Festivals Top the Weekend Planner, Oct. 6 – 8, 2017

Once again, festivals top our weekend planner. Saturday, the annual Harvest Festival focuses on farming in Montgomery County during World War I. The festival features living historians in period costumes, tin-smithing, making apple butter, building scarecrows, traditional music, farm animals, hayrides and more.

Also on Saturday, visit Rockville Town Center for the Rocktobierfest beer and music festival. The city is hosting a delegation from their sister city Pinneberg, Germany, a program in its 60th year.

Taste of Bethesda food and music street festival returns on Saturday with the opportunity to sample food from 60 restaurants and enjoy live entertainment on five stages.

Sunday, the popular Oktoberfest at the Kentlands returns with a day of food, live music, horse-drawn hay rides, Bavarian dancing and much more.

Friday

BSO Off the Cuff: Wagner’s Quest Guest conductor Markus Stenz leads the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra in selections from Wagner’s Parsifal. the story of a young knight’s quest is a heroic search for forgiveness and reconciliation.  8:15 p.m. The Music Center at Strathmore,  5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda. strathmore.org. $35-$82.

“Love and Information” Forum Theatre presents Caryl Churchill’s play composed of more than 60 mini-plays, with more than 100 characters trying to make sense of what they know. Through Oct. 21. Forum Theatre, 8641 Colesville Rd., Silver Spring. forum-theatre.org. $18-$38.

7th Annual EPW Awards The EPW Foundation is a non-profit founded by the children of the late Mrs. Edith P. Wright who battled breast cancer. Her daughter, singer/songwriter Miriamm Wright,  hosts the the awards to honor and celebrate breast cancer survivors, caregivers, medical professionals and local organizations in a night of music. 8 p.m. Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club, 7719 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda. bethesdabluesjazz.com. $35.

Hypnotic Brass Ensemble BlackRock opens their 2017-18 season with this ensemble comprised of seven brothers from Chicago. The group is well known for their popular hit “War” featured in the movie, Hunger Games.  8 p.m. BlackRock Center for the Arts, 12901 Town Commons Dr., Germantown.  blackrockcenter.org. $21-$39.

 

Saturday

Weed Warrior Volunteers remove invasive plants from Maydale Conservation Park. Wear long pants, long sleeves, and sturdy, closed-toed shoes. Bring gloves, pruners, and loppers if you have them. Gloves and tools are available to borrow if you don’t have your own. No power tools allowed. Students may earn SSL hours. 10 a.m.-noon.  Maydale Conservation Park. 1638 Maydale Dr., Colesville, montgomeryparks.org. Sign-up required.

Meditation class  A class for beginners who want an introduction to meditation. 11 a.m.-noon. Meditation Museum, 9525 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring. eventbrite.com. Free.

“How I Became a Pirate” Jeremy Jacob is a young boy who meets a group of pirates while playing on the beach. Based on the book by Melinda Long and directed by Jenny Male. Through Oct. 22 at Adventure Theatre in Glen Echo Park, 7300 MacArthur Blvd. Glen Echo. adventuretheatre-mtc.org. Tickets $19.50.

Taste of Bethesda Tastes from 60 restaurants, including Benihana, Chef Tony’s Seafood, and Jaleo. Five stages of entertainment. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Woodmont Triangle, Norfolk and Auburn avenues, Bethesda.  bethesda.org. Free admission; $5 per four tasting tickets.

Montgomery Parks Harvest Festival Enjoy some fun on the farm with old-time crafts, activities, music, and food. Agricultural History Farm Park, 18400 Muncaster Rd., Derwood. montgomeryparks.org. Admission is $15/car (additional fees for some activities).

Rocktobierfest Beer and Music Festival The festival will coincide with the visit of a delegation from Pinneberg, Germany to mark 60 years as Rockville’s sister city The festival will feature local breweries, two stages, a beer hall with beer from 7 Locks Brewing and Gordon Biersch, a craft and food area, and kids activities. Noon – 6 p.m. Rockville Town Center, 30 Maryland Ave., Rockville. rockvillemd.gov. Free.

Spooky Movie International Horror Film Festival The film festival, in its 12th year,  showcases the best in new horror cinema from around the world. Oct. 5-8. AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center, 8633 Colesville Rd., Silver Spring. afi.com. $9.50-$13.

“In the Heights” Lin-Manuel Miranda’s 2008 Tony-winning musical is co-produced by the Olney Theatre Center and Round House Theatre, directed and choreographed by Marcos Santana and with original Broadway cast member Robin De Jesús as Usnavi. Extended through Oct. 22 at the Olney Theatre Center, 2001 Olney-Sandy Spring Rd., Olney. olneytheatre.org. Tickets $37-$84.

“Love and Information” Forum Theatre presents Caryl Churchill’s play composed of more than 60 mini-plays, with more than 100 characters trying to make sense of what they know. Through Oct. 21. Forum Theatre, 8641 Colesville Rd., Silver Spring. forum-theatre.org. $18-$38.

Summerhill Polo Exhibition Match Bring a picnic basket and enjoy a polo match with live music. Summerhill Polo, Elgin and Jerusalem Rd., Poolesville. summerhillpolo.com. $15 per car.

Rockville Cemetery Ghost Tour Peerless Rockville hosts this nighttime tour of Rockville Cemetery featuring costumed actors portraying local characters from teh 1790s to the 1940s. This is an all-terrain tour so wear sturdy walking shoes and bring a flashlight for this event. No flash photography allowed. 7 – 9:30 p.m. Rockville Cemetery, 1350 Baltimore Rd., Rockville. peerlessrockville.org. $15-$20.

An Intimate Evening with Michael Feinstein Michael Feinstein celebrates the crooners with signature songs of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Bing Crosby and other. In a yearlong collaboration with Feinstein, AMP will present similiar concerts throughout the year curated by and featuring Feinstein and artists he’s hand-picked. 8 p.m. Amp by Strathmore, 11810 Grand Park Ave., North Bethesda. ampbystrathmore.com. $95.

 

 

 

Sunday

“Love and Information” Forum Theatre presents Caryl Churchill’s play composed of more than 60 mini-plays, with more than 100 characters trying to make sense of what they know. Through Oct. 21. Forum Theatre, 8641 Colesville Rd., Silver Spring. forum-theatre.org. $18-$38.

“How I Became a Pirate” Jeremy Jacob is a young boy who meets a group of pirates while playing on the beach. Based on the book by Melinda Long and directed by Jenny Male. Through Oct. 22 at Adventure Theatre in Glen Echo Park, 7300 MacArthur Blvd. Glen Echo. adventuretheatre-mtc.org. Tickets $19.50.

Oktoberfest at the Kentlands  This popular festival in its 26th year includes food, live music, business expo, horse-drawn hay rides, and more. Noon – 5 p.m. Kentlands Village Green, grounds of the Kentlands Mansion, Main Street and Market Square in Gaithersburg. gaithersburgmd.gov. Free admission.

Claudio Recabarren: Piano Under the Stars Pianist and composer Claudio Recabarren Madrid will perform original compositions inspired by planetarium images of the stars. High resolution images will be displayed on stage to create an effect of experiencing music not of this earth. Madrid will also use the clay pot (Metawe) and ancestral voices during the performance. 3 – 4:30 p.m. Cultural Arts Center, Montgomery College, 7995 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring. montgomerycollege.edu. $5-$10.

Sweet Honey in the Rock Rooted in African American history and culture, Sweet Honey In The Rock ensemble educates, entertains and empowers its audience and community through a cappella and American Sign Language interpretation. Sweet Honey most recent members include: Carol Maillard, Louise Robinson, Nitanju Bolade Casel, Aisha Kahlil, and featured musician Romeir Mendez on upright acoustic bass and electric bass.  7 p.m. BlackRock Center for the Arts, 12901 Town Commons Dr., Germantown.  blackrockcenter.org. $29-$55.

Watch the latest CultureSpot MC video, below, for more events happening this month: