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Hi Jenni,
This week you can visit a gallery, attend a children's theater show, & more! With such a fun-filled week of featured events, it's hard to believe there could be even more happening at the Park—but there is! You can view our full events calendar to stay up to date on everything going on a the Park, including weekly social dances and open studio & gallery hours.
We hope you'll be our guest for a series of Opening Receptions as we welcome three new art exhibitions to the Park. In the Popcorn Gallery, browse exceptional painting and drawing work with the 2025 Yellow Barn Studio Instructors Exhibition, featuring instructors from the Park’s acclaimed painting and drawing residency. The Stone Tower Gallery presents Pieced/Pierced, a solo mixed-media exhibition by artist Rowena Federico Finn that merges quilting techniques with indigenous Philippine materials. In the Park View Gallery, visit Transcending Time: Exploring the Beauty of Landscapes and Landmarks, a two-person exhibition by artists Lesley Clarke and Hernan Murno, highlighting the beauty of both celebrated and forgotten landmarks. This weekend is also your last chance to catch Becoming Ourselves in the Photoworks Gallery.
Weren't able to make it to our Virtual Artist Talk last month with Marilyn Gates-Davis? Great news! Now you can watch the full recording of the talk, linked on our Partnership Galleries page.
This weekend, enjoy incredible performances presented by the Puppet Co. Washington Conservatory of Music, and the National Park Service.
Washington Conservatory of Music presents an OFFSITE recital and masterclass with renowned concert violinist Hal Grossman. Acclaimed for his expressive artistry, technical brilliance, and innovative approach to musicians’ wellness, Grossman leads a unique, two-day experience you won't want to miss! Whether you’re a musician or a music enthusiast, this event offers inspiration, performance, and practical knowledge.
Enter a world of familiar stories with The Magic of Hans Christian Andersen, presented by Applause Unlimited. Sometimes downright silly, sometimes serious and heartwarming— but always fun—the show features storytelling and song as well as over twenty hand puppets, rod puppets, and marionettes in three of Andersen’s best-loved tales.
Join the National Park Service at Clara Barton National Historic Site for a FREE, one-woman performance about the life of Clara Barton. This Saturday, starting at 1:00pm, award-winning actress Mary Ann Jung offers an exciting and personal window into the historic icon. An open house event will follow the performance, with NPS rangers and volunteers stationed throughout the first floor of the historic home, telling the fascinating story of Clara Barton’s life and times.
Saturday night starting at 8:00pm, put on your dancing shoes and help celebrate the 🎉 30th anniversary of Gottaswing. Join Gottaswing for a swing dance with the JIVE ACES—all the way from London!
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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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 >> | | |
🎉 30th Anniversary Swing Dance with Gottaswing
March 29 | 8:00pm - 11:30pm | Spanish Ballroom
Join Gottaswing for a fun and friendly swing dance with London’s JIVE ACES! Celebrating 30+ years, Gottaswing hosts one of our favorite bands for a special reunion dance. Don’t miss it! All ages welcome, and you never need a partner. Beginner swing dance lesson with Tom & Debra included with admission.
Learn More & Purchase Tickets >>
Check out Gottaswing's website for a variety of special workshops on Saturday and Sunday.
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#Dance Weekend with FSGW
March 29 | 10:00am - midnight | Bumper Car Pavilion & Ballroom Back Room
March 30 | 10:00am - 6:00pm | Bumper Car Pavilion & Ballroom Back Room
An ultra-challenging urban dance weekend featuring mind bending figures, non-gendered calling, and phenomenal music. Two days of workshops, dancing, community, fun and food in the fabulous open air, covered Bumper Car Pavilion and throughout Glen Echo Park.
Callers: Lisa Greenleaf and River Rainbowface. Live Dance: Free Raisins (Audrey Jaber, Amy Engelsberg, Jeff Kaufman) and Bowrider (Kelsey Wells, Alex Sturbaum, Brian Lindsay).
Learn More & Purchase Tickets >>
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Also Check Out this Week ...
International Folk Dance* with Dancing Planet | Blues Dance* with Capital Blues | Contra Dance & Occasional Squares* with Friday Night Dancers | Walt Dance* with Waltz Time | NO Tango this week
*Includes beginner lesson & social dance
Partnership Dance Class Series
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!
UPCOMING DATES: March 21 Back Room Salsa Night, April 3 Bumper Car Squares
To volunteer, please send an email to volunteer@glenechopark.org.
| | | | 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 | | | |
Foundation Class: Learn About Your Digital Camera
Begins April 5 | Saturdays @ 10:00am - 2:00pm | Photoworks Studio
You will learn the fundamentals of photography, especially digital, covering camera functions like exposure, shutter speed, aperture, and ISO (light sensitivity). Students will learn composition techniques, how to adjust camera settings, and will have the opportunity to practice and get feedback using an on-line system. The second session will focus on questions and review of images leading to the ability to take creative, well-composed photos with their digital cameras.
More info: joe@joebuchererphotography.com. Minimum age 18. 2 sessions.
Learn More & Register >>
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Foundation Class: Digital Printing Fundamentals
Begins April 8 | Tuesdays @ 7:00pm - 10:00pm | Photoworks Studio
Printing a photograph gives your image permanence. This course will create a workflow from image to print to better match what you see on your screen and allow you to explore different paper options to help tell your images story.
More info: christopher.gumm.photography@gmail.com. Minimum age 18. 3 sessions.
Learn More & Register >>
| | | FEATURED CHILDREN'S CLASSES | | |
Exhibit your work at Glen Echo 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 2026. Exhibition proposals must be submitted by June 5, 2025 at 11:59pm EST. | | | | | | | |
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 theatre doors. In March Tiny Tots will feature Penny's Puppets in Farmer Frager and the Bunny and Jennie the Lucky Cat.
Purchase Tickets >>
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Applause Unlimited presents: The Magic of Hans Christian Andersen
March 29 - April 27 | the Puppet Co.
Applause Unlimited celebrates one of the 20th century’s greatest storytellers with their award-winning show, The Magic of Hans Christian Andersen. Filled with humor and messages suitable for all ages, this show presents stories that grandparents will recognize, parents will love to share, and every child will long remember.
Purchase Tickets >>
| | | FEATURED CHILDREN'S CLASSES | | | |
Middle School Hand Building (Ages 11-15)
Begins April 8 | Tuesdays @ 5:00pm - 6:30pm | Arcade Building Room 201
Middle School Hand Building is a pottery class for students ages 10-15, where they’ll learn the fundamentals of hand-built ceramic techniques. Through creative projects, students will shape, fire, and glaze their own beautiful ceramic pieces, developing both artistic skills and an understanding of the pottery process.
More info: emma.p.stevenson@gmail.com. 4 sessions.
Learn More & Register >>
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Elementary Bookmaking and Sketchbook Design (6-10)
Begins April 9 | Wednesdays @ 5:00pm - 6:30pm | Arcade Building Room 201
Ready for a book-making art class at Glen Echo Park? We're going to make our very own sketchbooks from scratch and then make them look incredible with techniques like collages, watercolors, and sketches. With the help of experienced art teachers, we'll turn those empty pages into magical masterpieces that show off our creative ideas. Come join us for an artistic adventure!
More info: emma.p.stevenson@gmail.com. 3 sessions.
Learn More & Register >>
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SPRING BREAK & SUMMER CAMPS
Browse the camps section of the Spring/Summer 2025 digital catalog. 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. | | | | |
