The Germantown October Fest is set to return to Germantown Town Center on Saturday, October 10, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., promising a day filled with live music, food, art, cultural programming, and family-friendly activities.
This year’s free festival will feature a performance by the two-time Grammy-nominated Southern hip-hop group Nappy Roots. The live music stage, sponsored by Rappaport and the BlackRock Center for the Arts, will be hosted by Alex Tsironis, known as “Mr. MoCo” from The MoCoShow. Organizers are anticipating a turnout of over 6,000 attendees, making this the largest Germantown October Fest to date.
A new highlight for this year is a collaboration with The G.A.M.E., or The Great African Market Experience, which will feature a mini African cultural marketplace with select vendors, artisans, food, and art.
The festivities will kick off with a free 15-minute Spooky Family Dance Party at 11 a.m., followed by a community parade led by the Seneca Valley High School marching band. Winners from the dance party will have the chance to join the parade. Other attractions throughout the day will include:
- BlackRock Artisan Market
- A children’s carnival featuring bounce houses, games, and prizes
- Upcounty Business Expo
- The MoCoShow Beer Garden
- International food vendors
- Interactive art experiences from We Art Fun
- A Community Organizations and Resource Fair
- A Halloween Rewind Hangout with 1990s-inspired activities, games, and photo opportunities
- Drag Beer Garden Bingo hosted by Tula and Regina inside BlackRock’s BlackBox Theatre
The bingo event is a ticketed experience for guests aged 21 and older, offering prizes including complimentary drinks from the beer garden. The festival is organized by the Germantown Town Center initiative of the Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Montgomery County, BlackRock Center for the Arts, and various community organizations.
“October Fest is a celebration of community pride, cultural diversity, and local entrepreneurship,” said Zeina Davis, Program Director for the Germantown Town Center Initiative. “From welcoming Grammy-nominated Nappy Roots to expanding our family experiences and celebrating cultures from around the world, we’re creating an event that truly reflects the energy, diversity, and creativity of Germantown.”
Applications for artisan vendors, Business Expo exhibitors, parade participants, and volunteers are currently being accepted. More details can be found at germantowntowncenter.org.
