Imagination Bethesda 2017

A Children's Street Festival in Bethesda, Maryland

By Rachel Cooper

Updated 05/22/17

Urban Impact. © Bethesda Urban Partnership

Imagination Bethesda is a children’s street festival celebrating children and the arts, including musical performances, dance troupes, roving entertainment and hands-on art & craft activities. The free event in downtown Bethesda features face painters, costume characters, balloonists, jugglers and more. Local businesses and educational organizations will host a variety of activities to entertain and energize the 12-and-under crowd.

Imagination Bethesda is a FREE event produced by the Bethesda Urban Partnership and is sponsored by MIX 107.3 FM, Washington Parent and Bethesda Magazine.

Date & Time:

Saturday, June 3,  2017
10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Location:

Along Elm St. and Woodmont Avenue in downtown Bethesda. See a map

Participants Hosting Children’s Activities

  • Adventure Theatre MTC – Create your own Junie B. Jones paper bag backpacks
  • Be with Me Playseum – Hand painting on ceramic tiles and bubble bucket
  • Bethesda Conservatory of Dance – freeze dance activity with props and sticker game
  • Bethesda Magazine – Summer fun photos and coloring activity
  • City Dance – Dance demo and graffiti coloring activity
  • Creative Youth – Fashion illustration project and hand sewing activity
  • Glen Echo Park Partnership for Arts & Culture – Make-your-own carousel activity
  • Huntington Learning Center – Create your own blow paint monster
  • Imagination Stage – Make your own mini pocket watch
  • Iran Cultural and Educational Center – Arts and crafts from Iran, face painting and book mark making
  • KID Museum – Interactive engineering activity with structures and balls
  • Kidville – Decorate door knockers, glitter tattoos
  • Language Stars – Games and activities from a variety of world cultures
  • Mathnasium – Make and explore shapes with a variety of fun materials
  • Montgomery County Pedestrian Safety Initiative – Pedestrian safety craft activity and pledge
  • Montgomery Parks – Tin-smith activity and clay marble making
  • Naval Support Activity Bethesda – Visit with McGruff and McGruff coloring books
  • Plaza Artist Materials – Learn to draw cartoon characters
  • Round House Theatre – Create your own map to a special destination
  • Strathmore – Guided colored pencil technique activity
  • The Washington Conservatory of Music – Musical instrument craft and hands-on demonstrations
  • Washington Episcopal School – Cookie decorating stations
  • Wonders Early Learning + Extended Day – Create masks with paper plates
  • YMCA Bethesda-Chevy Chase – Design and assemble paper fans

Performance Schedule

  • 10am - Mr. Knick Knack
  • 11:25am - Rainbow Rock Band
  • 12:30am - Rockin’ Railroad
  • 1:15pm - Culkin School of Traditional Irish Dance
  • 2pm - Rocknoceros

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