CalendarClasses, Camps & WorkshopsKids and the ParkDanceAbout Glen Echo ParkGLEN ECHO PARK is a magical place situated on the Potomac palisades near Bethesda, Maryland. Originally a Chautauqua retreat, then an amusement park, this National Park is now host to a variety of arts, environmental and history programs. Take a class in pottery, painting, photography, or glass art. Enjoy a puppet show or theater performance with your family and ride the carousel. Dance in our exquisite ballroom or refine your steps in one of our dance classes. Learn more about the environment while you play, or take a ranger-guided historic tour. It's all here at the Park. We hope to see you soon!
"Retroville" is the 1950s theme for the 2008 Gala in the Park to benefit the Glen Echo Park Partnership for Arts and Culture. Join us for an exquisite evening with a cocktail reception in the Bumper Car Pavilion followed by dinner and dancing to the music of the Daryl Davis Band in the Spanish Ballroom. This year's event will honor Senator Barbara A. Mikulski*, Maryland State Senator Brian E. Frosh, and the Puppet Co. For ticket information click here. (6:30pm-midnight)
*Invited Guest
This year, the Glen Echo Park Partnership for Arts and Culture is pleased to offer a $20 per person "Retroville Dance" ticket. "Retroville Dance" ticket holders will enjoy dancing to the Daryl Davis Band, a dessert buffet, dance demonstrations by Markus Smith and Deonna Ball and their Youth Team as well as the Smooth & EZ Hand Dance Institute (tentative), plus free carousel rides. The dance-only portion of the event is from 9:30 - 11:30 pm. All proceeds from “Retroville” benefit the Partnership. Click here for information about the "dance only" option.
One of the greater Washington area’s true treasures, the historic Glen Echo Park Dentzel carousel opened for its 88th year on April 26, 2008. Tickets are $1.00 per ride. Click here for the 2008 carousel schedule.
Hours (May–August): Mon–Thurs, 11:00am to 3:00pm / Fri–Sun, 11:00am to 10:00pm
Spring classes are now starting! Try out one of our new classes in basketry, book and paper arts, music, mixed media and more, or brush up your skills in pottery, fused and blown glass, photography, drawing and painting. Social dance classes have returned so check out the many styles offered including ballroom, blues, latin, lindy, swing, waltz and zydeco. Online registration is now available for spring and summer classes. Visit our classes page to browse our catalogs and register directly. For a PDF version of the spring/summber catalog click here.
The deadline for proposals has been extended to May 27, 2008. The Glen Echo Park Partnership for Arts and Culture, Inc. is seeking visual artists and nonprofit visual arts organizations to join the Park's Resident Artists and to lease studio space in the refurbished Chautauqua Tower. Two studios will be available for a 1-3 year lease starting on July 1, 2008. To download the Request for Proposals click here.
The Glen Echo Park Partnership for Arts and Culture is now accepting new course proposals from visual arts, media and crafts instructors for the our fall and winter 2008-2009 sessions (September 2008 through February 2009). For further details and to download an application form click here. All details concerning submission of a proposal are in this document. The deadline for submissions is Monday, May 12.
The Partnership is currently seeking part-time staff for several positions. Click here for a full list of employment opportunities at the Park.
For inclement weather and Park closing information please call, 301.320.2330.
The Glen Echo Park Partnership for Arts and Culture, Inc. is funded by an operating grant from the Maryland State Arts Council, an agency dedicated to cultivating a vibrant cultural community where the arts thrive, and also by funding from the Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County. All programs are produced in cooperation with the National Park Service and Montgomery County, Maryland.
