Montgomery Parks will celebrate 60 years of Brookside Nature Center with a slate of free programs and activities from 1-7 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022. Montgomery County’s first nature center has been a staple in the community, educating the public as well as introducing people to environmental stewardship.The lineup of free activities is listed below:
Please note that parking at Brookside Nature Center is limited.
Montgomery Parks will host a screening of the 1970s camp cult classic, “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” on Friday, October 7, 2022, at Northwest Branch Recreational Park from 6 to 9:30 p.m.
“Montgomery Parks is excited to be bringing the screening for all Rocky generations to enjoy. This will be a fun and memorable introduction to the phenomenon that is Rocky Horror for those that have yet to experience it,” said Jordan Crumback, Parks activation specialist. The audience can begin arriving at 6 p.m. with blankets and chairs to get a spot on the lawn. Food and beer concessions will be available for purchase from Liquidity Aleworks, Catalyst Hot Dogs and O’Boy Pizza & Ice Cream before and during the show.
Saturdays & Sundays in October mean the popular Eye Spy Trains are back for Halloween. Great for families of all ages, Montgomery Parks’ Cabin John Miniature Train and the Wheaton Miniature Train will take a ride through “Trainslyvania.” Please visit ActiveMontgomery.org to purchase tickets and guarantee your seat at your ideal train time and date, tickets are available for purchase online.
A small number of tickets may be purchased onsite, but ride times will not be guaranteed. Registration closes the morning of the scheduled ride, so don’t wait, book your ride reservation online today! Trains will run Saturdays and Sundays beginning October 1 and ending October 30, 11a – 6p. For tickets purchased online, any train canceled due to weather or mechanical issues will result in a full refund automatically credited to your method of payment.
Montgomery Parks has a full lineup of special events in October, including Halloween train rides, “The Rocky Horror Picture Show”, fall-themed happy hours and Sunday jazz brunch.
October events in Montgomery Parks include:
Nature
Meadowside Nature Center has fall-themed outdoor activities during Sensory Friendly Days(opens in a new tab) on Friday, September 30, 10 am, for visitors of all ages with sensory processing differences, autism spectrum disorder, or developmental disabilities. Registration required.
Fall into autumn this weekend by volunteering, exercising, hiking, or learning about nature. Check out these activities around parks for Friday, September 23, to Sunday, September 25:
Volunteer
Montgomery Parks invites the public to its Athletic Field Showcase at Wheaton Regional Park’s F. Frank Rubini Athletic Complex, on Wednesday, September 28, 2022, from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Parks’ staff will demonstrate the processes to develop and care for athletic fields including construction, renovation and maintenance. “Athletic fields are one of the most popular amenities in our parks,” Mike Riley, director of Montgomery Parks, said. “We take great pride in providing top notch fields for athletes to play on and enjoy. Through the showcase we will provide a behind-the-scenes look into the work, resources and funding that goes into providing these fields.”
Montgomery Parks staff will cover topics related to baseball field caretaking, such as irrigation, aeration, seeding, nutrient management, as well as maintenance techniques for the infield, outfield, batter’s box and pitcher’s mound. “Montgomery Parks is a leader in athletic field technology at the parks and recreation level across the country. We pride ourselves on using technology for making data-driven decisions. Especially when it comes to resource conservation and being good stewards of the environment,” Cliff Driver, Montgomery Parks athletic field program manager, said.
Per Montgomery Parks: Montgomery Parks recognizes the Friends of Sligo Creek — a non-profit community organization that has dedicated the past 20 years to protect the health of the eight-mile-long tributary, which feeds into the Anacostia River.
The group’s mission is to protect and steward the creek by monitoring water quality, informing the public about the creek’s health, educating communities about upcoming projects and documenting the creek’s natural history as well as wildlife. They also prioritize removing invasive plants from the creek’s gulley and nearby areas and restoring the creek with native plants afterward. “The Friends of Sligo Creek are simply leaders in what they do. Their stewardship consistently shows us what’s possible when a community with a clear goal in mind comes together and focuses on what’s literally in their back yard,” Lynn Vismara, senior volunteer services and partnerships coordinator, said.
Maryland’s own Shane Gamble and his band will be taking the stage all day to help kick off Oktoberfest the right way. With two albums already released, Shane has made a name for himself in the music industry, with a Billboard Top 40 single “Beautiful Work” and a breakout number 1 hit “Turn My Way”. He’s also been featured on Spotify’s “Fresh Finds” and “New Music Nashville” playlists.
Interested in getting a birds eye view of Lake Needwood? Bring your kids for an exciting chance to climb some trees along the lake, spotted and supported by the Parks Tree Climbing Crew. This opportunity is for children only.
Dancing
Get your groove on at our last installment of Salsa in the Park(opens in a new tab). as we kick off Hispanic Heritage Month Thursday, September 15, 5 to 8 pm, at Long Branch-Arliss Neighborhood Park(opens in a new tab)! Follow instructors for dance lessons, listen to live music, and eat fantastic food and beverage. Free admission!
Montgomery Parks, part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, invites the public to an open house at Denizens Brewing Co. on Tuesday, September 20, 2022, from 6 – 8 p.m. Attendees will have an opportunity to learn more about a new park that will be located on the former site of the National Tire and Battery Company, near the intersection of East-West Highway and Georgia Avenue. The future South Silver Spring Park will serve as an active recreation space to complement the historic and contemplative setting of nearby Acorn Urban Park.
Parks staff will share information about the project and initial findings from a community survey about the future park and collect input from attendees about what type of amenities they would like in the park.