community connections through movement.
More info: uprooteddance.com. 4 sessions.
Learn More & Register >>
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Painting Local Gardens
Begins April 20 | Mondays @ 12:30pm - 3:00pm | OFFSITE
Enjoy the beauty of local gardens in the landscape. Arrange your palette to create color harmony in your composition. We will paint at various locations in and beyond the Montgomery County area. All skill levels welcome.
More info/supply list: HollyBuehlerArt@gmail.com. Minimum age 14. 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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Wheel Teen Thursday (Ages 13-18)
Begins April 16 | Thursdays @ 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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Parent & Child Mathematical Art Workshop (Ages 5-10)
April 18 (one day) | Saturday @ 1:00pm - 3:00pm | Arcade Building Room 201
Deepen your appreciation for the intersection of art and math! Create captivating geometric paintings on canvas and delve into concepts like symmetry and patterns. Utilize tools such as protractors, compasses, and rulers, exploring mathematical fundamentals like measurement, counting, and geometrical shapes—all while fostering creativity! Tuition covers one parent/guardian and child pair.
More info: emma.p.stevenson@gmail.com. 1 session.
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. | | | | |
