The Good Week | April 2, 2026

It's a big week in Potomac. With Passover, Easter, and Spring Break all converging at once, we're keeping this issue a little shorter than usual — because even newsletters need a spring break. There's still good stuff ahead, including a couple of spots that are new to The Good Week. Happy holidays and happy exploring.

The Good Week brings the most engaging experiences happening across Potomac, Bethesda, and nearby neighborhoods together in one place so you can discover something new and go.

Thanks for helping to spread the word about The Good Week. ✉️ Got this from a friend? Sign up here.

Art, music, performances, and a few reasons to spend the evening out.

The Bethesda Film Fest brings five short documentaries to Landmark Bethesda Row Cinema over two nights, with the same program shown each evening. The films cover a young pianist who fled Ukraine, a swimmer attempting a 24-mile crossing of the Chesapeake Bay, and a D.C. mentor using art to work with teens.

One of the filmmakers, Max Rykov, is a Ukrainian-born documentary filmmaker who grew up in Potomac. After each screening, he and his fellow filmmakers join for a discussion about their process and the stories behind the films — a rare chance to see short documentary work on a big screen and hear directly from the people who made it, including one who calls this area home.
👉 Learn more [Bethesda Urban Partnership]

This interactive murder mystery plays out as a wedding gone sideways, with a bride determined to stage the perfect day and a cast of characters quietly unraveling around her. The story leans into humor as much as intrigue, with audience members occasionally pulled into the action through improvised toasts and moments that shift the tone of the room.

Set inside Glenview Mansion, the experience includes dessert and a close-up view of the performance as it unfolds. It’s part theater, part social event, with just enough unpredictability to keep it moving.
👉 Learn more

Rockville has long been one of the most culturally diverse cities in the region, and International Night is its annual celebration of exactly that. The free event fills the F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre with dance, poetry, song, and traditional clothing displays representing the many cultures that make up the community.

Performances move across styles and traditions throughout the evening, offering something genuinely different from one segment to the next — and plenty of opportunity to engage with performers and fellow audience members connected to cultures from around the world. Seating is limited, so it's worth arriving early.
👉 Learn more

Hands-on classes and social activities where you can learn something new or step a little outside your comfort zone.

Spend time outside learning to sketch what you see. This beginner-friendly program combines a short nature walk with a guided drawing session focused on bird nests and eggs, led by a naturalist.

You’ll move through the trails and then translate what you observe onto paper, with instruction along the way. Bring your own sketchpad and materials if you have them, and plan for uneven terrain during the walk. Free.
👉 Learn more

Have something you’ve been working on? Or want to spend an evening around people who do? This open mic welcomes prose, poetry, and spoken word, with each reader getting a few minutes to share.

Sign-up begins at 6:45 pm and fills quickly, so arrive early if you want to read. You can also come just to listen. It’s a simple way to connect with local writers and hear what people are working on.
👉 Learn more

New to The Good Week! This local stitch group is a new find and an easy one to join. MoCo Stitch Club hosts open meetups where people bring their own projects and spend a couple of hours stitching alongside others. It’s primarily needlepoint, but other fiber arts are welcome.

The format is simple. Bring something to work on, find a seat, and settle in. The group is open to all levels, with a mix of people dropping in and regulars who come back each month.
👉 Learn more

New to The Good Week! This two-day workshop takes a less traditional approach to etching. Instead of starting with pre-made designs, you create your own using materials like oil paint, rubber cement, and hand-cut stencils to build layered surfaces before etching into steel.

Held in Cyd Crowley’s working studio, the class walks through the full process—from preparing the metal and setting up the etch to finishing techniques like patinas and sealers. It’s open to all levels, though some basic metalsmithing experience is helpful. $615
👉 Learn more

Getting out and moving.

Join an afternoon of square dancing set to live music at Glen Echo Park. The session starts with a short intro lesson, followed by a caller-led dance that keeps things moving and easy to follow.

No partner or special attire is required, and the setup makes it easy to join in at any level. The covered pavilion runs rain or shine, so you can plan on it either way. $12
👉 Learn more

Earlier picks still ahead — and still worth catching.

🌿 The Butterfly Experience at Brookside Gardens — Apr 2–Sep 7, 9 am–3 pm — seasonal butterfly exhibit in Wheaton

🎨 Cocktails & Canvas: Cherry Blossoms — Sat, Apr 4, 7–10 pm — guided painting workshop at VisArts, Rockville

🎶 Angélique Kidjo — Thu, Apr 9, 8 pm — live performance at Strathmore

🍷 Meet the Winemaker: Wine & Cheese Tasting — Thu, Apr 9, 6–8 pm — tasting with winemaker in Kensington

🍸 Sip, Shake, Bloom: Spring Cocktail Class — Thu, Apr 9, 6:30–9 pm — cocktail class at Summer House, North Bethesda

🎬 Gaithersburg Film Festival — Apr 10–12 — film screenings + talkbacks at Arts Barn

🎤 BTS World Tour ‘ARIRANG’—Live Viewing — Sat, Apr 11 & Sat, Apr 18, 4 pm — concert broadcast at Landmark Bethesda Row

🔥 First-Time Fusers: Intro to Glass Art — Apr 11–12 — beginner glass workshop at Glen Echo Park

🎤 Who’s With Me? — W. Kamau Bell — Fri, Apr 17, 7:30 pm — stand-up at Strathmore

🎭 Broadway in Bethesda Gala with Megan Hilty — Sat, Apr 18 — gala performance at Round House Theatre

🎨 Introduction to Screenprinting — Sun, Apr 19, 1–4:30 pm — hands-on workshop at Glen Echo Park

📚 Fiction Book Club: Megan Howell on Softie — Sun, Apr 19, 2–3 pm — author discussion at The Writer’s Center

📚 Plot Twisted: A Crafty Book Club — Wed, Apr 22, 6–8 pm — book club + craft activity

🏃‍♀️ Train Your Way to a 5K — Sundays, Apr 26–Jun 14 — weekly 5K training in Rockville

🎶 Renée Fleming: Voice of Nature — The Anthropocene — Wed, May 27, 8 pm — multimedia performance at Strathmore

If you stop by any of this week’s spots, let them know you heard about it in The Good Week.

If something landed well—or if we missed a place you think deserves attention—tell us at [email protected].

And if you know someone who’d appreciate a little local intel on Thursdays, forward this along.

See you next week.

✉️ Got this from a friend? Sign up here.

If you’re a local business interested in advertising or sponsoring a future issue, reach out to [email protected].

We double-check details, but plans change — confirm before you head out. All outings, reservations, and purchases are at your discretion; The Good Week isn’t responsible for any changes, cancellations, or experiences once you arrive.

View past issues of The Good Week.