HERITAGE DAYS

Heritage Days at Glen Echo Park commemorates the summer of 1960, when brave protestors brought about the end of segregation at the privately-owned Glen Echo Amusement Park. In honor of that Summer of Protest, rides on the historic 1921 Dentzel carousel will be free all day on June 27, 2026. Visitors can also participate in a history scavenger hunt to win prizes, with a special milestone celebrated this year: a century of music from the carousel’s historic Wurlitzer 165 band organ, which has echoed through the park for one hundred years, marking the instrument’s milestone alongside America’s 250th anniversary.

When: Saturday, June 27, 2026, from 12pm to 4pm, with the carousel operating from 11am to 5pm.

Showtimes: The carousel is open continuously from 11am to 5pm; free rides are available all day.

Tickets: Free admission and free carousel rides; RSVP is preferred but not required. Suggested donation of $10 per person to help present free festivals and concerts and preserve historic buildings.

Lineup: No performers listed; the event features free carousel rides and a scavenger hunt for children.

Run time: The main event runs 12pm to 4pm, but the carousel is open 11am to 5pm.

Ages: Open to all; the scavenger hunt is designed for children.

Venue: Glen Echo Park Partnership for Arts and Culture, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo, MD 20812. Parking is available free in the main parking lot at 5801 Oxford Road (search "Glen Echo Park Parking" in Google Maps). Phone: (301)634-2222.

Note: The event honors the 1960 Summer of Protest that ended segregation at the amusement park. This year also celebrates the centennial of the carousel's Wurlitzer 165 band organ, woven into America's 250th anniversary theme, "The Power of Place." Directions and a park map are available on the website.