Parks Ale Trail - Montgomery Parks

Prost and Welcome

Join us for the Parks Ale Trail on Saturday, September 20, from 11 am to 3 pm. This event promises to be a fantastic day filled with live music, local craft beer, delicious food, and a bit of hiking adventure – truly something for everyone!

The heart of the festival will be buzzing with excitement, featuring live music on the main stage, craft beer stations showcasing local brews, and a variety of regional food trucks to satisfy your taste buds. For the kids, we’ve got live entertainment, bubble shows, and more, ensuring they have a blast too.

Outdoor enthusiasts will love our scenic 2.5-mile round-trip hike, which offers the perfect opportunity to soak in the beautiful sights and sounds of Lake Needwood. While hiking the trail, look out for an accordion player and Oktoberfest-themed living statues. Take a refreshing break at the mid-hike beer garden located at the Needwood Mansion. Here, you can grab a cold drink or a tasty snack and enjoy live acoustic music before continuing your adventure.

We can’t wait to see you at Parks Ale Trail, a celebration that brings together the best of nature and local flavor!

Map of the Parks Ale Trail featuring different sections of the event. The Ale Trail runs along the western perimeter of Lake Needwood. At the south end of the lake, the main stage is located with food and beer vendors on either side. Nearby, there is a parking lot with restrooms, bike parking, and a sensory tent. At the north end of the trail, Mid-Hike Beer Garden, there is another stage along with additional food and beer vendors, restrooms, a parking lot, and bike parking.

Main Festival Area

Main Stage

La Unica

A Washington, DC-based five-piece band that plays carefully-selected covers and originals in a high-energy style that turns shy guests into party animals. La Unica’s outstanding musicianship and unique “Irish Latin Rock” style greatly expand the band’s repertoire. The Washington Post called La Unica a “pan-genre party band”, and their fans call them exciting, creative, and high-energy. A celebratory atmosphere at every live show, La Unica will catch you by surprise as you’re invited to dance, laugh, and join the fun.

Additional Entertainment

Check out the family-friendly entertainment options in our Main Festival area.

Bubble Show
Roving entertainers, including living statues and stilt walkers
Yard games

Food and Drink

Attendees are welcome to bring their own food or purchase food, drinks, or treats from one of our many vendors at the event. Below is a list of vendors who will be at the Main Festival area. No outside alcohol is permitted.

Food Vendors:

Drink Vendors:

Help Fight Hunger in Montgomery County

This year, we are partnering with Manna to help fight hunger in Montgomery County. Look for the collection point at the Main Festival area and bring non-perishable items like canned fish (in water), soups, brown rice, pasta, natural nut butters, and more.

Your donation helps ensure our neighbors in Montgomery County have access to safe, healthy food year-round. Learn more at mannafood.org.

Mid-Hike Beer Garden

Mid-Hike Stage

Chris Compton

A lifelong enthusiast of all things musical, Chris firmly believes in the transformative power of music to uplift, unite, and enhance our lives. Over the past 40 years, Chris has amassed an incredible wealth of experience and has toured the U.S., Jamaica, Australia, and India with Pebble to Pearl, The Fishermen Band, Mindy Miller, The Pocket Band, Ronnie Davis of The Itals, Shane Gamble, The Andy Westcott Band, 5 O’clock Somewhere (the Jimmy Buffett Tribute), and Grammy-nominated producer BT. He has also recorded and produced music for and with countless artists over the years.

Currently, Chris plays, writes, teaches, and produces music full-time, based in his hometown of Damascus, MD. Other notable accomplishments include winning 2nd place in a regional singing/songwriting competition and recording multiple times at prestigious locations like George Lucas’s Skywalker Ranch Studios in California and Sausalito’s former Record Plant.

Additional Entertainment

Enjoy family-friendly entertainment options at the Mid-Hike area.

Yard games
Kids’ archaeology activity from the Montgomery Parks Archeology team
Park Police horses

Food and Drink

Take a rest at the Mid-Hike and re-fuel with food and beverages provided by the vendors below!

Food Vendors:

Drink Vendors:

Plan Your Visit

Whether you prefer to walk, hike, bike, or drive, there are plenty of ways to reach the Montgomery Parks Ale Trail. With both vehicle and bike parking available on-site, your journey can start however you like.

Plan your visit today and let the trail guide you to scenic views, fresh air, and great local brews!

Plan Your Visit

*Vendors and Entertainment Subject to Change

Frequently Asked Questions

Restrooms:: Portable restrooms will be available at both the Main Festival area and the Mid-Hike Beer Garden. Both locations will include standard and fully accessible units.
Alcohol:: Alcohol will be sold at this event and a valid form of identification is required for purchase. Outside alcohol is NOT permitted.
Pets:: Dogs are allowed at this event, but must be leashed at all times. Owners must pick up properly after their dogs and dispose of any waste in the provided trash receptacles.
Program Accessibility:: This park and event space are generally accessible. The trail is not accessible as it is mainly loose gravel and compacted dirt. If you or a member of your party needs additional accessibility accommodations for this event, please contact the Montgomery Parks Program Access office via email Program Access or phone (301) 495-2581.
Transportation:: Check out our Parks Ale Trail – Plan Your Visit page for more information on getting to the event.
Seating:: Limited seating will be provided. Guests are encouraged to bring their own blankets or chairs.
Cost:: This event is free to attend. Food and drinks are available for purchase.
Weather:: If this event is cancelled due to inclement weather, there will not be a rain date.
Additional Information:: For additional questions, please contact the Montgomery Parks Public Information and Customer Service office at (301) 495-2595 or email Info@MontgomeryParks.org.