Montgomery Parks announces Thanksgiving Day weekend operating hours and programs

WHEATON, Md. – Montgomery Parks, announces programming and operating hours for the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, Thursday, November 23, through Sunday, November 26.     

  Thanksgiving is a time when families and friends gather to celebrate, and Montgomery Parks has many offerings that are perfect opportunities to spend time together.

Here are some fun activity ideas for the holiday weekend:

• Garden of Lights at Brookside Gardens seasonal display (closed November 20–23)
• Full Moon Fridays at Locust Grove Nature Center (November 24)
• Post-Thanksgiving Family Movie Night featuring “Sign Up” ASL Interpretation at Meadowside Nature Center (November 24)
• The Garden Railway Exhibit at Brookside Gardens another holiday favorite (opens November 25)
• Turkey Days at Locust Grove Nature Center (November 25–November 26)
• Turkey Movie Night at Locust Grove Nature Center (November 25)
• Roots to Rock: Youth Mountain Bike Ride Park Days (November 26)

Open Parkways schedule    

The Open Parkways will be extended during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. During this time, parkways are open to pedestrians and bicyclists and closed to motor vehicles.

• Beach Drive between Connecticut and Knowles Avenue (2.9 miles) 
• Wednesday, November 22, at 9 a.m. until Sunday, November 26, at 4 p.m.

• Sligo Creek Parkway between Old Carroll Avenue and Piney Branch Road and between Forest Glen Road and University Boulevard West
• Wednesday, November 22, at 9 a.m. until Sunday, November 26, at 4 p.m.

• Little Falls Parkway between Arlington Road and Dorset Avenue (0.4 miles)
• Open 24/7 for recreation and exercise

*Please note: Gate closures are intended to be completed by the times listed above. The re-opening of the parkways begins at the times listed above. However, this process may take up to thirty minutes to complete.

  Other fun activities available during the holiday weekend include: 

•  Parks, trails, gardens, playgrounds, dog parks, skate parks, outdoor exercise stations, and outdoor tennis/pickleball and basketball courts* are open daily, sunrise to sunset. (*Select outdoor courts are available for rental.)  
• The inline hockey rink at Ridge Road Recreational Park and street hockey/futsal rink at Dewey Local Park may be permitted, or are available first come, first served, if not reserved.  
•  Campfire rings are available for rental at several locations.    
• Ice Skating at Cabin John Ice Rink or Wheaton Ice Arena
• Little Bennett Campground    
• South Germantown Driving Range  
• Brookside Gardens grounds open daily sunrise-4 p.m., Visitor Center open daily 9 a.m.­–4 p.m., Conservatory open daily 10 a.m.–4 p.m.   Buildings and gardens close at 4 p.m. daily and reopen at 5:30 p.m. for Garden of Lights ticket holders.
• Josiah Henson Museum & Park, Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m., Sunday 12–4 p.m.

  The following facilities will be CLOSED on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 23, 2023:   

• Montgomery Parks Headquarters and Permits Offices  
• Montgomery Parks Customer Service Office  
• All Montgomery Parks facilities and buildings (parks and trails are always open daily, sunrise to sunset).

The following facilities will also be CLOSED on Friday, November 24, 2023:

• Montgomery Parks Headquarters and Permits Offices  
• Montgomery Parks Customer Service Office
• Black Hill Visitor Center and Nature Programs
• Brookside Gardens’ Visitor Center and Conservatory (Closed during the day. Garden of Lights opens at 5:30 p.m. for ticket holders).
• Brookside Nature Center
• Locust Grove Nature Center

Need a jump-start on your weekend planning? Visit the Ways to Discover Your Happy Place newsletter for a weekly list of fun things to do or see in Montgomery Parks.

About Montgomery Parks        
Montgomery Parks manages more than 37,000 acres of parkland, consisting of 419 parks. Montgomery Parks is a department of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), a bi-county agency established in 1927 to steward public land. M-NCPPC has been nationally recognized for its high-quality parks and recreation services and is regarded as a national model by other parks systems.

Accessibility          
Montgomery Parks, part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, encourages and supports the participation of individuals with disabilities. Please contact the Program Access Office at 301-495-2581 (Voice), MD Relay 7-1-1 or 800-552-7724 or ProgramAccess@MontgomeryParks.org to request a disability modification. Visit Montgomery Parks Program Access for more information. 

###