Family and friends in town for the holiday? Get outdoors and enjoy nature together in the parks! Check out these suggested activities for Thanksgiving weekend.
Ice Skating
Everyone loves ice skating! Our indoor ice centers—Cabin John Ice Rink and Wheaton Ice Arena—have public skating sessions this Friday, November 25, to Sunday, November 27. Visit our website for skating schedules.
Museum
Looking for other indoor activities? Head to Josiah Henson Museum and introduce your out-of-town guests to local history, as well as the inspirational life of Reverend Josiah Henson. The abolitionist, author, and pastor was once enslaved on a plantation at the site that’s the museum today. He escaped with his family to Canada to live a free life. Josiah Henson Museum is open Friday, November 25, and Saturday, November 26, from 10 am to 4 pm, and Sunday, November 27, from 12 to 4 pm.
Open Parkways
Go running, biking, walking, skating, or scootering on our car-free streets, part of Montgomery Parks’ Open Parkways program. Sections of Beach Drive and Sligo Creek Parkway open on Wednesday, November 23, at 9 am, and close Monday, November 28, at 7 am. Two lanes of Little Falls Parkway are open from sunrise to sunset as part of a linear park pilot project.
Trails
Share some of your favorite views around the parks from our trails. Trails are open daily from dawn to dusk. Trek your favorite trail or find a new one on our Trails Directory.
Winter Lights
Take in Garden of Lights together at Brookside Gardens. Saunter and enjoy the winter light show featuring hand-shaped light forms and more than one million lights. Garden of Lights is open 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm nightly from Friday, November 25, to Sunday, November 27. All visitors five and older must have advance tickets.
Programs
Keep the children busy with programs at Brookside Nature Center. Learn about wild turkeys at Wild Neighbors Campfire on Saturday, November 26, at 10:30 am. Adults with kids three to seven will enjoy Nature Story Time on Sunday, November 27, at 3:30 pm. Registration required.
Finally….
Our parks, botanical gardens, playgrounds, and other amenities are open this holiday weekend. However, facilities and offices may be closed or have reduced operating hours. Before leaving home, visit our website for information.
For these and other activities, visit the calendar of events and Things to Do on our website.
Discover your happy place in Montgomery Parks.