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Hi Jenni,
Thank you to everyone who joined us for Pride Family Day this past Sunday. We had a wonderful time celebrating with you! This week we're gearing up for a brand new event at the Park, Global Rhythms: Music, Dance & Storytelling from Around the World, on Sunday June 8, 2025, from 12pm - 4pm. This new, FREE festival features performances by artists sharing traditions from a variety of cultures. The event will highlight the cultural regions of Latin America, Africa, and Asia, celebrating the rich music, dance, and storytelling from these regions, in both traditional and contemporary forms.
Our headlining performance at Global Rhythms is The Elena Trio! You may have been wowed by Elena La Fulana at the 2019 Washington Folk Festival, and we are excited to bring her band back to the Park! The Elena Trio is a Wammy-nominated bilingual Latin-folk project out of Washington, DC. Led by Latin Grammy-nominated,Nicaraguan-American instrumentalist Elena La Fulana, the band spans a broad range of sounds from twangy, heartbreak-themed folk Americana, to soothing, introspective, Latin cumbia. You can check out the full lineup of Global Rhythms performances on our website. Leading up to Global Rhythms, we've got a full week of events at the Park! First up is tomorrow's Bumper Car Squares.
🏳️🌈 Get your dance weekend started early with a special Pride Month Bumper Car Squares dance this Thursday!, The You Holler Stringband (comprised of four Old Time musicians who are all "proud members of the LGBTQIA+ community") with calling by Janine Smith. Bumper Car Squares will take a break in July & August, so get your square dancing in now! June - August, the Bumper Car Pavilion will host FREE Summer Concerts every Thursday night, so you can come dance to a new band each week. Plus, you can check out our Pride Month page for more dance & music celebrating Pride!
Friday's Art Walk in the Park is an evening for the art lovers! Join us for a series of opening receptions in the Partnership Galleries, open studios & galleries, and artist demonstrations. Come visit with our vibrant artist community at the Park!
Friday evening, Washington Conservatory of Music presents their 40th Anniversary Celebration Concert, commemorating four decades of musical excellence! This milestone event (OFFSITE at the Katzen Arts Center) brings together faculty, staff, students, and distinguished guests for an unforgettable evening of performances and celebration.
Join us for an original show by the Puppet Co. creative team! Opening Saturday, dive into a whirlwind of imagination with Twisted Tales—a magical, mischievous play where sibling rivalry meets fairy tale mayhem! From grumpy goats to plucky pigs, nothing goes according to the storybooks in this laugh-out-loud adventure full of heart, humor, and handmade chaos!
Saturday evening, Photoworks presents a special fundraiser event—Double Exposure: An Evening with Two Johns. You won't want to miss this event, featuring memorable presentations from two well-known Washington Post veterans: John Kelly and John McDonnell. See more details below under "featured."
Saturday & Sunday only, be sure to stop by figure painter Penny Doolittle's Yellow Barn Studio weekend exhibition to browse masterful paintings by a local artist.
Read on for more of this week's happenings, 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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DEADLINE: TOMORROW, JUNE 5 | 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 2026. Exhibition proposals must be submitted by June 5, 2025 at 11:59pm EST. | | | | |
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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
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! | | | | | | |
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.
| | We were thrilled to have our social dance program featured in a wonderful piece about dancing in the DMV by WAMU's Matt Blitz, and we heartily agree that "[Glen Echo Park is] a haven for the performing arts." (and visual arts, too!) Listen to it here >> | | |
Bumper Car Squares *Celebrating Pride Month!*
June 5 | 7:00pm - 10:30pm | Bumper Car Pavilion
See "featured" section above for more details.
Learn More >>
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DCLXtra Live Music Dance*with DCLX
June 7 | 8:00pm - midnight | Spanish Ballroom
DCLX is pleased to bring you a DCLXtra in the Spanish Ballroom. Jon Tigert and the Corner Pocket Jazz Band are recording an album at this dance! You don’t want to miss this exciting night of music and dancing. 8:00 pm – 9:00 pm: Beginner drop-in Lindy Hop lesson (no partner needed—lesson included in the price of admission). 9:00 pm – 11:59 pm: swing dancing to excellent live music (recording live!)
Learn More & Purchase Tickets >>
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Second Sunday Barn Dance* with Folklore Society of Greater Washington
June 8 | 1:00pm - 3:00pm | Arcade Building 2nd Floor
Join us at the Barn Dance in the Arcade Building! This free fun-spirited event is suitable for all ages and ability levels. It features live music and a caller who teaches all the dances and keeps everyone moving to the music. Expect a variety of circles, squares, longways sets, contras, waltzes, and ceilidhs. Caling by Jacob Barker, music by Katie Stahl and William Brauneis. Admission is FREE! No need to register, just show up at the door.
Learn More >>
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Also Check Out this Week ...
International Folk Dance* with Dancing Planet | Blues Dance*with Capital Blues | Contra Dance and Occasional Squares* with Friday Night Dancers | Viennese Waltz Workshop with Dance Sport Endurance | Tango/Milonga Dance*with Tango Brillante
*Includes beginner lesson & 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 | | | |
Stone Carving Thursdays 6/12 - 6/26
Begins June 12 | Thursdays @ 10:30am - 12:30pm | Stone Carving Yurt
This relaxed introduction to the basic tools and techniques of three-dimensional stone carving, from roughing out to finishing the stone, is designed for beginners. The instructor works individually with each student, teaching the direct-carving method. Cost of carving stone is payable to the instructor.
More info: nizetteb@gmail.com. Minimum age 18. 3 sessions.
Learn More & Register >>
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Forty+ Project (Ages 40+)
Begins June 18 | Wednesdays @ 12:30pm - 1:45pm | Hall of Mirrors Dance Studio
Participate in a friendly collaborative atmosphere and gain benefits of movement, exercise and social connection with Forty+ Project, a program of Jane Franklin Dance. A rehearsal & performance project for movers ages 40 and over, Forty+ Project is open to people of all physical facilities. No previous performance experience is necessary, just a willingness to explore. Bare feet or socks recommended, and clothes you can move in. The series concludes with an informal Saturday showing of this new piece by a choreographer (from Jane Franklin Dance artistic team) in the Hall of Mirrors. Drop ins welcome for the first 2 sessions only; $25 per session.
More info: janefranklindance@gmail.com. 4 sessions.
Learn More & Register >>
| | | FEATURED CHILDREN'S CLASSES & CAMPS | | | | | |
Tiny Tots
Ongoing | the Puppet Co.
Designed for children 18 months to 4 years old, ongoing Tiny Tots shows offer a viewing atmosphere especially suited for young theatre patrons. All Tiny Tots shows feature: 30 minute runtime, no dark room, no loud noises, and open theater doors.
Purchase Tickets >>
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Twisted Tales: The Three Goldilocks Gruff
June 7 - June 29 | the Puppet Co.
This summer, dive into a whirlwind of imagination with Twisted Tales—a magical, mischievous play where sibling rivalry meets fairy tale mayhem! When siblings Bailey and Frank spend the summer at the theater with their eccentric Aunt Ingrid, they must learn to work together to bring their hilariously twisted versions of classic tales to life. From grumpy goats to plucky pigs, nothing goes according to the storybooks in this laugh-out-loud adventure full of heart, humor, and handmade chaos brought to you by the creative team at the Puppet Co.!
Purchase Tickets >>
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The Lightning Thief
June 27 – August 17 | Adventure Theatre MTC
This dynamic musical adaptation of Rick Riordan’s bestselling book opened on Broadway in 2019. When teenager Percy Jackson discovers he’s a demigod, he and his friends embark on an epic journey to find Zeus’ missing lightning bolt and prevent a war among the gods.
Purchase Tickets >>
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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!
| | | | FEATURED CHILDREN'S CLASSES & CAMPS | | | |
Digital Photography & Photoshop Camp (Ages 11-13) 6/23-6/27
Begins June 23 | Mon Tue Wed Th Fri @ 1:00pm - 3:30pm | Photoworks Studio
Get ready for a fun and impactful educational experience from behind the camera to in front of the computer! Using an iPhone, point and shoot, or DSLR students will learn how to create stunning digital photography and enhance imagery in Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop. Students will first learn the fundamentals of the medium, such as composition, exposure, light & shadow, and depth of field, then transition to developing their software and editing skills. By the end of the course students will have tangible printed evidence of their newly honed talent. Bring your camera, other materials included.
More info: soradevore@gmail.com. 5 sessions.
Learn More & Register >>
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Glen Echo Park Young Artists Camp (Ages 12–14) 6/23-6/27
Begins June 23 | Mon Tue Wed Th Fri @ 9:00am - 3:00pm | Arcade Building Room 202
Sample a variety of art forms in one exciting week. Campers will explore creatively working with different art materials and techniques on multiple projects. We will spend half a day in the Glassworks Studio and the rest of the week you will work with an instructor on several art projects. The week culminates in a student-led art exhibit for friends and family. Tuition includes a $50 non-refundable deposit.
More info: info@glenechopark.org. 5 sessions.
Learn More & Register >>
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2025 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!
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Praline Cafe
Monday - Friday: Closed
Saturday & Sunday: 11am - 7pm
*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. | | | | |
