Per Montgomery Parks: Light up long dark nights. Make decorations and gifts for friends and family. Walk through winter woods. Check out these suggested activities for Friday, December 16, to Sunday, December 18.
Winter Solstice: The winter solstice is on Wednesday, December 21. We have two programs to bring light and warmth to the countdown to the shortest day and longest night of the year.
Locust Grove Nature Center invites you to its Guided Labyrinth Walk and Campfire(opens in a new tab) program on Saturday, December 16, 4 pm to 6:30 pm, to slow down, meditate, and then get cozy near a blazing fire.
Maydale Nature Classroom offers its Winter Solstice Lantern Making(opens in a new tab) program on Saturday, December 17, 10:30 am, so you can craft your own tin lantern to light the way during the extended dark evening.
‘Tis the Season: The glow from Garden of Lights(opens in a new tab) brightens spirits, melts hearts, and brings smiles to visitors. Tickets are available nightly this weekend.
Deck the halls or give a handmade gift when you join two programs on Sunday, December 18. Children ages 3 to 8 in Maydale Nature Classroom’s Nature Ornaments(opens in a new tab) at 11 am use seeds, pinecones, twigs, and other natural elements to fashion decorations so you can bring the outdoors inside your home! Adult participants use natural materials to create a scene on wooden canvas during the Mixed Media Collage(opens in a new tab) program at Brookside Nature Center at 2:30 pm.
Ice skating is a favorite activity of the holiday season. Skate with friends and family during public skating sessions at Cabin John Ice Rink(opens in a new tab) and Wheaton Ice Arena(opens in a new tab). You also can take in the free Winter Ice Show(opens in a new tab) at Cabin John Ice Rink on Saturday, December 17, 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm.
December Hikes: There is so much to see and learn during a winter walk in the woods. Adults can take a group hike at Brookside Nature Center during the Naturalist Hike(opens in a new tab) on Saturday, December 17, at 10 am. On Sunday, December 18, families will enjoy the Hike Club(opens in a new tab) at Black Hill Visitor Center at 11 am, or the interactive and self-guided Signs of Winter Scavenger Hunt(opens in a new tab) at Maydale Nature Classroom from 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm.
For these and other activities, visit the calendar of events(opens in a new tab) and Things to Do(opens in a new tab) on our website.
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