Timed tickets still available for Thanksgiving weekend.

Montgomery Parks is turning Brookside Gardens into a winter wonderland next week, with the opening of the Garden of Lights. The seasonal light display, featuring more than one million twinkling lights opens Friday, November 17, 2023, at 5:30 p.m. 


Per Montgomery County:The feeling of celebrating a holiday on a farm will be the theme on Saturday-Sunday, Dec. 2-3, at the annual “Christmas on the Farm” event at the Montgomery Agricultural History Farm Park in Derwood. Among the highlights will be the opportunity to see farm animals up close, to visit the park’s tool museum and to enjoy free cookies and cider. 

The Agricultural History Farm Park is located at 18400 Muncaster Road in Derwood. The event will be held from noon-5 p.m. each day. Admission and parking will be free. 


Montgomery Parks Open Parkways schedule will adjust starting on November 3, 2023, to reflect changes due to the start of standard time and the end of daylight saving time on November 5, resulting in fewer hours of daylight. Open Parkways Fall/Winter Schedule – beginning November 3, 2023:

Extended Open Parkways hours for November holidays:


Per Montgomery Parks: “Fall issettling in and winter is around the corner but Montgomery Parks has events and activities for all seasons. Garden of Lights opens, the return of the popular Acoustics and Ales, celebrating Maryland Emancipation Day and an opportunity to buy your pup’s love at our Holiday BARKet.

Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton


Montgomery Parks invites the public to celebrate the renovation of Hillandale Local Park on November 4, from 1–3 p.m., with a ribbon-cutting ceremony followed by games and refreshments. Guests are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items to help support the St. Camillus Food Pantry. The Hillandale Local Park renovation includes a new restroom and picnic shelter, multi-age playground, log challenge course, lighted basketball courts, a high-performance athletic field, and walking trail, as well as tree preservation and storm water management facilities.

WHAT: Hillandale Local Park Reopening Ribbon-Cutting Celebration


Per Montgomery County: “Montgomery Parks wants to hear from the community about future improvements to the Capital Crescent trail. The two upcoming meetings, to be held on Thursday, Nov. 2, and Wednesday, Nov. 8, will provide an opportunity for trail users to share ideas for renovations to the 3.5-mile portion of the trail in Montgomery County from Downtown Bethesda south to the District of Columbia line.

The Capital Crescent Trail 2.0 project will reimagine the trail by evaluating features such as width, signage, access, trail connectivity and amenities. Parks planners will consider public input and best practices in trail design to produce a long-term vision for the trail.


This Saturday, October 28th, the Kensington Volunteer Fire Department and the Town of Kensington are once again hosting their annual Halloween Movie Night. This year, “Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation” will be shown at dusk in St. Paul Park on the big screen. Costumes are encouraged for all attendees. The Kensington Volunteer Fire Department and the Town of Kensington will have refreshments available for purchase in the Park, including pizza, popcorn, and candy. Glowsticks will be available as well!

This year, the Kensington Volunteer Fire Department will also be visiting BabyCat Brewery’s 1st Halloween-iversary party. According to the Department’s Instagram story, they’ll bring one of their Fire Engines to the Brewery from 12PM-3PM.


Over 50 Himalayan cats and kittens have been found in the Wheaton area, most of them near the Sligo Creek Trail or in Wheaton Regional Park since late August (some were also found in nearby neighborhoods). Citizens have been engaged in an active effort to search for these cats and kittens and report sightings. Yesterday, the Montgomery County Cat Coalition (MC C³) stated that more cats are still on the loose and continue to be found:

“Wheaton area residents, we need your help in locating any more of the dumped Himalayan cats that are still outdoors. Though many have been rescued, some of them are still out there and these cats continue to be found. Email [email protected], if you see one of these cats. We are grateful to Dr. Hannah Levy and her staff at Cozy Cats Vet: A Cat Practice for the initial exams and treatments.


Per Montgomery County: “The Montgomery County Animal Services and Adoption Center (MCASAC) is holding a fee-waived adoption event for dogs 40 pounds and over through Oct. 31. The “Find Your Boo” adoption event is sponsored by Friends of Montgomery County Animals (FMCA).

The adoption process can be started online by filling out the adoption questionnaire and sending in the required documents. The questionnaire, required documents and more information on the adoption process can be found at https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/animalservices/adoption/howtoadopt.html.


Per Montgomery County: “Whether to provide lights on two ballpark diamond fields and a future rectangular field at Damascus Regional Park will be the focus of a meeting Montgomery Parks will be holding at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 24, at Hallie Wells Middle School in Clarksburg. The meeting also will be available virtually.

Hallie Wells Middle School is located at 11701 Little Seneca Parkway in Clarksburg. To join the meeting virtually, go to MoCoParks.org/DRPLights. Anyone who may be attending in person or virtually is asked to register in advance at mocoparks.org/DRPMeeting. Registration is optional.


View More Stories