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Greetings!
We hope you had a wonderful Independence Day! Although the Fourth of July fireworks and festivities are over, you can keep the fun going with a carousel ride, children's theater performance, a social dance, and more—so many great options!
And speaking of options, every week a plethora of visual and performing arts classes and summer camps are underway, from aquarium camps to guitar lessons. Browse our Spring/Summer Classes & Events digital catalog and find the perfect creative outlet.
Weekly on Wednesday mornings (plus select weekend dates), the first hour of carousel rides are sensory-friendly. Learn more about Sensory-Friendly Hours and view select weekend dates on the Dentzel carousel page.
Enjoy a FREE, Thursday-night summer concert with The Natty Beaux, a rockin’ and boppin’ group playing foot-tappin’ numbers from the 1940s to 1960s by Louis Prima, Ray Charles, Louis Jordan, Gene Vincent, Bobby Darin, Elvis, Nat King Cole, Jerry Lee Lewis and other greats. Weekly summer concert bands were chosen for their danceability, so we hope you'll join us on the dance floor! Come out to listen, dance, or both.
The Puppet Co.'s new production of The Three Billy Goats Gruff is a retelling of a classic story, this time with a conservationist twist just right for a puppet show in the Park! This show features four classic Piper marionette puppets (Christopher Piper was one of the founders of the Puppet Co.) and a brand-new script with audience interaction.
We're filling the dance floor at the Park! This week brings another full dance lineup, including a Sunday afternoon Ballroom Dance with Ballroom Time. Plus, Dance for PD® (Dance for Parkinson's Disease) continues, with free classes meeting each Wednesday in the Ballroom Back Room.
Calling all artists! There's less than a month left to submit entries for the 55th Annual Labor Day Art Show. This Glen Echo Park tradition takes place in the historic Spanish Ballroom and brings thousands of art enthusiasts to the Park every year. The show will be held daily from September 5 - 7, 2026 with an opening reception on Friday, September 4 at 7pm. Entries must be submitted by Monday, August 3, 2026 at 11:59pm EST.
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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STEP RIGHT UP....
Help us reach our goal! We're looking for 1,000 fans of Glen Echo Park to donate $10 more in support of FREE programs at the Park.
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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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BALLROOM DANCE with Ballroom Time
July 12 | 2:45pm - 6:00pm | Ballroom Back Room
Ballroom Time presents a ballroom dance in the Ballroom Back Room on Sunday afternoon, July 12, 2026. A beginner lesson in Rumba will take place at 2:45pm. Djangolaya Quartet gives a special encore performance of French favorites from 3:30pm until 4:45p, followed by DJ'ed French pop music from 4:45pm until 6:00pm.
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 | 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 for all ages or free for kids
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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Dancers are always welcome to get up out of their seats and move to the incredible music at our Thurday-night Summer Concert Series! Learn More >>
We are looking for volunteers to assist with set-up and break down of seating for each of our summer concerts. SSL hours available! Volunteer >>
| | | | | | 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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Stone Carving Thursdays
Begins July 16 | Tuesdays @ 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: 410.903.5474; nizetteb@gmail.com. Minimum age 18. 3 sessions.
Learn More & Register >>
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Portrait and Figure Drawing and Painting
Begins July 18 | Saturdays @ 10:00am -12:30pm | Yellow Barn Studio
Learn to draw and paint like the masters! Work from live models to learn how to draw accurately, build structure with light and shadow and understand color. You are free to draw, paint or both. For beginning to advanced students. Model fee extra. Students under 18 welcome but you and your parent/guardian must obtain instructor permission prior to enrollment. Minimum age 16. 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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CALL FOR ENTRIES
55th Annual Labor Day Art Show
Deadline for entry is August 3, 2026
We are now inviting artists to submit entries for the 55th Annual Labor Day Art Show, a Glen Echo Park tradition that features a wide range of local artists and brings thousands of art enthusiasts to the Park every year.
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Let your child spark their creativity and develop their artistic skills in a fun, non-competitive environment!
Learn More About Camps >> | Learn More About Children's Classes >>
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Teen Multi-Media Explore Camp (Ages 12-15)
Begins July 20 | Mon Tue Wed Th Fri @ 9:00am - 3:00pm | Arcade Building Rooms 302 & 303
In the morning, explore drawing and painting media: journaling, altered book, collage, abstract design, and painting on paper or canvas; plus, a special session learning Asian Brush Painting. Outdoor sketching, lunch and leisure time leads to 3-D forms using clay, paper maché, plaster, and fiber arts. Supply fee of $50 is payable to instructor at first class. Tuition includes a $50 non-refundable deposit. 5 sessions.
Learn More & Register >>
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Beginner Irish Dance Camp–Half Day (Ages 5-10)
Begins July 20 | Mon Tue Wed Th Fri @ 1:00pm - 4:00pm | Ballroom Back Room
Have fun while learning Irish Dance! It's all about timing, foot placement, movement! Open to new beginners and students up through level 2. We recommend the dancers bring a snack.
More info: sean@culkinschool.com. 301.346.1907. 5 sessions.
Learn More & Register >>
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Praline Cafe
Monday - Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday - Friday: 10:00am - 4:00pm
Saturday & Sunday: 10:00am - 7:00pm
*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. | | | | |
