Shakespeare in the Parks, Concerts, Puppets and West Africa Food Crops Highlight Montgomery Parks Special Events and Programs in July

Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, concerts in parks, puppets and West Africa Food Crops in the garden are among the program highlights for the Montgomery Parks special events and programs being offered in July.

The July schedule of special events will include:

Shakespeare performances of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Bring a lawn chair, a picnic and enjoy the Bard under the stars. On-site food trucks at some performances. All ages. Free.

• Shakespeare in the Parks. Saturday, July 6. 7:30–9 p.m. Meadowside Nature Center, 5100 Meadowside Lane, Rockville.
• Shakespeare in the Garden. Tuesday, July 9 (Rain date: July 11). 7–8:45 p.m. Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton.
• Chesapeake Shakespeare Co. Presents. Wednesday, July 10 (Rain date: July 11). 7–9 p.m. Martin Luther King Jr. Recreational Park, 1120 Jackson Road, Silver Spring.

Parks Summer Thursday Concert Series. Thursdays, July 11, 18 and 25. 6–8 p.m. Series of free musical performances by local acts at different parks around the County. Bring chairs, blankets and picnics. Food and refreshments will be available for purchase at some events. All ages. Free.

• July 11, The Nighthawks (rock). Black Hill Regional Park, 20930 Lake Ridge Drive, Boyds.
• July 18, Loose Ties (pop/rock). North Four Corners Local Park, 315 University Boulevard West, Silver Spring.
• July 25. Juliet Lloyd (folk/pop). Cabin John Regional Park, 7400 Tuckerman Lane, Bethesda.

Parks Playhouse Junior. July 13, 15, 16, 17, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31. 10–11 a.m. Live performances for the kid set, ages 2-12 (ages may vary with some performances). Free.

• Silly Goose and Val. Saturday, July 13. Martin Luther King Jr. Recreational Park, 1120 Jackson Road, Silver Spring.
• Christylez Bacon. Monday, July 15. Falls Road Local Park, 12600 Falls Road, Potomac; Tuesday, July 16 @ Germantown Town Center Urban Park, 19840 Century Boulevard, Germantown; Wednesday, July 17. Wheaton Local Park (Performance will have an ASL interpreter and sensory retreat tent), 11729 Georgia Ave., Wheaton.

Puppet Company

• Thursday, July 25. Martin Luther King Jr. Recreational Park (Performance will have an ASL interpreter and sensory retreat tent).
• Friday, July 26. Falls Road Local Park, 12600 Falls Road, Potomac.
• Saturday, July 27. Cabin John Regional Park, 7400 Tuckerman Lane, Bethesda.

Uncle Devin Show

• Monday, July 29. Flower Avenue Urban Park (Performance will have an ASL interpreter and sensory retreat tent), 8746 Flower Avenue, Silver Spring.
• Tuesday, July 30. Germantown Town Center Urban Park, 19840 Century Boulevard, Germantown.
• Wednesday, July 31. Arora Hills Local Park, 23244 Arora Hills Drive, Clarksburg.

West African Food Crops: History, Cultivation, and Culinary Uses. Saturday, July 13. 10:30 a.m.–noon. Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Ave., Wheaton. Join Brookside Gardens’ staff Thomas Crawley and Angelus Bullock to expand your gardening and cooking palette with unique vegetables from West Africa. Learn traditional agricultural practices and the cultural history of each crop, as well as where to source seeds and plants locally. Class includes garden tour for an up-close look at the plants. This is an in-person program. Ages 18 and older. Registration required. $25 per person.

Foodie Fridays: Smell the Flowers. Friday, July 26. 6:30 –8:30 p.m. Josiah Henson Museum and Park, 11410 Old Georgetown Road, North Bethesda. Learn about the role of pollinators in agriculture and local food systems while identifying insects and exploring pollination biology during this hands-on lecture with researcher Michael Roswell. The registration fee includes light refreshments, one alcoholic beverage (21 and older) and a ticket to Josiah Henson Museum ($5 value, redeemable during regular museum hours). Ages 18 and older. Registration required. $15 per person.

Parks Academy Fitness Series classes: POUND Fitness. July 10–Aug. 7 (Wednesdays)| 5–5:45 p.m. Norbeck-Muncaster Mill Neighborhood Park, 4101 Muncaster Mill Road, Norbeck.

Ages 18 and older. Five weekly classes-$40 per person. Registration required; no walk-ins.

• Dance Fitness. July 11–29 (Thursdays). 6–7 p.m. Clarksburg Neighborhood Park, 22501 Wims Road, Clarksburg. Ages 16 and older. Eight weekly classes-$64 per person. Registration required; no walk-ins.
• Breath and Movement Flow Yoga. July 20–Aug. 17 (Saturdays). 10–11 a.m. Quince Orchard Valley Neighborhood Park, 12015 Suffolk Terrace, Gaithersburg. Ages 16 and older. Five weekly classes-$50 per person. Registration required; no walk-ins.

Programs for 55+:

• Strong and Fit (55+). July 9–Aug. 13 (Tuesdays). 10–11 a.m. Wheaton Regional Park, 2000 Shorefield Road, Wheaton. Registration required. Free.
• Socials for 55+: Exploring Watercolor and Neopastels. Friday, July 12. 3–4:30 p.m. North Four Corners Local Park, 315 University Boulevard West, Silver Spring. Registration required. $25 per person.
• Socials for 55+: Mosaic Plant Coasters. Friday, July 26. 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m. East Norbeck Local Park, 3131 Norbeck Road, Norbeck. Registration required. $7 per person.