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From the City’s website:

2008 Independence Day Celebration Weekend

Staying in town this Fourth of July?  Join in some local fun as the City of Gaithersburg and 97.1 WASH-FM present a Big Bang Weekend Celebration Thursday, July 3 through Monday, July 7.  All concerts are free. 

The weekend kicks off with a children’s concert featuring the ever-popular Mr. Ray on Thursday, July 3 at 10:30 a.m. at the City Hall Concert Pavilion, 31 South Summit Avenue in Olde Towne Gaithersburg. Mr. Ray brings a unique, brand of cool, hip, positive entertainment for the entire family to enjoy.  This concert is also sponsored in part by www.tots2tweens.com.

The festivities continue on Friday with Gaithersburg’s Fourth of July Fireworks and Concert at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds, 16 Chestnut Street. Gates open at 5 p.m. Walk in at Chestnut or Dalamar Streets; Perry Parkway itself and the Perry Parkway entrance will be closed. No cars will be allowed in the Fairgrounds. WASH FM starts the night off at 6 p.m. with fun and games for the whole family, followed by a concert featuring Powerhouse at 7 p.m. A special City ceremony will take place at 8 p.m., with more concert to follow.  The City’s spectacular fireworks display begins at dusk. A variety of food will be sold at this event. Absolutely NO alcoholic beverages, glass containers, rollerblades, skates, bikes, pets, or fireworks of any kind will be permitted.  The rain date for the fireworks is Saturday, July 5.

Get whisked away to little latitudes on Saturday, July 5 when B2B, a Jimmy Buffett tribute band, performs at the City Hall Concert Pavilion at 7 p.m.  You’ll feel like you’re on a tropical island as the band plays Jimmy Buffett favorites that will sweep you away to paradise.  Note that if the July 4 fireworks are postponed until July 5, this concert will take place at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds.

The exciting spirit known as “Beatlemania” is alive again in The Return, the world’s most authentic Beatles tribute band.  Enjoy this amazingly energetic concert on Sunday, July 6 at 5 p.m. at the City Hall Concert Pavilion.  Note that this concert was originally scheduled for May 31 but was cancelled due to inclement weather that day. 

One more exciting concert rounds out Big Bang Weekend.  Girl Authority, a group of real girls with different personalities and interests, come together to sing, dance and put their own spin on girl power hits when they perform on Monday, July 7 at 10:30 a.m. at the City Hall Concert Pavilion.  This concert is sponsored in part by www.tots2tweens.com.

Click on the links below for more information or call 301-258-6350 or email parksrec@gaithersburgmd.gov.

• Big Band Weekend Events
• On Stage Summer Concert Series

Following the “Big Bang Weekend” link:

Big Bang Weekend - July 3 - 7

On Stage celebrates its 10th Anniversary

Free concerts begin at 10:30 a.m.
at the City Hall Concert Pavilion. Attendees are encouraged to bring a blanket, lawn chairs and a picnic.

A parking garage is located across the street from pavilion.

 

Thursday, July 3, 2008 - 10:30 a.m. * City Hall Concert Pavillion Mr. Ray Mr. Ray brings his brand of cool, hip, positive entertainment for the whole family to Gaithersburg. www.mrray.com
Friday, July 4, 2008 Independence Day Fireworks and Concert Montgomery County Fairgrounds Concert with Powerhouse - 7 p.m. Fireworks at Dusk Food available for sale Raindate — Fireworks and Concert by B2B at Fairgrounds Sat., July 5
Saturday, July 5, 2008 City Hall Concert Pavillion B2B — Jimmy Buffett Tribute Band If fireworks are postponed until July 5, this concert will take place at the Fairgrounds The main ingredient in any B2B performance is the same laid back, tropical attitude that Jimmy Buffett displays whenever he performs. So kick off your shoes and let us take you away to the little latitudes. www.b2bband.com
Sunday, July 6, 2008 - 5 p.m. City Hall Concert Pavillion The Return — The Beatles Tribute Band The exciting spirit known as “Beatlemania” is alive again in The Return — the world’s most authentic Beatles tribute band.  Music fans from every generation can experience the same thrill felt by those who saw the Beatles live in the ’60’s. www.thereturnonline.com            View a preview of The Return (use Windows Media Player)
Monday, July 7, 2008 - 10:30 a.m. * City Hall Concert Pavillion Girl Authority Girl Authority is a group of real girls with different personalities and interests coming together to sing, dance and put their own spin on girl power pop hits you know and love. www.girlauthority.com

*sponsored in part by www.tots2tweens.com

From the City’s website:

Big Bang Weekend Features Something for Everyone in Gaithersburg
Posted 6/6/2008

Staying in town this Fourth of July?  Join in some local fun as the City of Gaithersburg and 97.1 WASH-FM present a Big Bang Weekend Celebration Thursday, July 3 through Monday, July 7.  All concerts are free. 

The weekend kicks off with a children’s concert featuring the ever-popular Mr. Ray on Thursday, July 3 at 10:30 a.m. at the City Hall Concert Pavilion, 31 South Summit Avenue in Olde Towne Gaithersburg. Mr. Ray brings a unique, brand of cool, hip, positive entertainment for the entire family to enjoy.  This concert is also sponsored in part by www.tots2tweens.com.

The festivities continue on Friday with Gaithersburg’s Fourth of July Fireworks and Concert at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds, 16 Chestnut Street. Gates open at 5 p.m. Walk in at Chestnut or Dalamar Streets; Perry Parkway itself and the Perry Parkway entrance will be closed. No cars will be allowed in the Fairgrounds. WASH FM starts the night off at 6 p.m. with fun and games for the whole family, followed by a concert featuring Powerhouse at 7 p.m. A special City ceremony will take place at 8 p.m., with more concert to follow.  The City’s spectacular fireworks display begins at dusk. A variety of food will be sold at this event. Absolutely NO alcoholic beverages, glass containers, rollerblades, skates, bikes, pets, or fireworks of any kind will be permitted.  The rain date for the fireworks is Saturday, July 5.

Get whisked away to little latitudes on Saturday, July 5 when B2B, a Jimmy Buffett tribute band, performs at the City Hall Concert Pavilion at 7 p.m.  You’ll feel like you’re on a tropical island as the band plays Jimmy Buffett favorites that will sweep you away to paradise.  Note that if the July 4 fireworks are postponed until July 5, this concert will take place at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds.

The exciting spirit known as “Beatlemania” is alive again in The Return, the world’s most authentic Beatles tribute band.  Enjoy this amazingly energetic concert on Sunday, July 6 at 5 p.m. at the City Hall Concert Pavilion.  Note that this concert was originally scheduled for May 31 but was cancelled due to inclement weather that day. 

One more exciting concert rounds out Big Bang Weekend.  Girl Authority, a group of real girls with different personalities and interests, come together to sing, dance and put their own spin on girl power hits when they perform on Monday, July 7 at 10:30 a.m. at the City Hall Concert Pavilion.  This concert is sponsored in part by www.tots2tweens.com.

Click on the links below for more information or call 301-258-6350 or email parksrec@gaithersburgmd.gov.

• Big Band Weekend Events
  

• On Stage Summer Concert Series

From the City’s website:

Labor Day Parade

The City of Gaithersburg celebrates the “unofficial” end of summer with its 69th Annual Labor Day Parade Monday, September 3, 2007 at 1 p.m. The parade will wind through the streets of Olde Towne Gaithersburg, including East Diamond and Russell Avenues.

Exciting participants in this year’s rain-or-shine parade include Bolivian dancers, the Tai Yim lion dancers, Bugs Bunny, Batman, Celebrity Head TV Stars, antique highwheelers, African drummers and dancers, and an assortment of fire engines, high school marching bands, giant balloons, horses, clowns and more.

Gaithersburg Middle School is the 2007 recipient of the annual Labor Day Community School Award. The principal, Carol Goddard, and the school are being recognized for the following accomplishments:

• Raising $1,040 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s “Pennies for Patients”,
• Collecting over 1,600 cans for Manna Food Center’s Holiday Drive, and
• Partnering with the GMS autism class to coordinate Autism Awareness Month activities.

Free parking is available in the Olde Towne garage, located at the corner of Olde Towne and South Summit Avenues. Handicap parking is located behind the Victor Litz store on the north side of Diamond Avenue, and behind the Shell station on South Summit Avenue. A shuttle bus will also be provided from the Lakeforest Shopping Center transit station to Gaithersburg Elementary School beginning at noon.

For more information contact 301-258-6350 or parksrec@gaithersburgmd.gov.

Editor’s Note: The City Police Department has ordered that NO MEDIA VEHICLES will be allowed up to the parade route.

The City’s annual Winter Lights Festival opened for the season yesterday. This is a popular event, although personally I don’t usually get inspired to go until we get a blanket of snow to give the lights a white background. The event is held at Seneca Creek State Park, on Clopper Road west of Quince Orchard Road. Open from 6:00 to 9:00 pm Sunday through Thursday and 6:00 to 10:00 pm on Friday and Saturday, admission is by the vehicle: $10 per car Sunday through Thursday and $12 per car on Friday and Saturday. Large vans and Buses cost more. $2 discount coupons — good only Sunday through Thursday — are available at Lakeforest Mall, and all proceeds go to the charities listed on the City’s website.

This year there will be six opportunities — twice on each of three dates — to ride the City’s open-air “trolley” through the display. The first chance at this is this coming Monday, November 27, at 6:30 and 7:30. Tickets to the trolley rides are $5 each. The trolley is also scheduled to run December 4 and December 11. Obviously you’ll need to dress to be outside for an hour in whatever weather those dates bring. According to the City, “Seating is limited, and is available on a first come, first served basis.”

I noticed in this week’s myGaithersburg email, the item up at the top:

NOTICE: A special event permit has been issued for a private event at the Montgomery County Agricultural Center on Saturday, Sept. 30. The event will include fireworks starting at 8 p.m. A City fire marshal will be onsite during the display.

Checking with the Fairgounds website, I find they’re listing two events for tomorrow night. One is the City of Gaithersburg Crab Feast & Karaoke event (see the City’s announcement for more information), while the other is Diwali Mela 2006: Festival of Lights (Deepavali), sponsered by the Association of United Hindu & Jain Temples of Metropolitan Washington, DC. It is in fact the latter which mentions fireworks, although I’m guessing you’ll be able to see them from either event. The Hindu festival will be on the Perry Parkway end, while the Crabs & Karaoke will be at the Chestnut Street end.

The City’s description of the Crab Feast says:

The entire community is invited to enjoy crabs and BBQ as the City of Gaithersburg hosts its Crab Feast & Karaoke Night on Saturday, September 30 at the Montgomery County Agricultural Center, 16 Chestnut Street in Gaithersburg.

Doors will open at 5:30 p.m., and the buffet will be available at 6 p.m. Catered by Red Hot & Blue, the buffet features pulled pork and chicken, baked beans, potato salad, and desserts. Crabs will be served from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Music and Karaoke will run from 6 to 10 p.m.

Admission is $35 for City of Gaithersburg residents and $39 for nonresidents. Children 10 and under will be admitted for half price. Groups of 10 or more will receive a discount of $2 per ticket. Beverages will be available for an additional fee. Ticket sales are limited, so early purchase is recommended. Tickets are available now and can be purchased at the Activity Center at Bohrer Park, 506 South Frederick Avenue. For more information please contact 301-258-6350 or parksrec@gaithersburgmd.gov.

While the Hindu Festival’s description says:

Association of United Hindu and Jain Temples of Washington Metro Area
invites you to celebrate the Festival of Lights (Deepavali)

Saturday, September 30, 2006

12:00 Noon - 10:00 PM

Free Admission, Free Parking
Shree Ganesha & Devi Lakshmi Pooja
Grand Cultural Program and Spectacular Fireworks
Gala Festival, Featuring Indian Food, Shops for Fashion Clothing and Jewelry, Audio/Video Cassettes, Cosmetics,
Books and Children’s Entertainment at
Montgomery County Agricultural Center (Fairgrounds)
16 Chestnut Street, Gaithersburg, MD 20877 (301) 926-3100

Indian food or Crabs? That’s a tough choice. Karaoke, I could do without. Maybe the best plan is lunch at the Hindu festival, dinner at the Crab Feast, and then back to the Hindu festival for the best seats for the fireworks…

Of course, I doubt many of the Jains will be using this strategy…

The City has an announcement up for the Kentlands Oktoberfest.

The City of Gaithersburg and the Kentlands Citizens Assembly present the 15 th Annual Oktoberfest at the Kentlands, Sunday, October 8, 2006 , from noon to 4 p.m. at Kentlands Village Green. Admission and parking are free. Wheelchair accessible shuttle service will be available from the Global Exchange Services (GXS) Building at the corner of Main Street and Route 28.

Amidst horse-drawn hayrides and scarecrow making, festival goers can enjoy authentic Bavarian fare and lively performances by Alte Kameraden German Band and the Alt-Washingtonia Bavarian dancers. Lederhosen is optional as Alt-Washingtonia instructs and encourages participation in some of their dances. Throughout the festival you’ll find booths representing local merchants, organizations, artists and craftspersons. The Arts Barn Museum Shop adjacent to the Village Green will showcase one-of-a-kind pieces by more than 100 local artists.

The outdoor Family Stage will feature delightful children’s musician Uncle Pete’s “Up With Kids” and the slapstick silliness of MR Jones. “Upbeat Unlimited,” an energetic musical youth theater group, and Ballet Petite will perform indoors at the Arts Barn. Magician Marc Phillips will be performing his amazing magic outside the Art Barn.

Kids will also enjoy a full day of pony rides, moonbounces, face painting and many other activities. Note that a small fee will be charged for some activities.

The announcment doesn’t say anything one way or another about beer, but this page on about.com does say “family friendly,” which usually is a euphemism for “no beer”.

…excuse me, “Celebrate Gaithersburg in Olde Towne”.

The afternoon went pretty well, as far as I could tell, and it was pretty well attended. Certainly we had beautiful weather. This year they tried a new concept, “Taste of Gaithersburg”, where local restaurants all got booths, rather than having the standard fair/carnival type vendors dominate. You you had to buy tickets first, and then food cost one, two or three tickets depending on what you were getting. It seemed a pretty good concept, although it was a little frustrating that so few of the restaurants offered drinks, and the few that did had long lines and ran out of drinks early. Josh Kelly put on a good show, and stuck around autographing CDs for a good while. I tried to stay for Pat McGee but it was a bit louder than I would prefer. But attendance was good for both shows.

Freight Train moving through festival

More Pictures after the jump.

Read the rest of this entry »

This event used to be called “Olde Towne Day”, and I’m not quite certain why Olde Towne isn’t allowed to have its own day anymore, but anyway it will be held this year on Sunday, September 17 from Noon to 5 p.m. Last year they appeared to be trying to ramp things up a little bit by bringing in a nationally-known act, Toby Lightman. This year it appears that the big act will be Josh Kelly, with the Pat McGee Band following up at the concert pavilion. Deanna Bogart, who at least has albums for sale on Amazon, and the oldies standby The Fabulous Hubcaps, will be on the secondary stage near the train station. In past years, the Hubcaps, or possibly even the Jack Diamond band, would probably have been the biggest act in the festival.