‘Tis the season that inspires folks to gather to share music, art, dance, food and drink, and Montgomery County’s October calendar is full of festivals. Check out one or more in your neighborhood—or take a short trip to an unexplored part of the county.
BETHESDA
[/media-credit] Cultures and cuisine from around the world combine at the Taste of Bethesda.
Saturday, Oct. 7, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., rain or shine
- Woodmont Triangle (Woodmont Avenue, Old Georgetown Road and Norfolk Avenue), Bethesda
- Free admission
- bethesda.org
Bethesda Urban Partnership’s food and music festival brings 60 restaurants, five stages of entertainment and a kid’s corner with face painting and arts and crafts. Taste tickets are four for $5; most servings cost four tickets.
[/media-credit] An aerial view of the annual Bethesda Row Arts Festival.
Saturday, Oct. 14, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 15, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
- 190 juried museum-quality artists will show and sell their creations.
- Free Admission
- bethesdarowarts.org
Bethesda Urban Partnership’s food and music festival brings 60 restaurants, five stages of entertainment and a kid’s corner with face painting and arts and crafts. Taste tickets are four for $5; most servings cost four ticket
COLESVILLE
[/media-credit] Pumpkin Trolley Fest
Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 21 & 22, 28 & 29, noon to 5 p.m.
- National Capital Trolley Museum, 1313 Bonifant Road, Colesville
- Adults $7, Children/Seniors $5
- www.dctrolley.org, 301-384-6088
Trolleyfest includes museum admission (check out the Street Car Hall) and trips to Pinson’s Pumpkin Market, 12:30 to 3:50 p.m. Pumpkin tokens are available in the Museum Shop.
DERWOOD
Saturday, Oct. 7, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Agricultural History Farm Park, 18400 Muncaster Road, Derwood
- $15 per car (additional fees for some activities) Cash Only
- www.montgomeryparks.org, 301-670-4661
Interact with living historians in historic costumes; participate in hands-on farm skills activities such as making apple butter; painting pumpkins and building scarecrows; see farm equipment exhibits and demos; meet heritage farm animals; and partake of food, crafters, hayrides and tours of the historic Magruder-Bussard Farmstead. Old-time crafts, activities, music and dancing, hayrides, corn maze, working farm animal demos, archaeology dig and garden tours.
GAITHERSBURG/KENTLANDS
[/media-credit] German-flavored entertainment will take the stage at the annual Oktoberfest at the Kentlands.
Sunday, Oct. 8, noon to 5 p.m.
- Kentlands Village Green, the grounds of Kentlands Mansion, Main Street and Market Square
- Free admission; some activities have a nominal fee.
- 301-258-6350, www.gaithersburgmd.gov/leisure/oktoberfest-at-the-kentlands
Five stages of live entertainment featuring Alte Kameraden German Band and Alt-Washingtonia Bavarian Dancers; traditional festival food while sampling selections from Dogfish Head and other local microbreweries or sipping Maryland varietal wines; professional pumpkin carving and apple cider pressing demonstrations, horse-drawn wagon rides, hands-on crafts, pumpkin and face painting, artists and crafters, family activities and strolling entertainers.
GLEN ECHO
[/media-credit] The Dentzel Carousel’s last day of the season coincides with Glen Echo’s Then & Wow! festival.
Sunday, Oct. 1, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Free Admission
- Glen Echo Park, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo
- glenechopark.org, 301-634-2222
Glen Echo Park Partnership’s annual family festival celebrates the park’s revitalization as an arts center and recalls its history, when the site was an amusement park. The event includes kiddie rides, arcade games and prizes, vintage cars, magic shows by Abracadabra Alex, juggling and clowning performances, mini golf and high strikers, history exhibit, tours and films. Rides and some activities require tickets. The festival also marks the last day of the Dentzel Carousel’s 97th season.
Saturday, Oct. 28, 1 to 4 p.m.
- Free Admission
- Glen Echo Park, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo
- glenechopark.org. 301-634-2222
At Glen Echo Park Partnership’s annual Halloween-themed family event, adults and children explore the arts through hands-on crafts, Halloween activities, trick-or-treating and visiting open studios. Pick a pumpkin from the Pumpkin Patch and decorate it at a craft table ($2/pumpkin). Face painting and other free craft activities and trick or treating (1 to 3:30 p.m.). Stroll through the park’s open studios and galleries, including Glen Echo Pottery, the Art Glass Center, Photoworks, Yellow Barn Studio & Gallery, SilverWorks. The celebration ends with a costume parade through the Park at 3:30 p.m. (weather-permitting).
ROCKVILLE
Saturday, Oct. 7, noon-6 p.m.
- Rockville Town Center, 131 Gibbs St., Rockville
- Free admission
- www.rockvillemd.gov/index.aspx?NID=1952
A German-themed beer hall, two stages of bands, food, crafts and children’s activities will coincide with the visit of a delegation from Pinneberg, Germany to mark 60 years as Rockville’s sister city. The Rockville German Band, the Alte Kumpel German Band and Mike Surratt and The Continentals will provide a traditional German soundtrack.
[/media-credit] Indian dancers contribute to the international flair of the annual World of Montgomery Festival.
Sunday, Oct. 15, noon to 4 p.m.
- Free Admission
- Montgomery College-Rockville, 51 Mannakee St., Rockville
- www.worldofmontgomery.com
Family-friendly event features international music, food, dance, culturally authentic arts demos and hands-on activities. Cultures of China, El Salvador, Ethiopia and India, the four largest immigrant populations in Montgomery County, will be spotlighted in the International Village, Global Spice Market and on two performance stages. A Parade of Cultures (1:30 p.m.), led by traditional African drummers, Latin American dancers and Asian performers in native dress will encircle the festival ground.
POTOMAC
Saturday, Oct. 21, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
- Free Admission
- 9812 Falls Road, Potomac
- www.potomacchamber.org
The Potomac Chamber of Commerce’s annual community day consists of a parade, classic car show, business fair and a children’s festival with moon bounces, rides and pony rides.
TAKOMA PARK
[/media-credit] The streets–from Carroll Avenue, Maryland, to Carroll Street NW, D.C.–are full of festivalgoers at the annual Takoma Park Street Festival.
Sunday, Oct. 1, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., rain or shine
- Carroll Avenue, Takoma Park, Maryland, to Carroll Street NW, Takoma, D.C.
- Free admission
- www.mainstreettakoma.org
Eighteen bands on three stages will play all day. Local artists will offer paintings, photographs, pottery, silk-screening, bath and body care, stained glass, jewelry, woodworking, textiles, ceramics and kids’ items; nonprofits, local companies and food vendors will be on hand. For children, there will be crafts, face painting and inflatables. Adults can buy a mug (at the festival info booth in front of 7000 Carroll Avenue) for The Crawl for discounted pours at Takoma restaurants, bars and cafes.
[/media-credit] Langley Diwali Festival
Sunday, Oct. 15, noon to 5:30 p.m., rain or shine
- 7505 New Hampshire Ave, Takoma Park
- Free Admission
- takomalangley.org/takoma-langley-diwali-festival/
The Takoma Langley Crossroads, Takoma Park’s neighborhood of international food, shopping and culture, will host its annual family-friendly Diwali Festival that celebrates the festival of lights and offers a Indian performances–like the Ganesh Band, a traditional Raag Rang: Ta Thoi performance narrating the story of Diwali with music and dance plus children’s storyteller Meena Nakak sharing Indian myths, as well as Indian food and culturally relevant vendors.
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