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From Gala to Summer Season: Celebrating Two Centennials at Glen Echo Park

Gala in the Park Honors The Greater Bethesda Chamber of Commerce on its 100th Anniversary and the Park’s Own Century-Old Wurlitzer Band Organ, a National Treasure!

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April 16, 2026

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As you spin round and round, hand-painted ostriches, horses, lions, and rabbits whirl to life. A familiar tune rises, layered with the chime of a triangle and the jubilant crash of cymbals. What you may not realize: you’re listening to a one-of-a-kind instrument that has been part of Glen Echo Park’s story for 100 years.

For a century, music from the historic Wurlitzer band organ has echoed through the Park and across Montgomery County, a soundtrack to generations of community life and a witness to ten decades of local and American history. Now, Glen Echo Park is marking the instrument’s milestone year—alongside America’s 250th anniversary.

The 2026 season embraces this moment with the theme The Power of Place, weaving the “A250” celebration throughout a vibrant lineup of events. It all begins May 2 with Carousel Day, the beloved festival that opens the Park’s 105-year-old Dentzel carousel for the summer. This year’s celebration features free performances highlighting music and dance from the African diaspora, honoring their enduring influence on American culture. The carousel’s role in local history—not just as a centerpiece of the Park, but as a site connected to the Washington, DC, civil rights movement—will also take the spotlight.

That spirit of history and place continues on May 16 at the Glen Echo Park Partnership for Arts and Culture’s Gala in the Park. This year’s theme, Glen Echo Park in Bloom, celebrates both the spring season and the growth—blooming—of the Park’s arts and cultural programs, as well as the 100th anniversary of the beloved band organ.

Hosted by Co-Chairs Sam and Linda Weaver, with lead sponsor Chevy Chase Acura, the gala will honor The Greater Bethesda Chamber of Commerce for its 100-year history of championing the strength and vitality of the local business community, as well as artist Carol Barton, renowned for her intricate pop-up books and paintings.

Two centennial milestones. One unforgettable night.

The evening unfolds across the Park’s most iconic spaces: a reception and silent auction in the Bumper Car Pavilion; a seated dinner and awards in the historic Spanish Ballroom with live music by TNEK Jazz; rides on the 1921 Dentzel carousel; and a high-energy Swing Dance Afterparty with The Rock-A-Sonics. Known for their electrifying blend of rock ’n’ roll, rockabilly, country, and rhythm & blues, the band will keep the dance floor moving well into the night. Local dance presenter Gottaswing kicks things off with a beginner-friendly dance lesson, making it easy for everyone to join in. (The Swing Dance Afterparty is included with Gala tickets, and tickets are also sold separately: $60 or two for $100.)

“This is what Glen Echo Park is all about,” said Partnership CEO Katey Boerner. “For more than a century, the Park has brought people together through the arts—music, dance, and shared experiences. The gala and afterparty reflect everything we value: creativity, community, and celebration. We look forward to an unforgettable evening in support of the Park.”

The silent auction, which will be held online and open to all bidders beginning one week before the event, will feature a curated selection of experiences, goods, and services. Contributions from community members and local businesses are welcome and help make the gala a success. 

Gala tickets are available at glenechopark.org/gala or by calling (301) 634-2237. Proceeds support the Glen Echo Park Partnership for Arts and Culture, which presents an extensive range of art classes, exhibitions, festivals, social dances, children’s theater, music programs, and nature programs at Glen Echo Park, in addition to preserving and maintaining the Park’s historic structures.

To explore the full 2026 season, visit glenechopark.org/events.

Originally published at Bethesdamagazine