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 and tree climbing activities, 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. Along the way, 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.
Main Festival Area
Main Stage
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.
- Kids Tree Climbing
- 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 Festiva area. No outside alcohol is permitted.
Food Vendors:
Drink Vendors:
Mid-Hike Beer Garden
Mid-Hike Stage
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!
