Montgomery Parks Announces November Special Events and Programs

Montgomery Parks, part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, has an engaging lineup of special events and programs in November, including Maryland Emancipation Day, Drag Queen Story Hour, free Veteran’s Day skates and the opening of the annual winter favorite, Garden of Lights, at Brookside Gardens.

November events in Montgomery Parks include: 

Raptor Caretaker Chats: Wednesday Series | November 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30 | 12 – 12:30 p.m.
Meadowside Nature Center, 5100 Meadowside Lane, Rockville, Md., 20855
Learn what it takes to care for a raptor from naturalist staff. Discover what these birds of prey eat for lunch, do for fun and how trainers build relationships with these incredible animals. Registration recommended. Free.

 Mushroom Wine Walk and Talk | November 4 | 6 – 7 p.m.
Meadowside Nature Center, 5100 Meadowside Lane, Rockville, Md., 20855 Get the dirt on all things mushroom at the Mushroom Wine Walk and Talk. Participants will sit around the campfire, sipping on mushroom-inspired beverages, while learning about these versatile fungi. Ages 21 and older. This program is offered in English and Spanish. Registration required. $15.

 Maryland’s Emancipation Day Events | November 5 and 6 | Various Times and Locations

Woodlawn Manor Cultural Park, 16501 Norwood Road, Sandy Spring, Md., 20860

Oakley Cabin African American Museum and Park, 3610 Brookville Road, Olney, Md., 20832

Harper Cabin at Brookside Nature Center, 1400 Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton, Md., 20902 Maryland Emancipation Day commemorates November 1, 1864, a pivotal day in Maryland history when a new state constitution freed all persons held in bondage within its borders.

• Saturday, November 5, guided hikes on the Underground Railroad Experience Trail at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Hike is about one-and-a-half hours covering approximately two miles of natural surface wooded trails. Ages seven and older. Registration required. $8 (Woodlawn Museum admission included).
• Saturday, November 5, 12 – 4 p.m. Commemorate Maryland Emancipation Day at Oakley Cabin by joining quilting master, Mrs. Kyna Clemons, in completing our “Freedom Quilt” by creating quilt squares. Participate in archaeological hands-on activities, hearth cooking demonstrations and guided tours. Master storyteller, Gordon Parks, will present traditional African folktales from 2:30 – 3:30 p.m. All ages. Free.
• Sunday, November 6, 1 – 4 p.m. Celebrate at Harper Cabin with living history presentations by the Female Reenactors of Distinction (FREED), traditional African American folktales by master storyteller, Renee Emanuel and musical performances by Linda Harris. All ages. Free.

Maydale Nature Classroom: 2^nd Annual Community Celebration | November 5 | 1 – 4 p.m.

Maydale Nature Classroom, 1638 Maydale Drive, Colesville, Md., 20905

Join Montgomery Parks for a community celebration at Maydale Classroom. Activities include live music, campfires & s’mores, appearances by Smokey Bear, apple cider making and fall crafts.  Limited accessible parking on-site, neighborhood street parking available.

Acoustics and Ales | November 5 | 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Elm Street Urban Park, 4600 Elm Street, Bethesda, Md., 20815 Enjoy local craft beer, live music and eats at Montgomery Parks’ Acoustics and Ales outdoor happy hour. Non-alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase along with beer from Landmade Brewing and True Respite Brewing, and food from Salat Food Truck. Live music performance by Brian Weber. All ages. Free.

 Sunday Serenade | November 6 | 10 – 11:30 a.m. Cabin John Regional Park Amphitheater, 7400 Tuckerman Lane, Bethesda, Md., 20817 Experience a relaxing autumn Sunday morning listening to jazz by the Bruce Swaim Quartet at Sunday Serenade. Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets or chairs for seating. Free.

 Family Fishing at Lake Needwood | November 8 | 2 – 4 p.m.  Lake Needwood Boats, 15700 Needwood Lake Circle, Rockville, Md., 20855 Join us for this introduction to family fishing at Lake Needwood. A park naturalist will demonstrate how to tie and bait a hook, casting, and how to remove a fish without even touching it. Bait will be provided, and tackle and fishing poles will also be available, but participants are welcome to bring their own gear. Anglers of all abilities are welcome. All registrants 16 and older must have a current Maryland fishing license. Registration required only for those who plan to fish. All ages. $12.

Nature Explore at Maydale: Turkey Talk | November 10 | 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. Maydale Nature Classroom, 1638 Maydale Drive, Colesville, Md., 20905 Learn if turkey’s really say “gobble gobble” along with other fun turkey facts and go searching for turkeys. Afterwards, make a turkey craft in the nature classroom, just in time for Thanksgiving. Ages three to eight. Registration required. $6.

Drag Queen Story Hour | November 12 | 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Avenue, Silver Spring, Md., 20902 Drag Queen Story Hour is exactly what it sounds like—drag queens reading stories to children in libraries, schools, and bookstores. Educational and fun for kids of all ages. Free.

 Veteran’s Day Skate | November 13 | 12:30 – 2:30 p.m. (Cabin John); 3 – 5 p.m. (Wheaton) Cabin John Ice Rink, 10610 Westlake Drive, Rockville, Md., 20852 Wheaton Ice Arena, 11717 Orebaugh Avenue, Wheaton, Md., 20902 Veteran’s Day Skate salutes our service women and men. Active-duty military personnel or veterans and their families skate for free (skate rental included). All ages. Free.

 Outdoor Skills Workshop | November 13 | 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Locust Grove Nature Center, 7777 Democracy Boulevard, Bethesda, Md., 20817 This workshop for women and non-binary individuals teaches everything one needs to know to start a campfire in various environments and weather conditions. Practice using a variety of fire-starting methods, from ferro rods to a magnifying glass to, yes, even rubbing two sticks together. Each participant will also make their own pocket-size, personalized fire-starting kit from natural, foraged materials and be given their own ferro rod to take home. This program is outdoors so it is necessary to dress appropriately for the weather conditions. Ages 18 and older. Registration required. $20.

Fall Open House: Rockwood Manor Retreats and Events | November 13 | 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Rockwood Manor, 11001 MacArthur Boulevard, Potomac, Md., 20854 Just six minutes from the Capital Beltway, Rockwood Manor, a transformed former Girl Scouts camp, seems far from the hustle and bustle of the city. Nestled in Potomac the idyllic setting is perfect for weddings, anniversaries, graduations, and other special events, as well as a unique retreat destination and overnight lodging. Stop by the open house to explore the estate, meet staff and visit with vendors. Free.

Garden of Lights | November 18 – January 1, 2023 (closed November 21 – 24 and December 24 – 25) | 5 – 9:30 p.m. Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton, Md., 20902 Garden of Lights display transforms Brookside Gardens into a dazzling winter wonderland. The one-half mile outdoor exhibit features one-of-a-kind light displays decorating flower beds and the grounds. Visitors can buy unique seasonal items at the gift shop. Hot chocolate and light snacks will be available for purchase. New this year, pedestrians and cyclists can enter the exhibit at the pedestrian gate at 1800 Glenallan Avenue or via a half-mile path beginning at 2000 Shorefield Road, near the Wheaton Regional Park Adventure Playground. Advance timed-entry tickets can be purchased online through Eventbrite. $10 (ticket required for everyone age five and older).

Maydale Hikes: Night Hike | November 18 | 7 – 8 p.m.
Maydale Nature Classroom, 1638 Maydale Drive, Colesville, Md., 20905 Go for a naturalist-guided hike through the woods, meadow, and ponds of Maydale exploring the sights and sounds that surround us. Ages six and older. Registration required. $3.

Montgomery Parks is a co-sponsor of the following events taking place in parks during the month of November:

Try Hockey for Free Clinic: November 5 @ Dewey Local Park

Discover Long Branch 5K: November 20 @ Long Branch-Garland Neighborhood Park

Tacchino Cyclocross: November 27 @ Agricultural History Farm Park

Visit the Fall 2022 Montgomery Parks Program Guide or the Montgomery Parks event calendar to view a complete list of special events and programming and to learn how to sign up using ActiveMontgomery.