Per Montgomery Parks: “Montgomery Parks announces programming and operating hours for the 2023 winter holiday break with a variety of events for the whole family.
Open Parkways schedule
The Open Parkways will be extended during the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. During this time, parkways are open to pedestrians and bicyclists and closed to motor vehicles.
- Beach Drive between Connecticut and Knowles Avenue (2.9 miles)
- Saturday, December 23, at 7 a.m. until Monday, December 25, at 4 p.m.
- Saturday, December 30, at 7 a.m. until Monday, January 1, at 4 p.m.
- Sligo Creek Parkway between Old Carroll Avenue and Piney Branch Road and between Forest Glen Road and University Boulevard West
- Friday, December 22, at 9 a.m. until Monday, December 25, at 4 p.m.
- Friday, December 29, at 9 a.m. until Monday, January 1, at 4 p.m.
- Little Falls Parkway between Arlington Road and Dorset Avenue (0.4 miles)
- Open 24/7 for recreation and exercise
*Please note: Gate closures are intended to be completed by the times listed above. The re-opening of the parkways begins at the times listed above. However, this process may take up to thirty minutes to complete.
Here are some activity ideas for the holiday period:
- Garden of Lights at Brookside Gardens seasonal display (open through December 31; closed December 24-25)
- The Garden Railway Exhibit at Brookside Gardens another holiday favorite (open through December 31; closed December 25)
- Wheaton Winter Ice Show at Wheaton Ice Arena (December 28)
- Smokey the Bear New Year’s Eve Countdown at Maydale Nature Classroom (December 31)
- Parks, trails, gardens, nature centers, playgrounds, dog parks, skate parks, outdoor exercise stations, and outdoor tennis/pickleball and basketball courts* are open daily, sunrise to sunset. (*Select outdoor courts are available for rental.)
- The inline hockey rink at Ridge Road Recreational Park and street hockey/futsal rink at Dewey Local Park may be permitted, or are available first come, first served, if not reserved.
- Campfire rings are available for rental at several locations.
- Ice Skating at Cabin John Ice Rink or Wheaton Ice Arena
- Little Bennett Campground (opens in a new tab)
- Brookside Gardens(opens in a new tab) grounds open daily sunrise-4 p.m., Visitor Center open daily 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Conservatory open daily 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Buildings and gardens close at 4 p.m. daily and reopen at 5:30 p.m. for Garden of Lights ticket holders.
- Josiah Henson Museum & Park(opens in a new tab), Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Sunday 12-4 p.m. (Special Hours: Wednesday and Thursday, December 27-28, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.)
Holiday Week Operating Hours by Facility:
*All Montgomery Parks offices and buildings closed on December 25.
Montgomery Parks Headquarters and Permit Offices
December 25: Closed
January 1: Closed
Black Hill Nature Programs and Visitor Center
December 23: Closed
December 24: Closed
December 31: Open 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Brookside Gardens Visitor Center and Conservatory
December 24-25: Closed (Garden of Lights closed December 24-25; Garden Railway Exhibit closed December 24-25)
December 31-January 1: Visitor Center, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Conservatory, 10 a.m.-to 4 p.m.; Garden of Lights, 5:30-9:30 p.m.; Garden Railway Exhibit, 10 a.m.-3:45 p.m.
December 24-26: Closed
December 31- January 2: Closed
December 24: Closes at 3 p.m.
December 25: Closed
December 31: Closes at 3 p.m.
January 1: Opens 12 p.m.
December 24: Open 12-4 p.m.
December 31: Open 12-4 p.m.
December 24: Open 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
December 31: Open 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Pauline Betz Addie Tennis
December 24: Open 6 a.m.-3 p.m.
December 25: Closed
December 31: Open 6 a.m.-3 p.m.
January 1: Open 12-6 p.m.
South Germantown Driving Range
December 24: Open 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
December 25: Closed
December 31: Open 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
January 1: Closed
Wheaton Ice Arena
December 24: Closes at 3 p.m.
December 25: Closed
December 31: Closes at 3 p.m.
January 1: Opens 12 p.m.
Wheaton Indoor Tennis
December 24: Open 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
December 25: Closed
December 31: Open 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
January 1: Open 12-6 p.m.
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/TTY), 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.