Parks Ale Trail – Social Narrative

Arriving

The Parks Ale Trail event will take place at Lake Needwood in Rock Creek Regional Park, located at 15700 Needwood Lake Circle Rockville, Maryland 20855.  This event features a scenic 2.5-mile round-trip hike, which offers the perfect opportunity to soak in the beautiful sights and sounds of Lake Needwood.  

Please be advised this event is near water. 

When you arrive, you will see signs directing you to parking. Accessible parking is at 15675-15679 Needwood Lake Cir, Derwood, MD 20855.

Getting Around the Event

There will be a wheelchair accessible shuttle cart to help you get from your vehicle to the event. The shuttle cart will offer rides from designated stops to the path that leads to the main festival area. There will be no shuttle cart in the Mid-Hike Beer Garden. Please note the trail from the Main Festival area to the Mid-Hike Beer Garden is a gravel path.

Activities and Performances

There will be numerous activities taking place throughout the duration of the event which is from 11am – 3pm. Some will be located in the Main Festival area, and some will be in the middle of the hike near the Mid-Hike Beer Garden.

At the main stage there will be a band playing music, and at the mid-hike stage there will be a DJ playing music, both of which can be loud. You may want to use headphones when going near these stages, if you don’t like loud sounds. There will also be a living statue dressed in lederhosen and stilwalkers in the main festival area.

Concessions

Vendors will be selling food, drinks, and alcohol at this event. Alcohol vendors will be checking IDs. Most of the food vendors will also be selling water. Food and drink vendors will be made aware to accommodate attendees who need assistance ordering. Free water will be available to those who need it at the Water Tent in the Main Festival Area. Outside alcohol is not permitted.

Main Festival Area:

Food Vendors

• Anchor Bar (American, wings)
• Catalyst Hot Dogs (American, hot dogs, burgers. Vegetarian options available)
• Crabby Pretzel (Maryland-Inspired. Vegetarian options available)
• Kona Ice (Shaved Ice. Vegan)
• Maryland Brat & Butcher Co. (Handcrafted Sausages)
• Palmetto Bay Cuisine (Sandwiches, soups, salads. Vegetarian options available)
• Silver & Sons BBQ (American barbeque. Vegetarian options available)
• The Icecream Yard (Ice cream, milkshake)

Drink Vendors

• Brookville Beer Farm
• Crooked Crab Brewing Company
• Denizens Brewing Co.
• Fresh Squeezed Please (Lemonade)
• Hub City Brewery
• Silver Branch Brewing Company
• Smoketown Brewing
• Third Hill Brewing Co.
• Waredaca Brewing Company

Mid-Hike Beer Garden:

Food Vendors

• IC Dream (Frozen desserts)
• Lavish Ice Cream (Soft serve, bubble tea, smoothies. Vegan options available)
• Nina’s Cookie Explosion (Cookies. Vegan & gluten free options available)
• Pizzeria Coco (Brick oven pizza. Vegetarian options available)
• The Stuffed Potato Company (Loaded potatoes. Vegetarian options available).

Drink Vendors

• 7 Locks Brewing
• Baby Cat Brewery
• Prospect Point Brewing

Families are also welcome to bring snacks and picnic meals to enjoy during the event.

Sensory Tent

There will be a lot of people at the park on the day of the event. If you are feeling anxious or overwhelmed, please visit our Sensory Retreat Tent that will be located in the main festival area. The tent is a quiet space where you can relax, play with fidgets, and get away from the larger group. You are encouraged to bring your own noise reduction headphones if you have them.

Bathroom

Accessible porta johns are in the Main Festival Area and the Mid-Hike Beer Garden. Port-a-johns do not flush and there are no dryers. Hand sanitizer will be available.

Keep Our Park Clean 

Please help take care of our parks by using trash cans and recycling bins appropriately.