Five Things To Do This Weekend in Montgomery County

Below are five things to do in Montgomery County, MD the weekend of October 20-22, 2023:
1. Rocktoberfest
Saturday, October 21: 2-6pm
Whelan Commons, Poolesville
RocktoberFest will take place at the Whelan Commons (19701 Fisher Avenue) in Poolesville on Saturday, October 21st and will consist of a day of fun fall activities for the whole family. The events will include pumpkin painting, a costume parade, scarecrow making, smores stations, and bounce houses for kids.  For adults there will be a beer and wine tent featuring Manor Hill, Landmade and Rockwell Breweries.  There will also be an assortment of wines. The bandshell lineup includes No Stop Light from 2 – 3:30 and the Front Page Band from 4 – 6 pm. Additional information can be found on the Town of Poolesville website.

2. Fall Makers Market & Pumpkin Fest
Saturday, October 21: 11am-5pm
Rio Lakefront, Gaithersburg
The Fall Makers Market & Pumpkin Fest is taking place at Rio Lakefront in Gaithersburg on Saturday, October 21st from 11:00 am – 5:00 pm. The Fall Makers Market is curated by Locally Crafted on Grand Corner Avenue and will feature m handmade products from 80+ local artisans, cocktails by California Pizza Kitchen, fall activities for all ages. There will also be a Fall DIY Workshop that is free with $50+ purchase. The workshop will allow participants to decorate their own set of fall-themed burlap napkin rings. “Make a purchase of $50+ from rio shops or restaurants on Saturday, October 21^stand show your same day receipt(s) at the RIO tent near Dick’s Sporting Goods.” While supplies last. Receipts exclude Target, Kohl’s and Dick’s Sporting Goods.

3. MCPS Girl’s Summit 
Saturday, October 21: 9am-1pm
Clarksburg High School
Montgomery County Public Schools is inviting all MCPS families to the Girls’ Summit on Saturday, Oct. 21 at Clarksburg High School. This event will provide informative workshops geared towards middle and high school girls on a variety of current topics. Join us for a chance to network, participate in fun activities, learn valuable skills and enjoy a fashion show presented by White House Black Market celebrating diverse body types! Sessions will be provided in English and Spanish, and will be organized by grade level. Student Service Learning (SSL) hours will be available for students. Topics and activities will include:

• Healthy relationships/dating violence
• Social media use and mental health, including cyberbullying
• Self-esteem
• Identifying symptoms of depression and anxiety
• Healthy eating and body image
• Music therapy, Zumba and Kaiser Permanente spin bikes for art therapy
• Narcan kits will be distributed and training will also be available.

4. Chevy Chase Art Walk
Saturday, October 21-Sunday, October 22
“Come discover 77 local artists showing their work in 31 homes / studios around Chevy Chase, MD and DC. Stroll, bike, or drive around to see the art, and meet friends at the most talked about event in the area! Check out the Passport on our map to win great prizes!! Ch/Art artists offer work in a wide range of media: painting, sculpture, jewelry, pottery, ceramic art, photography, fabric art, & mixed media. An Art Walk ’23 Maps with the artist’s names/media and a map will be available at local businesses soon, or on the map here — click a house icon to see the featured artists names and their social media handles/website urls.

5. Fall Festival & Pumpkin Derby
Sunday, October 22
Ross Boddy Community Center, Sandy Spring
A Fall Festival & Pumpkin Derby will take place on Saturday, October 22nd from 11am-2pm at the Ross Boddy Community Center in Sandy Spring (Ross Body Neighborhood Recreation Center, 18529 Brooke Road, Sandy Spring, MD). This event, brought to you by Montgomery County Recreation, will feature crafts, games, snacks, and a pumpkin derby race! The registration fee for the derby is $20 and includes materials and instructions (pumpkin not included). Contact Ross Boddy CRC for Pumpkin Derby registration and rules at 240-777-8050.