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Greetings!
Thank you to all who joined us at the Park last week! Whether you were browsing galleries at Art Walk in the Park, riding the carousel and enjoying performances at Carousel Day, taking a class, attending a social dance or children's theater production, or just appreciating a beautiful day at the Park, we hope you enjoyed your visit. As we move into a busier season of events, there's a lot to look forward to this week!
Weekly on Wednesday mornings (plus select weekend dates) the first hour of carousel rides will be sensory-friendly. Sensory-friendly carousel rides include: no lights, recorded music at a lower volume, slower AND shorter rides, and more time between rides, allowing extra time to get on and off and to get accustomed to the carousel. Doors will open at 9:45am, 15 minutes before regular opening, allowing time to walk around the carousel, touch the animals, and get familiar with the setting. Learn more about Sensory-Friendly Hours and view select weekend dates (corresponding with sensory-friendly Children's Theater performances) on the Dentzel carousel page.
History hikes are back! Saturday morning, you can join a Park Ranger for National Parks Along the Potomac: a four-mile guided history hike starting at our Carousel and stopping at the C&O Canal National Historical Park, Union Arch Bridge, and Clara Barton House.
Check out two artist discussions Saturday morning. Led by exhibition curator Fabiola R. Delgado, join us for a tour of On Behalf of New Myths | En Nombre de Nuevos Mitos in the Stone Tower Gallery, exploring artist Gerardo Camargo’s use of salvaged construction materials to foreground the often-unseen labor shaping our built environment. The tour will be followed by a conversation with the artist and curator, expanding on themes of authorship, power, and new narratives rooted in collective making. Or, tune in to an online artist discussion with Reem Bassous, part of the bi-weekly Art Clinic Online series.
Saturday and Sunday, stop by the Yellow Barn Gallery to view Spring in Bloom: A Celebration of Color, a weekend exhibition by Justin Pyles. An artist reception will take place Saturday, May 9 from 5pm- 8pm.
Saturday evening, Waltz Time—one of our long-time dance presenters—generously holds their annual “Evening with Strauss” Waltz Ball to benefit the Glen Echo Park Partnership for Arts and Culture. Enjoy live music by OLDE VIENNA with Alexander Mitchell (viola/violin), Elke Baker (viola/violin), Susan Brandt (flute), Ralph Gordon (string bass.), David Wiesler (piano). The lesson—included with admission—helps dancers prepare for the up-tempo Viennese waltzes. The dance includes a spectacular Grand March! For just $2 extra, dancers can purchase a ticket to take an evening ride on our 105-year-old carousel!
In addition to the Waltz Ball, 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 morning DanceFit: Line Dancing classes are back by popular demand, with instructor Janee Murray of DC Rawhides teaching fun, beginner-friendly line dancing. New for this session, we've got TWO timeslots to choose from each Saturday—11:15am or 12:30pm! And, of course, we have a wonderful line-up of social dances this week, including a Ballroom Dance with Ballroom Time. Check out the full week's schedule on our dance calendar!
You can support all of these wonderful arts & culture programs, while enjoying an enchanting evening out our May 16 Gala in the Park. This fundraiser event is a party to remember, all in support of the Park you love!
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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Annual Waltz Ball
Saturday, May 9
Waltz Time presents The Annual “Evening with Strauss” Waltz Ball, a benefit for the Partnership. Featuring live music by OLDE VIENNA, plus evening carousel rides (additional fee).
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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 BALL with Waltz Time
May 9 | 8:00pm-midnight | Spanish Ballroom
Waltz the night away at Waltz Time's annual "An Evening with Strauss" Ball on Saturday, May 9. Featuring live music by OLDE VIENNA, there's so much to enjoy on this special night—the Grand March of all dancers in the Spanish Ballroom, the fun of an old-fashioned dance card, and even a ride on the carousel (extra fee) which will be running especially for the dance!
Learn More >> | Purchase Tickets >>
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BALLROOM DANCE with Ballroom Time
May 10 | 2:45pm - 6:00pm | Spanish Ballroom
Ballroom Time presents a special Mothers day ballroom dance in the Spanish Ballroom! A beginner lesson in Slow Waltz will take place at 2:45pm, followed by dancing to music by DJ Broomtime from 3:30pm - 6pm. During the afternoon, there will be a mixer and optional line dancing whenever a Samba plays.
Learn More >> | Purchase Tickets >>
View upcoming Ballroom Workshops >>
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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: LINE DANCING | WALTZ BALL “Evening with Strauss” with Ballroom Time | 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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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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Colored Pencil on Black Workshop
Begins May 13 | Wednesdays @ 5:00pm - 7:00pm | ONLINE
This is the real fun! Your colored pencil drawings will have the Wow! factor you get when drawing on a black surface. Your subjects will truly Pop! Achieve amazing realism and brilliant color. You will benefit whether beginner or advanced. Critique & demos included. Class recorded for you to re-watch.
More info: liszadravec@gmail.com. Minimum age 16. 2 sessions.
Learn More & Register >>
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ABC's of Ballroom Dancing
Begins May 21 | Thursdays @ 7:00pm - 8:00pm | Spanish Ballroom
An intro to ballroom dancing for beginners featuring basic steps used in Slow Waltz, Foxtrot, Ballroom Tango, Viennese Waltz, Quickstep, Rumba, Bachata, Cha-Cha, Samba, Mambo and Swing/Jive. Leading and following techniques will be covered with a goal of preparing students to dance at our monthly events. No partner required. Drop-ins welcome: $20.
More info: ballroomtime.org. Minimum age: 15. 5 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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Painting and Drawing Together - Parent & Child Class (Ages 5-12)
Begins May 9 | Saturdays @ 2:00pm - 3:30pm | Crystal Pool Studio
We will explore the materials and techniques used in drawing using pencils, color chalk and charcoal. Painting landscapes will be covered. Tuition covers one parent with one child. An additional participant is $70. Supply fee for a pair is $20; $10 for a 3rd in the party; contact the Registrar’s office to register an extra participant. Fee is payable via cash, check, PayPal or Venmo to instructor.
More info: katherinetandrle@mac.com; 301.980.1538. 3 sessions.
Learn More & Register >>
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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 201
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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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. | | | | |
