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M-NCPPC, Department of Parks and Recreation in Prince George’s County Announces October Events

RIVERDALE, Md. – M-NCPPC, Department of Parks and Recreation, Prince George’s County will host a series of free and low-cost events throughout October, offering residents and visitors opportunities to celebrate the fall season with family-friendly festivals, cultural programs, arts events, and Halloween-themed activities.

Upcoming events:

Fall Farm Festival | Free

Saturday, October 3, 2026, 10 am-3 pm

Old Maryland Farm (Watkins Regional Park)

Celebrate the season at Old Maryland Farm’s annual Fall Farm Festival! Enjoy a day of fall family fun with a pumpkin patch, farm-themed games, hands-on activities, friendly farm animals, local vendors, and delicious food. Whether you’re racing hobby horses, trying your hand at pumpkin bowling, or exploring the farm, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

Waterfront Art Festival | Free

Saturday, October 10, 2026, 11 am-4 pm

Bladensburg Waterfront Park

Join us at Bladensburg Waterfront Park for a day filled with creativity and inspiration. Explore a variety of artworks from talented local artists, ranging from paintings to jewelry, photography, and sculpture, and everything in between. Immerse yourself in the vibrant art market while enjoying live music and the scenic views of the Anacostia River. Grab tasty food and treats, create some art of your own, or take a relaxing boat tour!

Through the Dark, the Light Beckons with Dissonance Dance Theatre

Saturday, October 10, 2026, 7-8:30 pm & Sunday, October 11, 2026, 4-5:30 pm

Prince George’s Publick Playhouse

Washington, D.C.’s Dissonance Dance Theatre celebrates its 20^th anniversary season at the Publick Playhouse with Through the Dark, the Light Beckons, a powerful evening of movement and meaning rooted in the African American experience. Featuring beloved company repertoire and world premieres by acclaimed choreographer Shawn Short, the program unfolds in three chapters: the pulse and grit of the city’s streets, the fragments of memory that shape us, and the spirit, soul, and sophistication of everyday people.

Mental Health Resource Fair | Free

Saturday, October 10, 2026, 10 am-2 pm

Kentland Community Center

The Park Police Mental Health Resource Fair features vendors and resources for all ages, including interactive activities such as CPR and Narcan training, line dancing, giveaways, and free groceries to the first 150 families. Special guest speakers will discuss suicide and mental health awareness.

American Indian Festival | Free

Saturday, October 17, 2026, 11 am-4 pm

Patuxent River Park

The American Indian Festival is a vibrant celebration of Native American culture, heritage, and traditions, offering diverse Native communities a space to honor and share their rich cultural legacy.

Flights & Frights: Trick or Treat at the Museum

Saturday, October 24, 2026, 5:30-7:30 pm

College Park Aviation Museum

Set your Halloween spirits soaring at Flights and Frights at the College Park Aviation Museum! Join us for an evening filled with trick-or-treating in the gallery and spook-tacular games, crafts, and experiments. Come dressed in your favorite costumes and get ready for a high-flying Halloween adventure. Registration required by October 17.

Magical Night of Wizardry

Friday, October 30, 2026, 7-8 pm

Watkins Regional Park

Enjoy an evening of magic, mystery, and Halloween fun! Magical Night of Wizardry offers enchanted beverages, magical snacks, spellbinding crafts, and a screening of a favorite wizard-inspired film. Brave guests are also invited to journey through the Enchanted Watkins Forest.

Spooky Good Time

Saturday, October 31, 2026, 6-9 pm

Tucker Road Athletic Complex

Come dressed in your best costume for this annual Halloween event. Bring your candy bags for a fun night of trick-or-treating. Activities will also include a costume contest, candy, games, pumpkins, a haunted hayride, and a haunted house!
Statement from M-NCPPC on Rescheduled Hearings for FY27 Budget

The Circuit Court for Prince George’s County has issued a continuance in the matter related to The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission’s Fiscal Year 2027 Budget in Prince George’s County, and the hearings have been rescheduled to November 16 and 17, 2026.

In the meantime, residents can be assured that M-NCPPC remains fully committed to delivering the planning, parks, and recreation services that communities rely on every day. Our staff continues to serve Prince George’s County residents, maintain parks and facilities, advance planning initiatives, and provide the programs and resources that contribute to a high quality of life. At the same time, M-NCPPC remains committed to working collaboratively with Prince George’s County government on behalf of the residents of Prince George’s County.

We remain focused on our mission, committed to responsible stewardship of public resources, and dedicated to serving the people of Prince George’s and Montgomery Counties.

About The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission

The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) is a bi-county agency empowered by the State of Maryland in 1927 to acquire, develop, maintain, and administer a regional system of parks within Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties, and to provide land use planning for the physical development of Prince George’s and Montgomery Counties. In addition, the agency gained responsibility for the public recreation program in Prince George’s County in 1970. The governing body of M-NCPPC consists of 10 members, five appointed by Montgomery County and five by Prince George’s County. The Commission coordinates and acts on matters of interest to both counties and meets at least once a month. The members of the commission from each county serve on separate county planning boards to facilitate, review, and administer the matters affecting their respective counties. 

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M-NCPPC, Department of Parks and Recreation, Prince George’s County Updates Cooling Center Operations for Residents Impacted by Storm-Related Power Outages
RIVERDALE, MD (September 6, 2026) – In response to ongoing power outages following recent severe storms, The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), Department of Parks and Recreation, Prince George’s County is activating emergency weather center and cooling centers across the county today to provide residents with access to a cool, comfortable environment while power is being restored.

While temperatures are not expected to reach extreme levels this weekend, the Department is opening its cooling centers as an additional resource for residents who may need a place to stay cool, recharge, and take a break from conditions at home while power outages continue.

Emergency Weather Centers

Effective today, the Department will discontinue Emergency Cooling Center operations at Langley Park Community Center and Palmer Park Community Center. The Emergency Weather Center at Upper Marlboro Community Center will remain open from 12 noon to 8 pm.
- Upper Marlboro Community Center: 5400 Marlboro Race Track Road, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772 — open today from 12 noon to 8 pm
Cooling Centers Open Sunday

Residents may also continue to use the Department’s regularly designated cooling centers during normal operating hours. The Department will continue monitoring storm-related impacts and community needs to determine whether additional resources are necessary.

The following cooling centers are open today, Sunday, September 6, during normal business hours. Residents impacted by power outages are encouraged to utilize these locations as needed:
- Glenarden Community Center: 8615 McLain Avenue, Glenarden, MD
- Huntington Community Center: 13022 8th Street Unit B, Bowie, MD
- John E. Howard Community Center: 4400 Shell Street, Capitol Heights, MD
- Kentland Community Center: 2413 Pinebrook Avenue, Landover, MD
- Oakcrest Community Center: 1300 Capitol Heights Boulevard, Capitol Heights, MD
- Southern Area Aquatics and Recreation Complex: 13601 Missouri Avenue, Brandywine, MD
- Southern Regional Technology and Recreational Center: 7007 Bock Road, Fort Washington, MD
- Suitland Community Center: 5600 Regency Lane, Forestville, MD
- Temple Hills Community Center: 5300 Temple Hill Road, Temple Hills, MD
- Tucker Road Ice Rink: 1770 Tucker Road, Fort Washington, MD
- Vansville Community Center: 6813 Ammendale Road, Beltsville, MD
Residents and visitors are advised to use extreme caution and remain alert for downed trees, branches, debris, standing water, and other storm-related hazards.

Outdoor Aquatic Facilities Open This Weekend

This weekend also marks the final weekend of the outdoor pool season. The following outdoor aquatic facilities will be open Sunday, September 6:
- Allentown Splash, Tennis, & Fitness Park: 7210 Allentown Road, Fort Washington, MD 20744
- Cross Creek Pool: 12806 Bay Hills Drive, Calverton, MD 20705
- Ellen E. Linson Splash Park: 5211 Campus Drive, College Park, MD 20740
- Glenn Dale Splash Park: 1901 Glenn Dale Boulevard, Glenn Dale, MD 20769
- Hamilton Splash Park: 3901 Hamilton Street, Hyattsville, MD 20781
- J. Franklyn Bourne Memorial Pool: 6500 Calmos St, Capitol Heights, MD 2074
- Lane Manor Splash Park: 7601 West Park Drive, Hyattsville, MD 20783
- North Barnaby Splash Park: 5000 Wheeler Road, Oxon Hill, MD 20745
Advanced registration is suggested where applicable.

About the Department

With over 30,000 acres of parkland, trails, athletic fields, playgrounds, and more, the M-NCPPC, Department of Parks and Recreation in Prince George’s County provides an award-winning park system through progressive, quality, innovative leadership and a commitment to its community and environment. The Department delivers first-class recreational activities and programs for people of all ages and ability levels. It strives to improve the quality of life for Prince George’s County residents and the communities in which they live, work, and raise families. The Department’s Formula 2040 Plan establishes a framework that will ensure the Department can meet future parks and recreation programmatic and facility needs, fulfilling its mission to determine the combination of land, facilities, and programs that will provide appropriate experiences for Prince Georgians in the future. To learn more, visit www.pgparks.com.

News - FAQ List Quick

M-NCPPC, Department of Parks and Recreation in Prince George’s County Announces October Events

Statement from M-NCPPC on Rescheduled Hearings for FY27 Budget

M-NCPPC, Department of Parks and Recreation, Prince George’s County Updates Cooling Center Operations for Residents Impacted by Storm-Related Power Outages

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