Montgomery Parks

Montgomery Parks An award-winning park system and part of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission.

Montgomery Parks, part of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, manages 421 parks and offers a variety of programs and events. For Montgomery Parks' mission, vision, and values: https://www.montgomeryparks.org/about/parks/.

Looking for something FREE this September? Make future memories with these exciting programs: -Fall Twilight Concert S...
09/01/2026

Looking for something FREE this September? Make future memories with these exciting programs:

-Fall Twilight Concert Series: September 2, 9, 16, & 23 | 6 to 7:30 pm | All Ages |Brookside Gardens
-Morning Tweets & Tea: September 4 | 9 to 10 am | Ages 18+ | Locust Grove Nature Center
-Walk up Bird Walk: September 5 | 10 to 10:30 am | Ages 8+ | Meadowside Nature Center
-Nature on Wheels- Nature Center Pop-Up: September 6 | 12 to 3 pm | All Ages | Cabin John Regional Park
-Kingsley Schoolhouse Tour: September 6 | 1 to 4 pm | All Ages
-History Book Club: September 9 | 6:30 to 8 pm | Ages 13+ | Virtual
-Oakley Cabin Guided Tours and Open House: September 12 & 26 | 12 to 4 pm | All Ages
-Meaningful Day- Campfire Chats: September 16 | 10:30 am to 12 pm | Ages 18+ | Tilden Woods Park
- Children's Day: September 19 | 10 am to 2 pm | All Ages | Brookside Gardens
-Black Hill Bookworms- "North Woods": September 23 | 6 to 7:30 pm | Ages 16+ | Black Hill Discovery Center
- Little Jams: September 25 | 10 to 11:30 am | All Ages | Cabin John Regional Park
- My Small Dog & Me Hike: September 26 | 10 to 11 am | Ages 3+ | Maydale Nature Classroom
- My Large Dog & Me Hike: September 26 | 11:30 am to 12:30 pm | Ages 3+ | Maydale Nature Classroom

Find all of these and more: https://mocoparks.org/4d42iI7

On the lookout for some plans this September? Check out some of the upcoming programs in this month’s Nature Centers New...
08/31/2026

On the lookout for some plans this September? Check out some of the upcoming programs in this month’s Nature Centers Newsletter:

- Kayaking for Beginners: Wednesday, September 2 | 5:30 to 7:30 pm | Ages 12+ | $60 | Black Hill Discovery Center

- Storytime on the Lake – Migrating Friends: Tuesday, September 22 | 10 to 11 am | Ages 3+ | $7 | Black Hill Discovery Center

- Mindfulness Hike: Saturday, September 12 | 8:30 to 9:30 am | Ages 18+ | $7 | Brookside Nature Center

- Campfire 101: Saturday, September 26 | 1 to 3 pm | Ages 1 to 2 | $10 | Brookside Nature Center

- Nature Drawing - Landscapes: Friday, September 4 | 4:30 to 6 pm | Ages 16+ | $10 | Locust Grove Nature Center

- Walk with a Master Naturalist: Thursday, September 10 | 9:30 to 11 am | Ages 18+ | $7 | Locust Grove Nature Center

- Paws with a Therapy Dog: Friday, September 11 | 10:30 to 11:30 am | Ages 3+ | FREE | Maydale Nature Classroom

- Hikes and Scavenger Hunts: Thursday, September 17 | 10:30 to 11:30 am | Ages 3+ | $4 | Maydale Nature Classroom

- Vulture Day Celebration: Friday, September 4 | 4 to 5 pm | All Ages | $7 | Meadowside Nature Center

- Native Plant Bingo: Friday, September 18 | 6 to 8 pm | Ages 16+ | $10 | Meadowside Nature Center

Want more programs? Read and subscribe to our Nature Centers Newsletter here: https://mocoparks.org/3UwVCgU

Glide across the ice or find your power serve on the courts! Regardless of choice, our Ice and Tennis registration is no...
08/31/2026

Glide across the ice or find your power serve on the courts! Regardless of choice, our Ice and Tennis registration is now open! Register today: https://mocoparks.org/30iiV2h

08/30/2026

You are cordially invited to the Ag Farm Ball, on Wednesday, September 16 from 6 to 8 pm. Don your finest historical attire and join us for an evening filled with music, merriment, games, dancing, and delightful refreshments. Two special contestants will even be crowned this year’s “Farm King and Queen!”. Hope to see you there!

For tickets, and more info, visit: https://mocoparks.org/4wEP6lI

08/29/2026

Ready for another episode of Water We Up To with Erin and Jackie? You're in luck! We're back with episode 4 of the 6-part series where we explore how Montgomery Parks manages stormwater in stream valleys and supports healthy ecosystems.

In today's episode, we'll be talking about stream restoration, a tool that we use to manage aquatic resources to help protect habitats, reduce erosion, and help keep park and utility infrastructure safe.

Check out the episode today and stay tuned for Episode 5 next month!

We're buzzing in with this week's as we meet the hummingbird clearwing moth (Hemaris thysbe)! The hummingbird clearwin...
08/28/2026

We're buzzing in with this week's as we meet the hummingbird clearwing moth (Hemaris thysbe)!

The hummingbird clearwing moth is a part of the sphingiade family otherwise known as hawkmoths. Typically, this moth is an olive green with burgundy on its back with a white or yellow underside. Its wings are transparent with a reddish-brown border, and it has light colored legs. These moths mimic the hummingbird as they flap their wings rapidly to hover over a variety of flowers as they collect nectar. This behavior with the combination of its appearance can easily lead to it being confused with a hummingbird.

As a caterpillar, the hummingbird moth will feed on cherry trees, hawthorns, dogbane, honeysuckle, and snowberries. During winter, they'll burrow into the spoil as a brown, hard-shelled pupa and emerge as a moth in the late spring. These moths are typically found in a large portion of North America with a range extending from Alaska to Oregon in the west and from southern Ontario to Florida.

Want to know more about this beautiful moth? Learn more with iNaturalist: https://mocoparks.org/4cfzXQv

08/27/2026

That's a wrap on summer camps! Relive the fun and adventure from sports to nature and more.

Looking for your next adventure? Check out our Fall Guide: https://mocoparks.org/30iiV2h

Looking for a way to transform your yard while supporting local wildlife? Come out and shop at our upcoming Plant Sales ...
08/26/2026

Looking for a way to transform your yard while supporting local wildlife? Come out and shop at our upcoming Plant Sales this Fall:

Brookside Gardens and Friends of Brookside Gardens Fall Plant Sale: Saturday, September 12 | 10 am to 1 pm | Brookside Gardens

Pope Farm Nursery Presale Party: Friday, September 18th | 5 to 7 pm | $25 | Preregister on ActiveMontgomery.org to avoid the crowds and have access to limited edition plants

Fall Plant Sale at Pope Farm Nursery: Saturday, September 19 and Sunday, September 20 | 10 am to 2 pm | Pope Farm Nursery

For more information, visit: https://mocoparks.org/3lyTeVR

With roughly 5,000 attendees, 10 performing acts, and 35 scheduled performances, we had an incredible turnout at this su...
08/25/2026

With roughly 5,000 attendees, 10 performing acts, and 35 scheduled performances, we had an incredible turnout at this summer’s Park Playhouse Junior events! Big and little attendees alike got outside for some live entertainment and fun with the local community. A huge thank you to everyone who came out to see our incredible performers and helped make these events a huge success!

Looking for more entertainment for the whole family? Check out the upcoming Little Jams series coming to Cabin John Regional Park, on September 25, and October 2, 9 and 16. Tune in from 10 to 11:30 am for a live and family-friendly music performance.

For more information, visit: https://mocoparks.org/3UDGhuZ

08/25/2026

Who's that butterfly?

Don’t be fooled by these eyes – that’s not a large animal; that’s a butterfly in disguise!

The Giant Owl (Caligo memnon) is an impressively large butterfly found in central and south America. Instead of being active during the day like most butterflies, this butterfly is crepuscular, meaning that it prefers to be active during dawn and dusk. This psychic and ghost type butterfly is a master of illusion and deception.

During the day this butterfly opts to relax by resting under the shade or eating fruit. To protect itself, it folds and displays its wings which look a lot like an eye. This is meant to trick predators into thinking it is a large and threatening animal. The spots on its hindwing resemble owl eyes, hence its common name. If you look closely at its forewing, you can see what looks like a snake's head, further deceiving any potential predators.

Catch this butterfly at the Butterfly Experience at Brookside Gardens now until September 7th. Tickets: mocoparks.org/butterfly

Address

2425 Reedie Drive, 12th Floor
Wheaton, MD
20902

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+13014952595

Website

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