by Mike Conroy
Since the beginning of Montgomery Village, one of the defining aspects of summer life has been free family concerts at the Lawn Theater. Over the years, especially recently, the realm of activities hosted at the Gordon W. Bowie Music Pavilion in South Valley Park has expanded. A diverse range of musical acts, Art in the Park, movies, kids’ programs and other family activities have found home on the hillside overlooking the water.
For the 2018 season, get ready to rock again with the east coast’s original 80’s tribute band, The Reagan Years! If you don’t follow this local powerhouse on a regular basis, you may remember them from the special 50th Anniversary Concert held at the Apple Ridge Recreation Area.
If you remember anything else from that day, the music wasn’t the only thing that was hot—hopefully the weather cooperates and is seasonally appropriate on Sunday, June 3 from 6 to 8 p.m. while The Reagan Years rocks the pavilion. Bring your family, friends and neighbors, along with your lawn chairs, blankets and snacks, to enjoy the best tunes from the 80s for free! This family-friendly show will be sure to get you singing and dancing to some classic songs.
The rest of the Summers at South Valley Park lineup includes some regular favorites as well as some new acts to the music pavilion stage. Spend your Sunday evenings with the sounds of Diamond Alley, the Montgomery Village Community Band, the U.S. Navy Band Commodores, The Muddy Crows, 19th Street Band, Leify Green and Southern Charm.
But Summers at South Valley Park is more than just Sunday evening concerts! Check out Art in the Park on Sunday, June 24 from 3 to 7:30 p.m. Come for art demonstrations, music, beverage tastings and all things in the arts! Catch Bach to Rock youth bands, the Montgomery Village Blue Notes and the Billy Coulter Band on stage throughout the day.
Enjoy a movie under the stars with the family on Friday, Aug. 3. Bring your blanket or chairs and watch Disney Pixar’s new animated film “CoCo” on the big screen. Doors open at 8 p.m. and the movie starts at dusk.
And continuing the program from previous years, the Wednesday morning KidjAM events are set for three weeks in July. The free kids programs begin at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, July 11 and include favorites like Spitz-O-Matic, Pirate Magic and Squeals on Wheels Petting Zoo.
For the full schedule, including dates and times, visit www.montgomeryvillage.com. On the “Summers at South Valley Park” page, you can check out samples of the bands’ music in short video clips, as well as go to their full websites for more information on each one.
For all events at the Gordon W. Bowie Music Pavilion, parking is available behind Watkins Mill Elementary School, 19003 Watkins Mill Road. Handicap accessible parking is available by calling 301-948-0110 in advance of the performances. Guests are invited to bring lawn chairs, blankets, picnics/food and beverages for an evening out at the outdoor amphitheater.