Per Montgomery Parks: “Celebrate the holidays with Montgomery Parks! We have birdwatching, winter solstice, New Year’s festivities, and many more activities for the whole family.
*Please note: Beginning December 1, Brookside Nature Center will be closed Sunday through Tuesday and open Wednesday through Saturday until further notice.
December nature center events include:
Dec. 16 Christmas Bird Count | December 16 | 7:30 – 9 a.m.
Meadowside Nature Center, 5100 Meadowside Lane, Rockville
Take part in the Audubon’s Christmas Bird Count. Ages 14 and older. Registration required. Free.
Winter Solstice Lantern Making and Lantern-led Hike and Campfire | December 16 | 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.; 4:30 – 6 p.m.
Maydale Nature Classroom, 1638 Maydale Drive, Colesville
Get ready for the solstice by making lanterns and afterward taking a hike and enjoying a campfire. Ages 6-12 (lantern making); Ages 6 and older (hike and campfire). Registration required for Winter Solstice Lantern Making. Registration required for Winter Solstice Lantern-led Hike and Campfire. $7 (lantern making); $8 (hike and campfire).
Etch and Sip: Holiday Ornaments | December 16 | 3 – 5 p.m.
Meadowside Nature Center, 5100 Meadowside Lane, Rockville
Make a personalized holiday ornament using the process of chemical glass etching and then enjoy a glass of wine on the raptor deck with a naturalist-led raptor talk. Ages 21 and older. Registration required. $20.
Nature Ornaments | December 17 | 1:30 – 3 p.m.
Black Hill Nature Programs, 20926 Lake Ridge Drive, Boyds
Create ornaments from natural materials at the Visitor Center. All ages. Registration required for people who will be making ornaments $2. All are welcome anytime during the program.
Winter Solstice Labyrinth Walk and Campfire | December 21 | 4-7 p.m.
Locust Grove Nature Center, 7777 Democracy Boulevard, Bethesda
De-stress and give thanks during the busy holiday season. Do a guided activity in the meditation labyrinth, then warm up by the campfire and toast a marshmallow. Program offered in 30-minute increments. Registration required. Ages 6 and older. $6.
DIY Project Braided Rag Rug | December 23 | 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Brookside Nature Center, 1400 Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton
Learn how to join, stitch, and braid strips of recycled fabric into a beautiful rag rug. A crafting needle and clean recycled fabric will be provided. Ages 18 and older. Registration required. $25.
Happy Noon Year’s Eve | December 31 | 1 – 4 p.m.
Meadowside Nature Center, 5100 Meadowside Lane, Rockville
Celebrate an early, family-friendly New Year’s Eve. Bring your favorite beverage to toast the New Year, activities and a small snack will be provided. Times are in hour-long increments. All ages. Registration required. $7.
Smokey Bear New Year’s Eve Countdown! | December 31 | 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Maydale Nature Classroom, 1638 Maydale Drive, Colesville
Bring in the New Year with Smokey Bear! Enjoy various activities, a campfire with s’mores and a noon countdown to ring in the New Year. All ages. Registration required. $8.
Go to Montgomery Parks event calendar for a complete list of special events and programming and to learn how to sign up using ActiveMontgomery. Visit the Winter 2023-2024 Montgomery Parks Program Guide.
About Montgomery Parks
Montgomery Parks manages more than 37,000 acres of parkland, consisting of 419 parks. Montgomery Parks is a department of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), a bi-county agency established in 1927 to steward public land. M-NCPPC has been nationally recognized for its high-quality parks and recreation services and is regarded as a national model by other parks systems.
Accessibility
Montgomery Parks, part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, encourages and supports the participation of individuals with disabilities. Please contact the Program Access Office at 301-495-2581 (Voice), MD Relay 7-1-1 or 800-552-7724 or [email protected] to request a disability modification. Visit Montgomery Parks Program Access for more information.