What: Four Mile Ranger Guided History Hike from the Carousel in Glen Echo Park to the C&O Canal National Historical Park, Union Arch Bridge and the Clara Barton NHS

When: Saturday, November 9, 2024 at 9:30 a.m. and Saturday, November 16 at 9:30 a.m.

Starting Point: The Dentzel Carousel at Glen Echo Park, 7300 MacArthur Blvd. Glen Echo, MD 20812

This two hour, four mile guided hike starts at the Carousel in Glen Echo Park. We will walk through the park and uncover the story of what was once Washington’s premiere amusement park. Next, we will walk a downhill trail and cross over the C&O Canal where we will learn about African American canal worker, George Pointer. We will walk up-stream before crossing the canal again and ascending the hill to learn about the Union Arch Bridge, part of the Washington Aqueduct. Finally, we will stroll through the town of Glen Echo to Clara Barton National Historic Site where we will discover the history of the house and the story of its famous resident, the founder of the American Red Cross, Clara Barton. Clara Barton NHS is adjacent to Glen Echo Park where the hike started.

This four mile circuit hike is for the physically fit walker. There is elevation change between MacArthur Blvd. and the C&O Canal. Some sections of unpaved trail are uneven with rocks and tree roots. Please wear comfortable walking shoes. Ample parking is available in the main Glen Echo Park parking lot off Oxford Road. Please e-mail kevin_patti@nps.gov to register for this free program. You may also call, 301-320-1400, if you have any questions.

What: Four Mile Ranger Guided History Hike from the Carousel in Glen Echo Park to the C&O Canal National Historical Park, Union Arch Bridge and the Clara Barton NHS

When: Saturday, November 9, 2024 at 9:30 a.m. and Saturday, November 16 at 9:30 a.m.

Starting Point: The Dentzel Carousel at Glen Echo Park, 7300 MacArthur Blvd. Glen Echo, MD 20812

This two hour, four mile guided hike starts at the Carousel in Glen Echo Park. We will walk through the park and uncover the story of what was once Washington’s premiere amusement park. Next, we will walk a downhill trail and cross over the C&O Canal where we will learn about African American canal worker, George Pointer. We will walk up-stream before crossing the canal again and ascending the hill to learn about the Union Arch Bridge, part of the Washington Aqueduct. Finally, we will stroll through the town of Glen Echo to Clara Barton National Historic Site where we will discover the history of the house and the story of its famous resident, the founder of the American Red Cross, Clara Barton. Clara Barton NHS is adjacent to Glen Echo Park where the hike started.

This four mile circuit hike is for the physically fit walker. There is elevation change between MacArthur Blvd. and the C&O Canal. Some sections of unpaved trail are uneven with rocks and tree roots. Please wear comfortable walking shoes. Ample parking is available in the main Glen Echo Park parking lot off Oxford Road. Please e-mail kevin_patti@nps.gov to register for this free program. You may also call, 301-320-1400, if you have any questions.

Join the Glen Echo Park Partnership for Arts & Culture and the National Park Service’s George Washington Memorial Parkway as we honor the culture and history of Native Americans with the presentation of Tribal Voices: A Native American Heritage Celebration on Sunday, November 3, 2024 from 1pm to 4pm in the Park’s historic Bumper Car Pavilion.

Join us for some Halloween fun at Glen Echo Park! Activities include decorating a Trick-or-Treat bag and other crafts, a festive fall photo-op (say that 10 times!), a costume contest (will you win for "Most Spooky," "Most Creative," or "Best Group?"), and Trick-or-Treating at our resident art studios and galleries. We focus on the arts-y & crafts-y more than the scary, but we love to see all the costumes – even the scary ones!

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In the summer of 1960, brave protestors brought about the end of segregation at the privately-owned Glen Echo Amusement Park. To honor the 65th anniversary of that Summer of Protest, the Glen Echo Park Partnership for Arts and Culture presents three screenings of award-winning filmmaker Ilana Trachtman’s documentary telling this compelling story: “Ain’t No Back to a Merry-Go-Round.” This is the first time the film will be screened at Glen Echo Park! One screening will be followed by a Q&A with two of the protesters. In cooperation with the National Park Service, we will present a Park History Tour with an NPS Ranger. And rides on our historic 1921 Dentzel carousel will be free all day (on June 28 only). There will be an exhibition of civil rights protest photos on display as well.

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As part of Heritage Montgomery's 25th annual Heritage Days weekend, the Partnership presents special programming on Sunday, June 30. 

In the summer of 1960, brave protestors brought about the end of segregation at the privately-owned Glen Echo Amusement Park. To honor the 64th anniversary of that Summer of Protest, we will present: clips from the new documentary film “Ain’t No Back to A Merry-Go-Round,” which tells the story of the Glen Echo Amusement Park protests; arts & crafts projects; musical performances featuring freedom songs by Washington Revels' Heritage Voices and I&I Riddim (Reggae band); National Park Service ranger-led tours and a civil rights photo exhibit; and free carousel rides.

View the full schedule on the event page here>>

The Washington Folk Festival returns this year after a one-year hiatus on October 19, 12pm to 8:30pm. Now a one-day event, expect a jam-packed roster full of music, dancing, and storytelling ranging from American to International styles: bluegrass to Celtic, Klezmer to Americana, blues to Zydeco, we cover folk music from around the world! Five stages, hundreds of performers, food trucks, a picnic area, and it’s all free! Donations gratefully accepted. Please note that parking is on-site this year so car-pooling is highly recommended.

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The Glen Echo Park Partnership for Arts and Culture is pleased to present a family-friendly Music FREE-for-All over Labor Day Weekend! Join us for FREE live music concerts with music you can dance to—it's like an extended day-long summer concert! Live music will fill the Bumper Car Pavilion from 12pm to 6pm on Saturday, August 30, 2025.

Nowhere Men (Beatles acoustic tribute) | 12:00pm - 1:00pm

Karen Collins & the Backroads Band | 1:30pm - 2:30pm

Carly Harvey Trio | 3:00pm - 4:00pm

The Experience Band & Show | 4:30pm - 5:30pm

RSVP >>

RSVP preferred, not required. There is no check-in at this event.

In between concerts, be sure to check out the 54th Annual Labor Day Art Show in the Spanish Ballroom, 12:00pm - 6:00pm.

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Tuesday, April 29th 2025 at 7:30pm, come explore the beauty and mystery of the natural world as found in poetry and music. A free concert in Glen Echo’s iconic Bumper Car Pavilion featuring the poetry of Robert Frost, songs of Joni Mitchell, alongside poems submitted by artists from the DC metro area and around the globe, in celebration of National Poetry Month.

Performances include: Helen Hayes award-winning actors Rick Foucheux, and acclaimed vocal artist Christopher Lane, plus, Helen Hayes nominated actor Chris Stezin, Hamner Theater artistic director Boomie Pedersen, Grammy-recognized Chicago trumpeter Markus Rutz, acclaimed jazz pianist Adrian Ruiz, composer and guitarist Richard C. Washer and vocalist Kathleen Manuel.

*This concert is presented in cooperation with The Glen Echo Partnership for Arts & Culture.

Learn More >> | Park Map >>

Tuesday, April 29th 2025 at 7:30pm, come explore the beauty and mystery of the natural world as found in poetry and music. A free concert in Glen Echo’s iconic Bumper Car Pavilion featuring the poetry of Robert Frost, songs of Joni Mitchell, alongside poems submitted by artists from the DC metro area and around the globe, in celebration of National Poetry Month.

Performances include: Helen Hayes award-winning actors Rick Foucheux, and acclaimed vocal artist Christopher Lane, plus, Helen Hayes nominated actor Chris Stezin, Hamner Theater artistic director Boomie Pedersen, Grammy-recognized Chicago trumpeter Markus Rutz, acclaimed jazz pianist Adrian Ruiz, composer and guitarist Richard C. Washer and vocalist Kathleen Manuel.

*This concert is presented in cooperation with The Glen Echo Partnership for Arts & Culture.

Learn More >> | Park Map >>