Montgomery Parks April Special Events and Programs

Per Montgomery Parks: Montgomery Parks is blooming with a full lineup of special events and programs in April. Including events catering to people 55 and older, hikes with (and without) dogs, our annual Petal and Paws event, outdoor Sunday brunches, and roller disco. Put on your hiking boots or roller skates and join us:

April events in Montgomery Parks include:

Petals and Paws | April 1 | 9 – 11 a.m. South Germantown Recreational Park, Heart Smart Trail, 18028 Central Park Circle, Boyds: Take a walk through the bloom-filled one-mile loop with your pooch and finish with light refreshments for purchase from TOIMOI Bakery and dog-approved snacks from Doggy Donuts. Visit the photo station, paint at the craft station and pick up a native red bud seedling from Montgomery Parks’ Urban Forestry Team for Arbor Day. Local animal rescue group, PetConnect will be in attendance to provide information and pet adoption opportunities. Free.

Spring Open House: Lodge at Little Seneca Creek | April 2 | 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. 14500-A Clopper Road, Boyds: Nestled in 26 acres of wooded parkland, The Lodge at Little Seneca Creek is the perfect location for all types of social gatherings, as well as business meetings. Tour the venue and meet with staff and professional vendors from all over the metro area including caterers, event planners, décor designers, hair and makeup artists, florists, DJs and more. No registration required, but those who RSVP (form on event page) will be entered into a drawing for door prizes, such as complimentary passes to various Montgomery Parks facilities and other attractions. Free.

Hiking with Your Dog | April 2 | 10 – 11:30 a.m. Locust Grove Nature Center, 7777 Democracy Boulevard, Bethesda: Participants will learn how to properly prepare for a hike with their dog, fun games to stimulate your dog’s senses, trail etiquette, basic wilderness first aid for dogs and more. Although the program is about hiking with dogs, dogs are not invited to class. No dogs, except service animals, are permitted in the nature center. However, bring home a “sWAG” bag of treats for your dog to enjoy on your next adventure. Registration required. $10.

Night Hike for Adults | April 2 | 7 – 8:30 p.m. Locust Grove Nature Center, 7777 Democracy Boulevard, Bethesda: Join a naturalist on a wildlife monitoring walk of the park for an opportunity to see nocturnal animals, such as owls, foxes and raccoons. Participate in a community science project. The walk is on a natural surface trail which is not wheelchair accessible. Ages 16 and older. Registration required. Free.

Never Grow Up: Playdates for 55+ | April 5 | 10 – 11:30 a.m. North Four Corner Local Park, 315 University Boulevard, Silver Spring: Come out and play at Montgomery Parks! Spend time outdoors sipping coffee or tea, playing games, sharing stories and laughs with friends old and new. Enjoy a succulent activity with a naturalist. Registration required. Free.

Hike to Parks Unknown | April 5, 7, and 21| 10 – 11:30 a.m. and 1 – 2:30 p.m.

Rachel Carson Conservation Park, 22201 Zion Road, Olney

Lois Y. Green Conservation Park, 8711 Snouffer School Road, Gaithersburg

Agricultural History Farm Park, 18400 Muncaster Road, Derwood

Join a park naturalist for an off-site hike and get to know a new park. Includes a one-hour hike and social chat at the end. Mobile science station, Nature on Wheels will provide seating, water and bathroom access (via stairs). Ages 8 and older; the April 7 program is for ages 55+. Registration required.  $10.

Volunteer Days Mystery Project | April 7 and 21 | 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Black Hill Visitor Center, 20926 Lake Ridge Drive, Boyds: Earn Student Service Learning (SSL) hours on special projects which will be revealed on Facebook near the date of the project. Ages 13 and older (Parents must accompany children 13 and under). Groups also welcome and should contact [email protected]. Registration required. Free.

Session II: Plants and Landscape Design for RainScape Gardens | April 8 | 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton: Learn how beautiful, environmentally friendly native plant gardens, such as conservation gardens, are designed to manage stormwater issues on residential properties. Also, find out the steps needed to develop and submit a plan for your project to the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection’s RainScapes Rewards rebate program. Ages 18 and older. Registration required. $25.

DIY Project: Braided Rag Bag | April 9 | 2:15 – 4:15 p.m. Brookside Nature Center, 1400 Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton: Repurpose and recycle old sheets, shirts, jeans or other scraps of fabric and create a beautiful rag rug while helping the environment. A crafting needle and recycled fabric will be provided, but participants are welcome to bring their own fabric. Ages 18 and older. Registration required. $25.

Online Spring Native Plant Sale | April 10 – 24 | Online sales only Maydale Nature Classroom, 1638 Maydale Drive, Colesville: Beautify your backyard with native plants and be a good neighbor to wildlife. Select and pay for plants online and pick them up at Maydale Nature Classroom on April 29. All orders must be placed by Monday, April 24. Buyers must have a free ActiveMontgomery account to purchase plants.

Intro to iNaturalist (Ages 55+) | April 13 | 1 – 2:30 p.m. Locust Grove Nature Center, 7777 Democracy Boulevard, Bethesda: Learn how to use iNaturalist and be part of a national community science project. Registration recommended. $10.

Roller Disco | April 14 | 6 – 9 p.m. Ridge Road Recreational Park, 21155 Frederick Road, Germantown: Travel back in time to the heyday of roller disco in the 1970s and 80s. Get down and boogie to a live DJ and concessions for purchase from O’Boy Pizza, Catalyst Hot Dogs, Trippy Tacos and Clayboys Shaved Ice. There will be no on-site skate rentals so BYOS (Bring Your Own Skates). Free.

Nature Night Out: Hoppy Hour | April 15 | 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. Locust Grove Nature Center, 7777 Democracy Boulevard, Bethesda: Hoppy Hour is a chance to learn more about amphibians while imbibing drinks and cocktails from local establishments. Parents can drop their little ones off at Nature Night In: Amphibian Adventure for an additional fee of $20 with separate registration for ages 4-6 and 7-10. Ages 21 and older. Registration required. $10.

Sunday Serenade | April 16, 23 and 30 | 10 – 11:30 a.m.  Cabin John Regional Park, 7400 Tuckerman Lane, Bethesda: Join us at the amphitheater for a different live-music performance each Sunday.

• Bruce Swaim Quartet (Jazz)
• Robbin Kapsalis and The Vintage (R&B/Soul)
• Bach to Rock (Jazz)

Bring your own seating or blanket. Breakfast and pastries will be available for purchase. Free.

Nature Center Pop Up | April 16 and 23 | 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Martin Luther King Recreational Park, 1120 Jackson Road, Silver Spring

Cabin John Local Park, 7401 MacArthur Boulevard, Cabin John, MD 20818

Stop by the Nature on Wheels van and talk to a naturalist, explore some natural objects, ask questions and try out biology-themed activities. All ages. Free.

YogaDance (Ages 55+) | April 18 – May 9 | 10 – 11:30 a.m.  East Norbeck Local Park, 3131 Norbeck Road, Norbeck: YogaDance is a practice that incorporates the benefits of yoga and dance with a touch of brain stimulation to turn back the clock physically and mentally. All fitness levels welcome. Bring your own yoga mat. Chairs available on site.  Registration required. $36.

Adaptive Recreation: Gardening 101 | April 18 – May 16 | 4 – 5 p.m. Black Hill Visitor Center, 20926 Lake Ridge Drive, Boyds: This program is designed to support gardeners with disabilities. Guidance and all materials will be supplied. At the end of the program, participants will have acquired the skills and plants to take home to continue their gardening adventures. Ages 18 and older. Registration required. $30.

History Hour | April 19 | 6 –7 p.m. Josiah Henson Museum and Park, 11410 Old Georgetown Road, North Bethesda: Lecture series for adult audiences features local historians, educators and experts as they share their knowledge of local and regional history. Arrive early and take a self-guided tour of the museum and park. Ages 18 and older. Registration required. $5.

School’s Out, Nature’s In | April 21 | 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Brookside Nature Center, 1400 Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton: Enjoy a fun day of nature-themed activities at Wheaton Regional Park. Explore the outdoors, play group games, enjoy lunch around the campfire, create a few projects to take home and make a few new friends. Ages 6 – 11. Registration required (closes April 14). $75.

Celebrating African Rhythms through Dance & Song  | April 8 | 12 – 4 p.m. Oakley Cabin African American Museum and Park, 3610 Brookeville Road, Olney: Oakley Cabin is open for the season! Explore African rhythms from West Africa, the Caribbean Islands, Europe, and North and South America in this dance workshop. Celebrate the arrival of spring and show off your best dance moves! Step inside this living history museum and learn about the African American roadside community that lived and worked on this historic site from emancipation into the 20^th century. The museum is open on the second and fourth Saturdays through October from 12 – 4 p.m. Free.

Archaeology Tour | April 29 | 11 –11:30 a.m. Josiah Henson Museum and Park, 11410 Old Georgetown Road, North Bethesda: Take a guided tour of the grounds of the Josiah Henson Museum and Park with an archaeologist and learn about the features and artifacts that inform our understanding of the Rev. Josiah Henson’s life at the Riley Plantation. Ages 6 and older. Registration will be on-site. $3 (museum admission not included).

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

RespectFest: April 16 @ Wheaton Local Park

Long Branch Earth Day: April 22 @ Flower Avenue Urban Park

6^th Annual Rang Aur Patang Utsav 2023: April 23 @ Black Hill Regional Park

Olney Days Party in the Park: April 29 @ Olney Manor Recreational Park

Visit the Spring 2023 Montgomery Parks Program Guide. Go to Montgomery Parks event calendar to view a complete list of special events and programming and to learn how to sign up using ActiveMontgomery. Featured photo courtesy of Montgomery Parks