Great Pumpkin Carving, a Haunted House in Long Branch and a ‘Candy and Costumes Skate’ in White Oak Among Fall Recreation Special Events

A great pumpkin carving event, a haunted house in Long Branch and a “Candy and Costumes Skate” in White Oak are among the wide variety of special events Montgomery County Recreation will be hosting this fall at locations across the County. Events are scheduled for community recreation centers, senior centers and aquatic facilities.

“There is nothing better during this time of year than to celebrate fun seasonal events with friends, family and the entire County community,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “Montgomery County Recreation has a number of fall events with music, games and more to help usher in this exciting time.”

Upcoming fall special events hosted by Montgomery County Recreation will include:

Monday, Oct. 21

• 12:30-2 p.m. Great Pumpkin Carving. Nancy H. Dacek North Potomac Community Recreation Center, 13850 Travilah Rd, Rockville. Dress in costume and for this exciting team pumpkin carving event.

Friday, Oct. 25

• 7:30-9:30 p.m. Haunted House. Long Branch Community Recreation Center, 8700 Piney Branch Road, Silver Spring. Wear your costume and bring your Halloween spirit to brave the spooky haunted house. Light refreshments will be provided.

Saturday, Oct. 26

• 3-5 p.m. Therapeutic Recreation Family Spooktacular Saturday. Holiday Park Senior Center, 3950 Ferrara Drive, Silver Spring. This event is for youth with disabilities and their families. Dress up in your favorite costume and come trick-or-treat in our not-so-scary haunted house of inflatable fun and take part in family-friendly games.
• 6:30-9:30 p.m. Therapeutic Recreation Saturday Night Social – Ghouls Just Want To Have Fun Dance. Holiday Park Senior Center, 3950 Ferrara Drive, Silver Spring. For individuals ages 15 and up with disabilities. Enjoy a DJ, dancing, games, pizza and other refreshments. Pre-registration is encouraged.

Friday, Nov. 1

• 4-7 p.m. Candy and Costumes Community Skate. White Oak Community Recreation Skate Park, 1700 April Lane, Silver Spring. Still time to celebrate Halloween with candy, costumes and skateboarding at the community skate. All skate levels are welcome. Be sure to wear your Halloween costume.

The Recreation Department also will host Floating Pumpkin Patches throughout October with pumpkin picking in County swimming pools.

For $5, kids ages 2-12 will be able to pick a pumpkin and enjoy a decorating craft. Swimming with your pumpkin will be available in the first hour. Decorating and crafts are available throughout the event. Children 5 and under require an adult in the water with them. One pumpkin per participant.

The floating pumpkin patches schedule:

• Friday, Oct. 18. 7-8:30 p.m. Martin Luther King Jr. Swim Center, 1201 Jackson Road, Silver Spring.
• Saturday, Oct. 19. 10-11:30 a.m. Martin Luther King Jr. Swim Center, 1201 Jackson Road, Silver Spring. *This event is for kids ages 2-15 with disabilities and their families.
• Friday, Oct. 25. 7-8:30 p.m. Olney Swim Center, 16605 Georgia Ave., Olney.
• Saturday, Oct. 26. 3-4:30 p.m. Germantown Indoor Swim Center, 18000 Central Park Circle, Boyds.
• Sunday, Oct. 27. 5-6:30 p.m. Silver Spring Recreation and Aquatic Center, 1319 Apple Ave., Silver Spring.

Registration for events can be completed online. Not all events require registration. Registration for fall programs is also currently underway. Winter program registration begins Wednesday, Nov. 13.

October provides many opportunities for fun and rejuvenation with several classes to learn about or expand your gardening knowledge at Brookside Gardens, a laugh-out-loud comedy show about growing older, a climb-a-tree program for people 55-and-over, and several fall harvests. In celebration of Halloween, there are the seasonal Eye Spy Trains and Not So Spooky Skates for the kids.