Celebrating Black Culture: Art, Music & Community
2026-02-21 13:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York)
Experience Black culture through powerful art exhibits, a creative Sip & Paint session, and a special visit from the Mobile Go-Go Museum. This immersive, museum-style event invites the community to explore the rich history, creativity, and cultural impact of Black art and music in an engaging and interactive setting.Guests of all ages are welcome to celebrate history, music, and community while learning about the influence of Go-Go culture and artistic expression. Whether you’re viewing exhibits, creating your own artwork, or enjoying the vibrant atmosphere, this free event offers a meaningful and memorable experience for the whole family.

Reimagining Shelter: Exploring Identity and Community through Art and Storytelling
2026-02-21 13:00 - 15:00
Through art making and storytelling, this workshop aims to redefine shelter as a space of security, warmth, safe space, and family, fostering empathy and understanding. Resident artist Nikki Brooks will lead participants in guided meditation, an art activity, and open conversations about home, neighborhood dynamics, gentrification, and family tradition, sparking deep reflections and meaningful exchanges.

Black History Arts & Crafts
2026-02-21 12:00 - 15:00
Express your inner artist while celebrating Black history and culture! Kids and their parents/guardians are encouraged to join us throughout February for creative arts and crafts activities. Instructors will walk you through the steps of making your own Kente cloth, face masks, or even musical instruments like shekeres. Come feel inspired by this fun and free can’t-miss program!

Charcuterie Creations
2026-02-21 12:00 - 14:00
Come and join us and create your own charcuterie board. Add fruit, cheese, crackers, and veggies. This will be immersive and hands-on. Guaranteed to unleash the chef in you!

I Heart Yoga
2026-02-21 10:30 - 11:30
Stretch toward your fitness goals! Learn basic yoga to improve health and flexibility through deep breathing and controlled stretching. Reduce stress, get better sleep, and build muscle stamina as you practice new or previously learned yoga skills.

Outdoor Adventures: Huntley Meadows
2026-02-21 10:00 - 16:00
Let our expert naturalists take you around the region to discover natural history and enjoy new adventures. An outdoor adventure for curious adults who want to explore!

Berliner Helicopter Weekend
2026-02-21 10:00 - 14:00
Discover the thrill of vertical flight and how it started right here at College Park Airport! Explore the new exhibition, The Berliner Helicopter: America’s Forgotten Helicopter, get hands-on with interactives, and explore the wonders of vertical flight technology.

Saturday, February 21 Schedule of Events:

10:10 am: Helicopter Fly-in10:30-11:30 am: Cub Corner11 am: Helicopter Fly-out11:30 am-12:30 pm: Discovery Cart12:15-1 pm: Living History Program1-2 pm: Discovery Cart

Sunday, February 22 Schedule of Events:

10:30-11:30 am: Cub Corner11:30 am-12:30 pm: Discovery Cart12:30-1:30 pm: Cub Corner1-2 pm: Discovery Cart3-4:30 pm: Runway Rhythms Concert (Separate Registration – Recommended)

Eagle Watch at Patuxent River Park
2026-02-21 10:00 - 11:00
Join a naturalist and explore the world of the Bald Eagle in winter with binoculars and spotting scopes from a tower above Jug Bay. Then, head out on a hike in search of roosting bald eagles. Dress for winter outdoor weather!

I Heart Zumba
2026-02-21 10:00 - 11:00
Dance your way into fitness with a family Zumba® class! This class brings together all members of your family for fun and easy-to-follow dance moves to upbeat music!Registration Required. Level: All.

Patricia Phillips Bowden: Travel Collaged and Painted - Public Reception
2026-02-20 19:00 - 21:00
* This exhibition runs Jan. 31–Mar. 8, with a public reception on Fri., Feb. 20. *

Primarily an oil painter, Patricia Phillips Bowden discovered a renewed interest in exploring paper, collage, and mixed media during the pandemic. She finds beauty in the old, the worn, and the rusty, and hopes to capture that elegance in her work. As an artist, she strives to maintain a childlike sense of wonder and curiosity toward this fascinating place we call Earth.

Emily Springer: The Holds of Legacy - Public Reception
2026-02-20 19:00 - 21:00
* This exhibition runs Jan. 13–Mar. 1, with a public reception on Fri., Feb. 20. *

Emily Springer’s sewn tapestries create a space for reflection and conversation about cultural identity, resilience, and the power of storytelling through art. The pieces depict compositions highlighting the generational bonds between Black women. Through their intricate craftsmanship, they are an ode to the historical practice of quilting and its significance to Black culture.

Annual Black History Month Exhibition - Public Reception
2026-02-20 19:00 - 21:00
* This exhibition runs Jan. 14–Mar. 1, with a public reception on Fri., Feb. 20. *

Celebrate Black History Month with Montpelier Arts Center! This annual exhibition shows the diverse talents of regional artists. Featured artwork will highlight African Americans’ lives, stories, and experiences through painting, drawing, photography, and more.

Nature Makers Space: Basquiat Inspirations
2026-02-20 16:00 - 18:00
Join us for a variety of projects and activities utilizing materials from the natural world. We will embark on a new creative endeavor to make anything from color-changing lemonade to baskets woven out of invasive species. Come explore what your hands can create using natural materials!

Sonic Frontiers Jam Session - Feb.
2026-02-19 19:00 - 21:00
Brentwood Arts Exchange is excited to host ongoing jam sessions featuring a unique, original synth and modular music style. Drop-in musicians of every genre are invited to join and contribute. Bring your instrument, plug in, and be part of the sound!

Sisters With Transistors
2026-02-19 19:00 - 21:00
This documentary celebrates the trailblazing women who revolutionized electronic music. Featuring legends like Wendy Carlos and Suzanne Ciani, Sisters With Transistors showcases how these women shaped the soundscape of the 20th century using modular synthesizers.

Artist Reception: Luther Wright: American Dreaming
2026-02-19 18:00 - 20:00
*This event, originally scheduled on January 29, has been rescheduled to February 19, 2026, 6 pm to 8 pm. *

American Dreaming is a poignant exploration of the complex interplay between pursuing financial freedom and the Black experience in America. This series delves into the nuanced relationship between aspiration and the systemic barriers that persist within our society, particularly emphasizing the American lottery system as a symbol of hope in the Black community.

This exhibit will be on display at the Publick Playhouse from January 19-March 8, 2026, and can be viewed during regular facility hours (M-F, 9 am-5 pm). Please note that exhibits cannot be viewed when a performance or event is in progress. Before viewing an exhibit, please call the Box Office at 301-277-1710 to check the performance schedule.

Corazones Fuertes: Salud del Corazón para Familias Latinas de Maryland
2026-02-19 18:00 - 19:00
Jueves, 19 de febrero, 6–7 pm

Las enfermedades del corazón siguen siendo un gran problema de salud para las familias latinas en Maryland, pero muchos riesgos se pueden prevenir con la ayuda correcta. En este taller, el equipo de Zócalo Health compartirá ideas simples y culturales para cuidar su corazón a cualquier edad. Todas las edades son bienvenidas; GRATIS

Se requiere inscripción. Taller virtual

Toddler Time: African Instruments from Nature!
2026-02-19 11:00 - 12:00
Give your little one a head start on growing into a knowledgeable adult aware of the importance of the environment. Join us for an exciting time of exploring nature through hands-on activities, stories, songs, crafts, and more. Learn about animals, plants, and habitats. Each class focuses on a different nature theme.

Becoming Thurgood: America's Social Architect
2026-02-19 11:00 - 12:00
Becoming Thurgood: America’s Social Architect traces Thurgood Marshall’s life and career from his birth in Baltimore in 1908, through his years at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Lincoln University and Howard University School of Law, and on to his groundbreaking career as a lawyer championing civil rights. After launching his legal career in Baltimore in 1935, Marshall went on to win 29 of the 32 cases he argued before the U.S. Supreme Court, most notably the landmark 1954 Brown v. Board of Education case, which invalidated the “separate but equal” doctrine and ended racial segregation in public schools. In 1967, Marshall became the first African American appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court, where he served until his retirement in 1991. Becoming Thurgood: America’s Social Architect includes exclusive interviews with family members, leading historians and authors, and legal experts who offer fresh insights into the life and extraordinary influence of the man who became known as “Mr. Civil Rights.”

Executive produced by Emmy Award-winning and Oscar-nominated filmmaker Stanley Nelson and MPT Senior Vice President and Chief Content Officer Travis Mitchell, the film is produced and directed by Alexis Aggrey, with music by two-time Grammy Award-winning composer Derrick Hodge. “For the first time, audiences will hear Thurgood Marshall tell his own story – in his own words,” said director and producer Alexis Aggrey. “This film is the first to center Marshall’s own voice, drawn from a rare eight-hour oral history. It’s not just a documentary; it’s a conversation with a man whose legal mind reshaped the nation and whose legacy still echoes through our justice system today.”

Note: reservations strongly recommended due to limited seating.This film is not yet rated; Run Time: 1 hourThere will also be a talkback after the film screening with members of the production team.

View the Discussion Guide for the Film.

Toddler Time
2026-02-19 10:30 - 11:30

Above & Below: Insect Investigations!
2026-02-19 10:00 - 11:30
Step into the buzzing world of incredible insects and discover how these tiny creatures impact our environment! Explore their life cycles, body parts, communication, adaptations, and their remarkable engineering skills. Using science tools like microscopes, magnifying glasses, and more, get up close and personal with some real live crawlers!

The College Money GamePlan: From Strategy to Success
2026-02-18 19:00 - 20:00
Celebrate! You’re closer to a free or low-cost degree.

You’ve mapped your strategy, applied for scholarships, and explored programs. Now it’s time to pull it all together. This closing session helps students reflect on what they’ve learned.

Updated College Money Game Plan (Final Version)

90-Day College Funding Action Plan

Scholarship & Program Progress Log

Register Today! Visit pgparksdirect.com and enter “HBCU Money Guide” in the search box or search the Activity Code: 20673-175G

Sweetheart Swaps: Rethinking Sugar Nutrition Workshop
2026-02-18 18:00 - 19:00
Learn how to spot hidden sugars, understand their impact on your health, and discover smarter, sweeter swaps in this virtual workshop. Find out how small changes in your sugar habits can lead to big benefits for your heart health.

Timberdoodle Hike
2026-02-18 17:30 - 19:00
Join a naturalist for a night hike to see the spectacular courtship display of the Timberdoodle, or American Woodcock. This mysterious bird reliably performs a spiraling flight display shortly after sunset. Walk to a pond and try to see beavers, owls, and other nocturnal animals.

Wild Reading
2026-02-18 11:00 - 12:00
Make a love for reading seem like second nature! Give your child a jump start in literacy as they sit down to listen to a short story with a park naturalist. Kids and parents/guardians will explore the book topic through questions, creative crafts, and exploring nature. Additionally, a guided walk around the center to learn cool facts about our live animals is included. Sign up today to make reading and nature come to life.

Veterans Book Group
2026-02-17 19:00 - 21:00
Active service members and veterans of all eras are invited to join this free, monthly small group reading and discussion dinner series centered around books which relate to military experiences or offer a veteran’s perspective. Veterans Book Group is coordinated statewide by Maryland Humanities and presented locally in partnership with Montpelier Arts Center. Discussions are led by Dr. Karen Arnold, former poet-in-residence at the Arts Center and discussion moderator for multiple literature groups in Baltimore. Dinner and reading materials are provided. Call 301-377-7800 for more information and to register. Spaces are limited; registration is required by Jan. 6, 2026.

Ages 18 & up; FREE; registration required

Intermediate Acting 6-week Class
2026-02-17 18:30 - 20:00
This multi-week class builds upon foundational acting skills, focusing on in-depth exploration of techniques, character development, and performance styles; often including scene work, improvisation, and analysis of dramatic texts. Participants should have a basic understanding of acting techniques and principles that the class will focus on refining and expanding.

This class will run from February 17 – March 24, 2026 on Tuesday evenings, 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm. Registration will open in mid-November, 2025. Participants must register for the entire class session; there are no drop in rates.

Fit & Strong (Tuesdays)
2026-02-17 18:00 - 19:30
Are you looking for a class to improve exercise frequency, increase strength, and help with goal setting to promote overall health? Join us for Fit & Strong, a program that combines aerobics, stretching, balance, strength, endurance exercises, and health education to promote healthy behavior changes.

Stronger Together
2026-02-16 18:00 - 19:00
Kick off 2026 with our virtual “New Year, New You: Stronger Together” program! This program is designed to empower you with the knowledge and physical strength to make lasting changes, all from the comfort and convenience of your own home. This isn’t just about lifting weights; it’s a comprehensive journey to build a stronger, more resilient you, both inside and out. The class will include an educational component on strength training, providing you with the understanding you need to maximize your results and build a sustainable fitness routine.Ages 13 & up; FREE

JOIN VIRTUAL CALL

Cheer & Dance Extreme - Maryland Madness Recreation & Dance
2026-02-15 08:00 - 20:00
This is the second day of the two-day cheer and dance competitions presented by Cheer & Dance Extreme. One the line are paid bids to The One Cheer & Dance Finals, and Cheer & Dance Extreme: The Finale!

Tickets can be purchased online or at the box office on the day of the event.
