Glen Echo Park

Glen Echo is one park that truly lives up to kids' (and adults') expectations. Aside from normal park stuff, like picnicking, romping, and playing on the playground, Glen Echo Park boasts a carousel, Adventure Theatre, The Puppet Co., Discovery Creek Children's Museum, Art Glass Consortium, Glassworks, Glen Echo Pottery, Photoworks, Yellow Barn Studio and Gallery, Young Creative Spirit children's art programs, and dances in the beautiful Spanish Ballroom and Bumper Car Pavilion. Camps and classes with Corcoran College of Art + Design, Music Together, VisArts, CREATE Arts, and The Writer's Center are also offered. A kid would be hard pressed to claim boredom in a place like this!

The Glen Echo Park carousel is the original 1921 Dentzel carousel, recently restored. Kids can still ride this gem (May 2-Sep 27), and choose to ride a variety of animals including horses, rabbits, a tiger, a lion, and ostriches. The 2009 carousel schedule is: 5/2-6/30: Wed-Thu 10am-2pm; Sat-Sun 12n-6pm; 7/1-8/31: Wed-Thu & Fri 10am-2pm; Sat-Sun 12n-6pm; 9/1-9/27: Sat-Sun 12n-6pm.

Enjoy a puppetry performance at the Puppet Co. in their newly constructed theater - book tickets well in advance because the shows sell out quickly. For older kids, the Adventure Theatre is the place to go. The theater company has been in the Park since the mid 70s, in a wonderfully intimate performance space where kids really feel comfortable.

Discovery Creek Children's Museum - in the former stables building - offers a landscaped yard with a giant sand box, tree house, a creek, interesting plants, and small trails. View current nature-related installations inside and see some of the animals the staff brings out for guests.

The arts groups in the Park offer classes for children, teens and adults including ceramics, photography, drawing, calligraphy, glass blowing and kilnformed glass, painting, sculpture, contemporary and social dance, writing, music, and more. During the spring and summer months there are over 40 camps for children and teens to explore. Topics include fine arts, clay animation, photography, calligraphy, ceramics, nature adventures, children's theater, Irish dance, and more. After care and afternoon camp programs are also offered. Call 301.634.2226 or visit www.glenechopark.org for full descriptions and registration.

Spend a fun afternoon dancing with your kids at one of the Family Dance programs. Dances are offered on the second Sunday of the month in the Bumper Car Pavilion (April-October, except August) and feature live music and dance calling.

Birthday celebrations at Glen Echo Park can be themed around a theater production, or rent a room and let the kids' imaginations wander through the entire park. For facility rental, party packages, and production times, call ahead.

The Spanish Ballroom Café (closed November through February), offers sandwiches, pizza, and ice cream for the kids as well as salads and lattes for the adults.

During annual festivals enjoy roving entertainment, exhibits, family dances, and traditional amusement park foods. Check our calendar for details.

National Park Service rangers conduct guided tours every Saturday and Sunday at 12n (10:30am May-September) for the carousel, and 2pm for park tours. Tours at other times can be arranged by calling the office at 301.320.1400 in advance.