Courtesy Montgomery County Alcohol Beverage Services (ABS)
Per Montgomery County: Montgomery County Alcohol Beverage Services (ABS) has received the “Best Enforcement Program” award from national trade magazine StateWays for its loss prevention program that reduces theft, fraud and operational errors. The program preserves profits that are then used for County programs. It is one of the publication’s nine annual Best Practices awards.
The StateWays Best Practices Award will be presented to ABS at a ceremony on Oct. 24 at the National Alcohol Beverage Control Association’s Administrators Conference in Charleston, W. Va.
Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to the 8400 blk of Old Georgetown Road, near Greenwich Neighborhood Park, in Bethesda for the report of a child pedestrian struck by a driver. According to Montgomery County Police, Old Georgetown Road is closed at Glenwood Rd. Drivers should seek an alternate route and expect significant delays.
TRAFFIC ADVISORY: Old Georgetown Road at Glenwood Road is shut down following a collision. Drivers should seek an alternate route. #MCPD#MCPNewspic.twitter.com/rRwe3ctVAc
The DMV Chocolate & Coffee Festival is coming to Montgomery County on November 7 & 8, 2026, at the Adventist HealthCare Fieldhouse in Germantown, Maryland. Get ready to sip, sample, shop, and enjoy a full weekend of family-friendly fun!
Sip, Sample & Shop
Get ready to explore a festival floor filled with top chocolate makers, coffee roasters, bakeries, specialty food vendors, artisan brands and small businesses from across the region and beyond. Sample new flavors, meet the people behind the products and shop directly from the talented makers and businesses who created them.
Experience Chocolate History
One of the highlights of this year’s festival is a large-scale chocolate sculpture of George Washington on horseback, created by award-winning chocolate artist Paul Joachim.
The sculpture will be part of a special exhibit exploring chocolate’s place in early American history. Guests can see the sculpture up close, sample colonial-style drinking chocolate, and shop the exclusive Collector’s Heritage Box inspired by the historic drink. It’s a unique opportunity to experience chocolate through art, history, and taste all in one place.
Seminars, Demonstrations & More
Visit the Sip & Share Seminar Classroom for educational sessions and demonstrations throughout the weekend, all included with your festival admission. Explore topics ranging from ancestral cacao in the Ecuadorian Amazon and the realities of starting a coffee business to craft chocolate and festival trivia. Learn directly from experts and makers as they share their knowledge, demonstrate their craft and offer a closer look at how their products are made.
Fun for All Ages
The DMV Chocolate & Coffee Festival offers an experience the whole family can enjoy. Kids under 12 receive free admission with a ticketed adult and can get creative at our complimentary kids’ craft tables. Festival mascots Chunk & Bean will also be on-site for meet-and-greets and photo opportunities throughout the weekend. Families can even shop for Chunk & Bean plushies, children’s books and other kid-friendly items.
Whether you’re a serious chocolate lover, a coffee enthusiast, a foodie or simply looking for a fun fall outing, there’s something for everyone to see, taste, shop and enjoy.
Save on Tickets
The DMV Chocolate & Coffee Festival Maryland Edition takes place November 7 & 8, 2026, at the Adventist HealthCare Fieldhouse in Germantown, Maryland.
MoCo Show readers can use code MOCO10 at checkout to save 10% on online festival tickets. Grab your tickets and get ready to sip, sample and shop at one of the sweetest weekends of the fall!
According to the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office, “Today, in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, the Honorable Karla Smith sentenced defendant, Dakari Thomas, 20, of Silver Spring, to 25 years in prison suspending all but 12 years to serve and five years of supervised probation upon release. Judge Smith recommended Thomas be admitted into the Patuxent Youthful Offenders program while incarcerated.
On July 6, 2023, Thomas pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for the stabbing death of Getro Marius Benamna. The defendant and victim encountered one another along the 900 block of Ellsworth Drive in Silver Spring on December 7th, 2021 and began to conduct a drug transaction. Thomas was attempting to pass off another substance as marijuana. The two men became involved in a physical altercation and Thomas produced a knife, fatally stabbing Benamna. Assistant State’s Attorneys Cortenous Herbert and John Lalos prosecuted this case.”
Per Montgomery County: Governor Wes Moore today announced a record investment in Maryland arts organizations through the state’s Arts Relief initiative. Through $40 million in supplemental funding added to the Maryland State Arts Council’s annual appropriation of $28.9 million in FY23, this record investment is helping arts organizations cope with the lasting financial impacts of the pandemic, spurring arts projects and employment in all 24 Maryland jurisdictions, and has elevated Maryland to second in the nation in per capita spending on the arts in FY23.
“Even as the world continues to reopen, we know that many arts organizations are finding it difficult to return to pre-pandemic audience levels. The same is true for artists, who are still getting back on their feet after recent challenges,” said Gov. Moore. “Thanks to this historic investment, which illustrates how much we value a strong creative economy, our arts ecosystem is poised to thrive in the coming years.”
The museum’s annual Native Art Market features award-winning and innovative Indigenous artists from across the Western Hemisphere. This event invites lovers of art and craftsmanship to meet Indigenous artists and learn about the traditional arts and contemporary Indigenous creativity. Visitors will have the opportunity to purchase traditional and contemporary handcrafted artworks, including beadwork, jewelry, paintings, photography, pottery, and sculpture.
Olney, MD Art Gallery and Studio to present a Pop-Culture themed group Art Exhibit and Artists’ Alley event.
Highly Animated is a 2-month long celebration of the vibrant world of fan art. From classic JRPG nostalgia, to the latest anime obsessions, to amazing original characters, this exhibition will highlight the passion, creativity and talent within fan communities.
Per Westfield Montgomery: This autumn, fall fashion takes center stage at Westfield Montgomery Mall’s remix event on Saturday, October 7. The city-making destination for high-brand fashion, luxury, and entertainment will welcome the new season with appearances from reality TV personalities, designer customizations, personal styling, fun photo opportunities, and more.
Ashley Darby and Gabby Prescod will headline the event with a fireside chat from 1pm to 2pm in the Nordstrom Wing on the Lower Level. Fresh off the latest season of runway shows from New York and Paris Fashion Week, Fashion editor Gabby Prescod will lead a lively discussion with fan favorite and Montgomery County native, Ashley Darby. Get a sneak peek into their lives and behind-the-scenes tales of their most memorable fashion statements. Beyond the glitz and the glam, discover the heart, passion, and sensibilities that drive their styles.
Per Burtonsville Day organizers: “The Burtonsville Day Celebration Planning Committee met this morning and have decided to cancel our 2023 32nd Annual Burtonsville Day Parade and Celebration event. This we did in concern of both participants’ and organizers’ health and safety concerns. This is an unfortunate and sad decision for all of us and also event participants who show up each year but was a necessary decision to be made. Thank you for all your support and understanding. We hope to see you all next year. Stay safe.”
Prior to Cancellation: “The 32nd Annual Burtonsville Day Parade and Festival on Saturday, Sept. 23, will celebrate the theme of “Discovering East County.” The festivities will include three musical performances in association with the Music Center at Strathmore. The one-mile parade will begin at Paint Branch High School and conclude at the Marilyn J. Praisner Library and Community Recreation Center, which is located at 14906 Old Columbia Pike in Burtonsville. The festival will follow from 11 a,m.-3 p.m. on the grounds of the community center.
Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service (MCFRS) responded to a collision with vehicle fire on Friday, September 22 on Great Seneca Highway, near Wisteria Dr. in Germantown. According to Chief Spokesperson for MCFRS Pete Piringer, “Several people left the scene quickly, otherwise vehicle fire is being being extinguished. It appears people that left the scene are in the company of police.
We will provide an update if additional information becomes available. Featured photo courtesy of @shxt_idk on Instagram.
Margarita Bar & Grill is now open at 19201 Frederick Rd in Germantown. The restaurant’s menu features a variety of tacos, burritos, chimichangas, pupusas, fajitas, steaks, salad, and seafood. Margarita options include Cadillac, Skinny, Flavored, Diablo, and Crazy. A video of the space and a few menu items is available in the video below.
Margarita Bar & Grill has taken over the space that was previously occupied by the Fraternal Order of Eagle #3509 and Captain Mori’s Seafood House. Seafood in the Buff, a mobile steamed crab business, operates out of the parking lot next to this location in the summer months.
Per Montgomery County: The Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) will host a free residential scrap tire drop-off event from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 25–29 at the Shady Grove Processing Facility and Transfer Station located at 16101 Frederick Rd, in Derwood. The limit for the free recycling is 10 tires per County resident.
“The more items we can put to reuse the better for all of us, said County Executive Marc Elrich.”This event is a convenient opportunity for residents to do their part for our environment by turning old tires into new products and materials. By recycling more materials, we are throwing away less trash which moves us closer to our zero waste goals.”
Per Montgomery County: The Montgomery County Office of Animal Services will host a free animal welfare presentation from 7-8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 27, in the County Executive Office Building Auditorium in Rockville. Noted animal welfare advocate and author Sara Pizano, founder of Team Shelter USA, will talk about best practices for shelters.
Dr. Pizano is also affiliated with Maddie’s Million Pet Challenge, which fosters community-centered programs and outreach efforts to ensure optimal outcomes for every pet by offering consultations and mentoring services. The program will provide the County with a complimentary shelter consultation.
