Light Up the Holidays Event Season

Light Up the Holidays is Glen Echo Park’s seasonal celebration, with twinkling lights throughout the grounds, holiday shopping, open artist studios, gallery exhibitions, hands-on art opportunities, performances, and family activities. The season begins with the Holiday Art Show & Sale and the lighting of the historic Dentzel carousel, and continues through early January with exhibits, shopping events, classes, and holiday performances.

When: November 14, 2026–January 10, 2027

Venue: Glen Echo Park Partnership for Arts and Culture, 7300 MacArthur Boulevard, Glen Echo, Maryland 20812

Opening Weekend: On November 14, the Holiday Art Show & Sale is open from noon to 6 p.m., followed by an opening reception from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Popcorn Gallery, Stone Tower Gallery, and Park View Gallery. Open artist studios and art sales are also available.

Carousel Lighting: On November 14 at 6 p.m., the 105-year-old Dentzel carousel is illuminated with a display of holiday lights during a celebration featuring Tommy McFly. Hot apple cider will be available. DIY holiday photos inside the 1921 Dentzel carousel run from 6 to 8 p.m.; there are no carousel rides during the photo event.

Schedule: Shop Arts Saturday takes place November 28 from noon to 6 p.m. in the Popcorn, Stone Tower, and Park View galleries, as well as participating resident studios and galleries. Winter’s Eve takes place throughout the Park on December 5 and includes open artist studios and art sales. A donor appreciation gathering, Toast to You!, is scheduled for 3 to 6 p.m. in the Arcade Building, with festive drinks, treats, and an opportunity to mingle and support the Park.

Holiday Art Show & Sale: The Partnership Galleries present artwork from November 14, 2026, through January 10, 2027. Resident visual arts spaces and galleries include Yellow Barn Studio, Stone Tower Studio, Photoworks, SilverWorks, Glen Echo Pottery, Art Glass Center, and Glassworks.

Shopping: Glen Echo Pottery’s Winter Market runs December 5 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and December 6 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Bumper Car Pavilion. The market features handmade functional and decorative ceramics by dozens of Glen Echo Pottery artists.

Performances: The Puppet Co. presents its 38th Annual The Nutcracker from November 27 through December 31, 2026. Adventure Theatre MTC presents Frosty the Snow Man from November 21, 2026, through January 3, 2027. Washington Revels presents Winter Revels: An American Celebration from December 12 through December 19, 2026, offsite at the Montgomery College Cultural Arts Center. Tickets or additional information are provided through the individual presenting organizations.

Holiday Classes: Seasonal classes include Cornhusk Dolls, a parent-and-child workshop for ages 5–12, on November 22 from 1 to 3 p.m.; parent-and-child Card Printmaking Winter Workshops for ages 6–12 on December 5 from 9 a.m. to noon and December 12 from 9 a.m. to noon; and Winter Break Fine Arts Camp for ages 6–11, beginning December 28 and meeting Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. These classes take place in the Crystal Pool Studio.

Additional Workshops: The Make a Menorah Workshop is scheduled for November 14 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., November 15 from noon to 2 p.m., with an optional session November 17 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Art Glass Center. A Kiln Formed Holiday Ornaments Workshop runs December 4 from 6 to 8:30 p.m., December 5 from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and December 6 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. A Printmaking Winter Workshop takes place December 6 from 2 to 4:30 p.m. in Arcade Building Room 201. Other offerings include a DIY Glassblowing Ornament Workshop on December 11 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Glassworks Studio and a Layered Paper Art Workshop on December 12 from 1 to 4 p.m. in Arcade Building Rooms 202 and 203.

Glassblowing Event: A hands-on blown-glass ornament-making workshop is scheduled for December 5 from noon to 6 p.m. at Glen Echo Glassworks. The listed price for this workshop is $75, and registration details were to be provided separately.

Tickets: Price not available for the overall Light Up the Holidays season. Individual performances, classes, workshops, and activities may require separate tickets, registration, or payment.

Ages: The page identifies the Winter Break Fine Arts Camp as suitable for ages 6–11, the Cornhusk Dolls workshop for ages 5–12, and the Card Printmaking workshops for ages 6–12. No general age restriction is listed for the overall celebration.

Reservations: RSVP information is provided for Light Up the Holidays events. RSVPs are required for the Toast to You! donor appreciation event.

Parking: Parking is free in the main parking lot at 5801 Oxford Road. The Park recommends searching for “Glen Echo Park Parking” in Google Maps for directions and parking information.