The Germantown Volunteer Fire Department is hosting its annual open house event at the department (20001 Crystal Rock Dr. Germantown, MD 20874) on Saturday, September 17th from 12pm until 3pm. The open house will consist of a big mix of activities, vendors, and things to see. “As a department, we’re just excited to reach back out into the community after three long years! We got a last minute notification that we were allowed to hold this event again and we jumped at the opportunity to hold it. This event has all come together in just under 5 weeks.”

People will be able to park in the Regal Movie Theater Parking Lot and Aircraft Dr will be closed down between Century and Crystal Rock on the day of the event. Most of the activities will be on Aircraft drive just in front of the department. Activities and vendors will include:


Come dance and sing with worldwide super stars, Koo Koo Kanga Roo and Baltimore-based mega-talent, Baby Beats with Max and Root! A beloved featured musical artist on “Go Noodle” during Montgomery County Public Schools virtual learning, Westfield Montgomery now invites our smallest shoppers and friends to see the performers that brought us so much fun and joy in your living rooms- in person! The event will take place on Saturday, October 1st and anyone interested can register here.

Opening for Koo Koo Kanga Roo, jam to the ABC’s with Max and Root, a Baltimore Based hip hop and beatboxing duo straight out of Baltimore. In between listen to a couple of tunes from children’s performers from Bach to Rock Music School.


Per the YMCA: Each year, for the past 39 years, the YMCA Bethesda-Chevy Chase and the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rotary have teamed up to host the annual Turkey Chase Charity Race. The event has run each year, except during Covid, on Thanksgiving Day in Bethesda and is the largest 10K in Montgomery County. This year, after a two year hiatus of the live event (it’s been held as a virtual event the past two years,)  the event will take place with a live 10K run on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 24.

In addition to the live 10K race, there remains a virtual option that allows registrants to walk, run or bike on their own any date from Nov. 12 to Nov. 27. Participants may choose to do a 5K run or walk (or a combination,) a two-mile fun run/walk or a 10-mile bike ride. Families, organizations and companies are encouraged to enroll and participate as teams in both the live and virtual options. Registration is open at turkeychase.com. On Thanksgiving Day, the 10K leads off at 8:30 a.m. in front of the YMCA (9401 Old Georgetown Rd., Bethesda, Md.) with the three turkey mascots—Goblet, Giblet and Gravy. Race packets may be picked up at the YMCA Bethesda-Chevy Chase on Nov. 22 and 23 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on race day (Thanksgiving morning) from 6 to 8:35 a.m.


Saints Constantine & Helen will hold its annual Greek festival this weekend. The festival will take place over three days– starting Friday, September 9th and lasting until Sunday, September 11th. It will take place on the grounds of Saints Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church, located at 701 Norwood Road in Silver Spring: Friday, 9/9: 4pm-9pm, Saturday, 9/10: 11am-9pm. Sunday, 9/11: 11am-7pm

You‘ll be able to enjoy homemade Greek dishes and desserts, such as gyros, souvlaki, and loukoumades or shop at local Greek vendors for Greek groceries, jewelry, and crafts all while enjoying Greek music with live performances from Greek dance troupes.


The 17th Annual Festival Salvadorenisimo is back at Montgomery County Fairgrounds in Gaithersburg on September 11th to celebrate the Independence Day of El Salvador. Doors open at 11am and the festivities will go until nightfall. This event brings in over 15,000 attendees each year.

The main stage will feature performances by top artists and personalities of the Salvadoran community, along with guest speakers from here in MoCo. The fair grounds will have hundreds of vendors selling for food, drinks, clothing, giveaways, and more (check out the flyer below for some of the performers). Anyone interested can get their tickets at http://FestivalSalvadoreno.com


The Damascus Freedom 5k is back for its 13th annual run. This event takes place along Magruder Branch Trail in Damascus, MD on Sunday, September 11th. This is a non-profit event that raises money for Disabled American Veterans, the USO, Hero Dogs, Fisher House, and the Wounded Warrior Project.

Aside form the 5k course, families enjoy music, food, balloon items, playground, and more. Visit http://DamascusFreedom5k.com to register. Flyer below:


Paranormal Cirque has postponed its planned Clarksburg Outlet shows from September 8-18th indefinitely due to permitting issues, according to a representative we spoke to from the company earlier today. In a corresponding move, the circus has extended its dates in Waldorf by adding shows from September 8th-11th. We were told that the shows have not yet been rescheduled and anyone interested in a refund can contact Paranormal Cirque via phone (941-704-8572) or the company website.

Paranormal Cirque previously ran at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds in Gaithersburg this past spring.  According to the event’s website, Paranormal Cirque is “a crazy yet fun fusion between Circus, theatre, and cabaret in perfect harmony with the evolution of a show that brings you back to when we dream .….. and when we had nightmares and fantasies. Scare, encompass, amuse and surprise are the ingredients for a mixture of emotions impossible to forget. This is truly a Paranormal experience like no other.” Tickets can be purchased at www.paranormalcirque.com Note: No-one under the age of 13 will be admitted to the show. Guests aged 13 – 17 must be accompanied by an adult.


The City of Gaithersburg invites you to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with educational & cultural presentations & activities. Residents are encouraged to learn about & celebrate Hispanic culture and participate in local events & programs taking place throughout the month, many coordinated by the City’s Multicultural Affairs Committee. The Mayor & City Council will officially designating September 15 through October 15, 2022 as “Hispanic Heritage Month” in the City of Gaithersburg. The official proclamation will be presented at the September 6 Mayor & City Council meeting. The public is welcome to attend the meeting, watch it live on YouTube or watch it via Zoom by registering here.

The proclamation will be received by María Helena Malagón. María is the only child of Spanish Civil War refugees. She was born in the Dominican Republic and spent her childhood in Mexico, New York & Washington D.C. She has lived in Gaithersburg for more than 40 years. María’s interest & passion for multicultural issues led her to become one of the first ESOL teachers with Montgomery County Public Schools, including Gaithersburg Middle School. In 1984, she was selected to be the Director of the Division of ESOL/Bilingual Programs, a position she held until her retirement in 2002. As the Director, she brought together a highly talented multilingual/multicultural team of individuals who helped develop & implement instructional & support services for more than 11,000 students in 185 schools & their families. María served on numerous local, state & national committees, advocating for English language learners. After retiring, María began volunteering at Hero Dogs, a Gaithersburg-based service-dog training organization. With her Labradors, she makes therapy visits to hospitals, schools & retirement communities including Asbury Methodist Village.


Montgomery Parks is hosting its annual fall native plant sales at Locust Grove Nature Center in Bethesda and Maydale Nature Classroom in Colesville. The sales seek to bolster native vegetation for native pollinators. The plants help create habitats that are necessary for pollinators’ survival and support the local ecosystem. The online sale for Locust Grove Nature Center runs through Tuesday, Sept. 6, and an in-person sale is scheduled for Saturday-Sunday, Sept. 17-18. The native plant sale for Maydale Nature Center is exclusively online and begins Sept. 6.

The department’s Native Plant Program began 10 years ago at Pope Farm Nursery, which is located at 7400 Airpark Rd. in Gaithersburg. The program was established in 2012 to enhance habitats for native pollinators and has quadrupled since its founding from 12,000 to 50,000 plants produced per year.


The ninth annual Montgomery County “Friendship Picnic” will again bring people of diverse cultures and faiths together to make new friends and discuss ways to build a stronger community. The free picnic will be held from noon-5 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 18, at Wheaton Regional Park.

Wheaton Regional Park is located at located at 2000 Shorefield Rd. in Wheaton. A free satellite parking shuttle service to and from the Wheaton Ice Rink and athletic fields will be available.


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