Montgomery Parks

10/16/2026

No school tomorrow? No problem! Join us for Little Jams at Cabin John Regional Park at 10 am! Jennifer Schimpf Trio will be playing energetic live music that the whole family can enjoy.

Info:

Enjoy Sunday Serenade — free outdoor concerts by Montgomery Parks featuring live music, food, and family‑friendly fun under the stars.

10/15/2026

No matter what, you got to strut! Feminist Bird Club and Montgomery Parks invite you to hit the runway for a birdy fashion show! Dress up as a bird of your choice using everyday clothing and accessories, then strut your feathers on an ADA-accessible "runway" with a flock of volunteer judges offering their eyes for bird style. Winners will earn a small prize for their birdy threads. The Fashion Show will take place on Friday, October 23 from 7 to 9 pm at Meadowside Nature Center. Tickets are $10. Light refreshments, snacks, music, and looks will be served!

Register: https://mocoparks.org/4hpWuf9

10/14/2026

‘Wood’ you look at that! The Montgomery Parks Urban Wood Sale is back on Saturday, November 14, at the Green Farm Maintenance Facility. From 8 am to 2 pm, you can find that perfect piece of wood for your next project! The sale features cedar, pine, poplar, oak, beech, ash, and more. This year, customers can find kiln-dried, planed, and air-dried wood. Wood is available in different sizes and thickness, and prices vary from $5 to $400, while supplies last.

Learn more: https://mocoparks.org/3W8vXaQ

10/14/2026

Eat, drink, and be scary! On Saturday, October 24, join us at Black Hill Regional Park at 3:30 pm for a magical family-friendly evening filled with live dueling pianos music by Bialek’s Music, tasty brews and food, and a cozy firepit. Watch witches paddle across the lake or don your own witchy wear and join them at 4:30 pm. Registration is required for paddling, and you must bring your own watercraft. S’more supplies will be available for purchase.

Learn more about Acoustics & Ales Witchy Waters: https://mocoparks.org/4hbRZGf

10/12/2026

Fall in love with Fall! Montgomery Parks has just the event for you to make the most of Autumn. Check out some of the upcoming events featured in this week’s newsletter:

-BOO-gie in the Barn!: Wednesday, October 14 | 6 to 8 pm | Ages 16+ | $15 | Agricultural History Farm Park

-Little Farmer Storytime: Saturday, October 17 | 10 to 11 am | Ages 5 and Under | $7 | Agricultural History Farm Park

-Nature Explorers – Tracks 101: Saturday, October 17 | 10:30 to 11:30 am | Ages 3+ | $7 | Maydale Nature Classroom

-Birdability Week – Early Morning Pontoon Cruise: Friday, October 23 | 8:30 to 10 am | Ages 18+ | $8 | Black Hill Discovery Center

-Hands-On History – 19th Century Laundry: Saturday, October 24 | 10 to 11:30 am | Ages 9 to 14 | $12 | Oakley Cabin African American Museum & Park

-Make & Take – Pumpkin Bird Feeders: Saturday, October 24 | 10:30 am to 12 pm | Ages 6+ | $10 | Brookside Nature Center

-Sparks, S’mores and Spooky Stories: Fridays, October 30 and November 6 | 7 to 8 pm | Ages 12+ | $7 | Meadowside Nature Center

-Art Outside for Teens: Monday, November 2 | 9 am to 3:30 pm | Ages 11 to 14 | $45 | Brookside Nature Center

Want to learn about more programs? Read and subscribe to our Nature Newsletter here: https://mocoparks.org/4zqZIX5

10/12/2026

Another season of winter cheer is right around the corner. Tickets to Brookside Gardens’ winter lights show, Garden of Lights are on sale today. Reserve your spot to visit this magical winter wonderland from late November to early January.

Get your tickets at https://mocoparks.org/3CoNPF1

10/12/2026

Want to get out and bike on our trails? Know before you go! Class 1 (pedal assist) ebikes and adaptive mountain bikes are now allowed on our natural surface trails!

Class 2 and 3, electric dirt bikes and other throttled motorized bikes remain prohibited on all Montgomery Parks trails. This is because they cause erosion, damage trails and natural habitats, and create safety risks.

See something unsafe on our trails? Report misuse, unsafe behavior, or trail damage to Park Police or Customer Service by calling the non-emergency number 301-949-8010.

Help us keep our trails safe for everyone to enjoy! https://mocoparks.org/4uWc3Qp

10/10/2026

We're naming the photo album of the season. Filled with fun, autumn leaves, and fantastic memories. What fall memory are you putting in this album?

From the top row, left to right:
Agricultural History Farm Park, Wheaton Regional Park, Black Hill Regional Park
Agricultural History Farm Park x2, Lake Needwood
Lake Needwood, Agricultural History Farm Park, Brookside Gardens

10/09/2026

We're in for a spooky twist this as we meet Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana.)

Witch hazel is a deciduous tree or shrub that can be anywhere from 8 to 20 feet tall. The bark is a light brown that is smooth and scaly; the inner bark is a reddish purple. The flowers bloom from late September to late November; occasionally, they bloom in December, providing resources for late-season pollinators. The flowers grow in clusters, are pale to bright yellow, rarely orange or reddish, and have four ribbon-shaped petals that are about 1 to 2 centimeters long.

Witch hazel has a fruit that is usually fertilized in May and reaches maturity in late August. The fruit is a hard, woody capsule that ranges from 10 to 14 millimeters long. Typically in late October, it splits explosively at the apex and ejects two shiny black seeds up to 33 feet away from the parent plant.

Read more about witch hazel with iNaturalist: https://mocoparks.org/4hYu0tk

10/09/2026

We're chirping with joy as we get closer to Birdability Week! Celebrate the beauty of birds while participating in an inclusive and accommodating environment within the birding community. From October 19 through October 25, you can enjoy events like:

55+ Nature Book Club: October 20 | 9 to 11 am | All Ages | FREE | Sligo-Dennis Park Activity Building

Guided Bird Walk with ASL Interpretation: October 21 | 9 to 11 am | All Ages | FREE | Meadowside Nature Center

Early Morning Pontoon Cruise: October 23 | 8:30 to 10 am | Ages 18+ | $8 | Black Hill Discovery Center

Birding 101: October 23 | 9 to 10 am | Ages 18+ | FREE | Locust Grove Nature Center

Socials for 55+ Compostable Bird Feeders: October 23 | 10:30 am to 12 pm | Ages 18+ | $8 | Locust Grove Nature Center

Steal Their Look- A Birdy Fashion Show: October 23 | 7 to 9 pm | Ages 14+ | $10 | Meadowside Nature Center

Birdability Week Yoga- All Levels, All Bodies: October 24 | 11 am to 12 pm | Ages 16+ | $12 | Meadowside Nature Center

Make & Take- Pumpkin Bird Feeders: October 24 | 10:30 am to 12 pm | Ages 6+ | $10 | Brookside Nature Center

Learn more and register today: https://mocoparks.org/47KX3eY