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Greetings!
Saturday evening, we celebrate the Park at our annual Gala! Glen Echo Park in Bloom is a fundraiser event in support of all that we do—classes & camps, festivals, dances, summer concerts, exhibitions, and so much more. The Gala silent auction is LIVE, so you can start bidding now on exclusive auction items, from coveted treasures to unforgettable experiences! Although we'd love to see you at the party, you can bid on auction items online even if you aren't attending the Gala.
Plus, you can still grab tickets for the Gala Swing Dance Afterparty benefiting the Park you love. Featuring live music by The Rock-A-Sonics, a beginner swing dance lesson with Tom & Debra of Gottaswing, dessert, and champagne, we're ready for a festive night on the dance floor! And even if you're not a regular dancer, come raise a glass, enjoy something sweet, and celebrate the Park with us! Dessert. Champagne. A great cause. Need we say more? 🥂
During the week, check out a sampling of incredible arts & culture programs at the Park.
Weekly on Wednesday mornings (plus select weekend dates) the first hour of carousel rides will be sensory-friendly. Learn more about Sensory-Friendly Hours and view select weekend dates (corresponding with sensory-friendly Children's Theater performances) on the Dentzel carousel page.
Of course, the entire week—and every week—a plethora of visual and performing arts classes are underway throughout the Park! Browse our Spring/Summer Classes & Events digital catalog and find the perfect creative outlet.
And we've got a full week of dancing at the Park! Dance for PD® (Dance for Parkinson's Disease) continues, with free classes meeting each Wednesday. Saturday mornings nstructor 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 Waltz Dance with Waltz Time and a Sarau de Samba with EducArte. Plus, Friday night Salsa & Bachata y más! with host Amber Logan and music by DJ Sidekick!
Saturday and Sunday, stop by the Yellow Barn Gallery to view a weekend exhibition by John Stiner and Robin Breckenridge, open this weekend only!
Enjoy a concert by the Washington Conservatory of Music's top students Sunday evening at the annual Honors Recital, OFFSITE at Espiscopal Church of the Redeemer. Representing a range of instruments and disciplines, these young artists were selected through a juried process and exemplify the highest standard of excellence within the Conservatory community.
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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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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WALTZ DANCE with Waltz Time
May 17 | 2:45pm - 6:00pm | Spanish Ballroom
Join Waltz Time for an afternoon of waltzing and more to live music! At 2:45 pm, we offer a beginner lesson in social waltz (included with admission) which provides the basics and confidence to join right in dancing. At 3:30 pm, KAREN AXELROD AND AUDREY JABER with Karen Axelrod (piano) and Audrey Knuth Jaber (fiddle) provide live music consisting of mostly waltzes interspersed with polka, schottishe, tango, swing and other favorite styles. No partner needed, all are welcome. The lesson is suitable for ages 12 and up.
Learn More >> | Purchase Tickets >>
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SARAU DE SAMBA with EducArte
May 17 | 2:00pm - 5:00pm | Ballroom Back Room
Co-presented by the Glen Echo Park Partnership and EducArte, Sarau de Samba is an authentic samba de mesa or samba de roda (jam session). The event features a dynamic ensemble of musicians and dancers, showcasing everything from Golden Age samba classics and choro to modern pagode and high-energy carnival beats. We kick off with a beginner-friendly dance lesson, so everyone can join the fun—no partner nor experience required.
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: LINE DANCING | GALA SWING DANCE* AFTERPARTY | SARAU DE SAMBA* with EducArte | WALTZ DANCE* with Waltz 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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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 >>
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Gala Swing Dance Afterparty
Saturday, May 16
Enjoy a fundraiser swing dance with live music by The Rock-A-Sonics, a beginner lesson with Gottaswing, dessert, and champagne! 🥂 Single Ticket: $60, Tickets for Two: $100. Let's swing the night away for a great cause—supporting the Park you love!
| | | | | | | 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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Sunset Painting on the Potomac Workshop
May 23 & 24 | Saturday & Sunday @ 5:00pm - 8:00pm | OFFSITE
Learn to paint incredible sunsets. We will paint two days on the Potomac River at the Lander Boat Ramp in Frederick County. Lectures and demos on landscape color and composition are included. All levels.
More info: walt@yellowbarnstudio.net; 301.964.1897. Minimum age 14. 2 sessions.
Learn More & Register >>
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Plein Air: Painting Brunswick's Historic Canal Town Workshop
May 29 - 31 | Fri Sat Sun @ 10:00am - 6:00pm | OFFSITE
Learn and improve your plein air painting in historic Brunswick, MD, a quaint canal town nestled along the Potomac River. The Lockhouse Art Gallery serves as our central meeting point. Students are encouraged to stay overnight—discounted lodging is available—to enjoy the lively local scene and allow for ease of travel with more painting time. Some prior painting experience is recommended.
Contact kim@lockhousegallery.com for more information and supply list. Minimum age 18. 3 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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Painting and Drawing Together - Parent & Child Class (Ages 5-12)
May 30 (one day) | Saturday @ 1:00pm - 3:00pm | Arcade Building Room 201
Join Miss Emma for a fun and engaging painting workshop! This workshop is perfect for kids who love to paint or want to learn more about the art of painting. Students will explore a variety of painting techniques, including watercolor, and mixed media.
More info: emma.p.stevenson@gmail.com; 301.922.7970. 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. | | | | |
