The Scotland Juneteenth Festival, and its presenting sponsor Minds in Motion Child Care, are bringing recording artists Wyclef Jean, Gyptian, Jamaican reggae legend Tarrus Riley with opening act Dean Fraser & The Blak Soil Band, and more for the Freedom Day Concert at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds on Monday, June 19th. Tickets can be purchased here. Additional information below:

Celebrating the past and present of the first places African-Americans owned land in Montgomery County, the Scotland community of Potomac, has announced significant expansion of the annual Scotland Juneteenth Heritage Festival for 2023. Featuring a children’s carnival and musical performance highlighted above, as well as art exhibitions, food, sports, and presentations on Black history in this region, the events for the federal holiday on Monday, June 19, will be spread across the Cabin John Regional Park, Cabin John Village, the Montgomery County Fairgrounds, and the Scotland community on Seven Locks Road.


Per Montgomery County Public Schools: The annual Pride Town Hall will be held from 8:30 a.m. to noon on Saturday, May 20 at Walter Johnson High School. Students and their families, staff, youth service providers and community members are welcome to attend. The event will feature workshops, activities for elementary students, community building for secondary students and a resource fair.

The keynote speaker is Elizabeth Graham, a local advocate who speaks to her lived experiences as a transgender, autistic woman. Graham works with the LGBTQIA+ community, helping to run a peer-led transgender support group. She is dedicated to supporting transgender and neurodivergent people. Walter Johnson is located at 6400 Rock Spring Drive in Bethesda. RSVP. LGBTQ+ webpage.


Following last week’s Sideline Swap at Dick’s in Wheaton, the swap will be hosting another local trade-in event at the Dick’s Sporting Good at Gaithersburg’s Rio Lakefront (2 Grand Corner Ave) from Friday, May 5th until Sunday, Sunday, May 7th. You can bring your gently-used sports gear to receive a gift card for the trade-in value. Sideline Swap is accepting hockey, baseball, lacrosse, golf, ski gear & more. Sideline Swap runs from 2pm-7pm on Friday, 10am-6pm on Saturday, and 10am-6pm on Sunday. Items accepted include:

Items not accepted include:


The Greek Orthodox Church at St. George in Bethesda, Md.will hold its annual Greek Festival on Saturday, May 20, 2023, starting at 11 a.m. The festival will be held on the church grounds at 7701 Bradley Boulevard in Bethesda, and is free and open to the public.

This one-day family-friendly event will feature live music, ethnic Greek food and pastries, beverages, including Greek beer and wine, vendors and traditional Greek folk dance performances from St. George’s kindergarten through high school aged students. These talented group of dancers will perform at 3 p.m. and at 6:30 p.m., followed by a Taverna Night with live music for all to enjoy.


On Saturday May 6, 2023, BEYOND COMICS, located at 18749 B N Frederick Road in Gaithersburg, will be celebrating FREE COMIC BOOK DAY! The annual event, now in its 22nd year, is held in comic shops across the country. Comics publishers including Marvel, DC, Dark Horse, IDW, Image, and several others release special editions of their comics to be given away to customers. BEYOND COMICS will also be holding sales that day, as well as an in-store appearance by comics and trading card artist John Watkins-Chow, who will be doing free sketches for customers.

Additionally, BEYOND COMICS will be holding a food drive on the day; those who bring in a non-perishable food donation will be allowed to take extra free comics! “BEYOND COMICS will be giving away comics as long as they last, and running sales all day!” BEYOND COMICS in Frederick, MD, located at 5632 Buckeystown Pike, will also be celebrating the day with free comics, sales, artist appearances, and a food drive. Featured photo courtesy of Google Maps.


Montgomery Parks is hosting a pit stop for people pedaling to work on national Bike To Work Day. “Bike riders encouraged to stop by for refreshments and giveaways on  Friday, May 19, 2023.” The pit stop will take place between 7am-9am at Marian Fryer Town Plaza, located at 2424 Reedie Drive in Wheaton.

Per Montgomery Parks: Montgomery Parks is co-sponsoring the pit stop with the County Department of Transportation.  It willwelcome cyclists in a fun atmosphere with refreshments and giveaways. There are 14 Bike To Work pit stops scheduled in Montgomery County, and more than a hundred in the Washington metropolitan area. Bike To Work Day is a national effort to encourage people to commute to work on bikes instead of by car. The benefits of cycling include better physical health through exercise and improved mental health resulting from time spent outdoors.   Cycling can also help improve air quality by cutting down on harmful fossil fuel emissions.  Bike To Work Day organizers hope to raise awareness about the rules of the road for drivers, pedestrians,and cyclists. And highlight the need for fair access to low-stress roadways and connected trails for all to use safely.


Join the City of Gaithersburg for Casey Community Center’s Be Your Best Fest, a fun, free, family friendly community event with performances, games, activities, information tables, crafts, giveaways, and more! Be Your Best Fest celebrates everything that encourages us to live our best lives & be our best selves. There will be fun activities for the whole family. Be Your Best Fest takes place at the Casey Community Center (810 S Frederick Ave) on Saturday, May 6th from 1pm-3pm.

The Mayor & City Council, City’s Department of Public Works and Casey Community Center staff, contractors with Brawner Builders, Inc., and local residents will gather to officially open the new pedestrian bridge located at O’Neal Drive & Nancy Place. The construction contractor, Brawner Builders, Inc., demolished and removed the previous existing bridge and installed a new pre-engineered twin galvanized steel girder pedestrian bridge with galvanized steel decking, railing, and handrails. The new bridge improves safety for pedestrians & cyclists and connects local neighborhood families to the many resources and activities at Casey Community Center. Learn more about the project here.


Cirque Italia presents Water Circus. “The name reflects a unique attribute under the tent, as the show features a custom designed water stage that travels from city to city. The stage holds 35,000 gallon of water that performers dazzle over while thrilling the audience with every move. With this unique feature under the tent, guests will be surprised, for it’s a show of its own!”


Sideline Swap is hosting a trade-in event at the Dick’s Sporting Good in Wheaton Mall (11160 Veirs Mill Rd) from Friday, April 28th until Sunday, April 30th. You can bring your gently-used sports gear to receive a gift card for the trade-in value. Sideline Swap is accepting hockey, baseball, lacrosse, golf, ski gear & more. Sideline Swap runs from 2pm-7pm on Friday, 10am-6pm on Saturday, and 10am-6pm on Sunday. Items accepted include:

Items not accepted include:


Montgomery Parks, part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, announces its lineup of special events and programs in May for people of all ages. Events include the start of Acoustics and Ales and Salsa in the Park programs, guided hikes on the Underground Railroad Experience Trail, and Family Archaeology Day. May events in Montgomery Parks include: 

Kingsley Schoolhouse Tour | First Sunday of the month through October 2023 | 1 – 4 p.m.


Arts on the Green presents the 37th annual juried art exhibition of the Gaithersburg Fine Arts Association (GFAA). The exhibit is on display at the Kentlands Mansion Gallery through July 16. Meet the artists at a free reception on Thursday, April 27 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. All are welcome.

The juror for this year’s exhibit is Michael Shibley, who has been recognized throughout the art community with a variety of awards and professional citations. His original watercolors, which focus on light, shape & colors in the natural and man-made landscape, can be found in both public & private collections in the Washington, D.C. area & across the country.


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