Dancing Under the Stars at Glen Echo Park
Glen Echo Park is a magical place where musical, artistic and educational worlds come together. Formerly an amusement park, Glen Echo has been a National Park since 1971. Located in Montgomery County, Maryland, it is easily accessible through the Beltway or public transportation.
There is something for everyone at this cultural Mecca. At the Park, you can take classes in pottery, painting, photography, writing, music lessons and so much more! Some classes are even held in wonderful yurts throughout the area. On the grounds of Glen Echo you will find one of the area’s only studio for blown glass instruction, exhibitions and special programs. In such an inspiring locale there is literally no limit to what you can learn.
But if looking at art is more your speed than creating it, the Popcorn Gallery has a free exhibition of work from resident artists as well as emerging artists from across the region. From glass blowing to photography to silversmithing, there is plenty of artwork to appreciate! If you have children to entertain, the Park has a puppet theater, a children’s theater and the Discovery Creek Children’s Museum, which has a petting zoo and a variety of activities to entertain children for hours on end.
The centerpiece of this treasure from the past is the fully restored 1921 carousel that for $1.25 can take you back to fond childhood memories or create new ones with your kids. When you see it, take a moment to absorb all the colors and the details into this moving masterpiece. Additionally, tours of the carousel are held to take a closer look at how it was made and how it works.
But perhaps the best part of Glen Echo is the social dances held in the Spanish Ballroom from salsa to swing to square dancing. These dances are held in the huge outdoor space where introductory lessons are offered right before the start of the dance so that those who are rhythmically challenged can get in on the fun as well. Most of the dances feature live music by renowned local and national bands and dance professionals have been known to strut their stuff to entertain everyone. It’s all the fun of dancing without the pain of being squeezed into a small dance floor and the risk of having drinks spilled on you!
Visit the Glen Echo Park website for their schedule of performances, social dances and offered classes. But no one is going to judge you if all you wanted to do was ride the carousel.
What: Glen Echo Park
Where: 7300 MacArthur Boulevard | Glen Echo, MD 20812
Contact: 301.634.2222
Website: http://www.glenechopark.org
Images via Flickr (creative commons) by katmere.
Category: DAY TRIPS, THINGS TO DO IN AND AROUND DC
