The Good Week | June 18, 2026

With a long weekend ahead, this is a good week to look a little closer at what’s happening around Potomac, Bethesda, and nearby neighborhoods. There are plans for right now, ideas worth putting on the calendar, and a few easy ways to make an ordinary week feel more interesting.

✨ THIS ISSUE’S TOP PICK

Know someone who’d like The Good Week? Forward this their way.

✉️ Got this from a friend? Sign up free here.

✨ THIS ISSUE’S TOP PICK

Know someone who’d like The Good Week? Forward this their way.

✉️ Got this from a friend? Sign up free here.

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

As part of Glen Echo Park’s 2026 Juneteenth events, the summer concert series continues with I Am Your Daddy Band, a tribute to Kid Creole & The Coconuts. The group brings a polished mix of jazz, Latin, and soul to the Bumper Car Pavilion for an evening of live music, community, and celebration.

The concert is part of a larger Juneteenth program from Glen Echo Park Partnership for Arts and Culture, with music and cultural programming marking the holiday throughout the week.
👉 Celebrate Juneteenth at Glen Echo

Bring a lawn chair, pack a picnic, and settle in for As You Like It at Meadowside Nature Center. This free Shakespeare in the Parks performance brings love, disguise, music, dance, and a little Forest of Arden magic to an easy summer evening outdoors.

The touring production is designed for neighborhood parks, which means you get a condensed, accessible version of Shakespeare with plenty of charm and room to stretch out on the grass.
👉 Catch Shakespeare outdoors

In celebration of Heritage Montgomery Days, Lockhouse 6 is opening its doors for a rare chance to step inside one of the C&O Canal's historic lockhouses. Visitors can start with a brief overview of the park and lockhouse history before exploring the interior of this beautifully preserved structure at their own pace.

Tucked along the C&O Canal Towpath near the Clara Barton Parkway, it's an easy stop for history buffs, walkers, and anyone curious about the stories hidden in our own backyard. 👉 Tour a piece of local history

One of the great cultural perks of living in Montgomery County? Broadway-caliber theater just a short drive away. For more than 85 years, Olney Theatre Center has welcomed major names to its stages, including Helen Hayes, Carol Channing, Sir Ian McKellen, Uzo Aduba, Alan Cumming, and André De Shields.

This summer, Olney brings A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder to the stage, a Tony Award winner for Best Musical about an ambitious young man who discovers he’s eighth in line to inherit an aristocratic fortune and begins eyeing the seven people standing in his way. Equal parts witty, charming, and delightfully absurd, it’s the rare musical where the body count is high and the laughs are even higher. $37+
👉 See showtimes

It may be June, but Strathmore is already giving us a reason to think twinkle lights, festive nights out, and that first magical hint of the holiday season. The December 2026 Christmas lineup is here, and it’s full of the kind of performances that make the season feel special before it even officially begins.

From Celtic Christmas music and soaring a cappella harmonies to Broadway favorites, contemporary jazz, and big band holiday classics, The Music Center is setting the stage for a very merry December. Several of these performances have become annual traditions, making now a surprisingly good time to start dreaming about December
👉 Explore the holiday line up

Food experiences, tastings, and classes that make the week revolve around something delicious

Summer weekends were made for cold drinks and lingering conversations. Knowles Station is celebrating the season with an afternoon of local beer, wine, passed snacks, and raffle prizes.

The tasting features 17 beers and wines from regional favorites including 7 Locks Brewing, Flying Dog, DC Brau, Port City Brewing, and more. General admission includes 12 tasting pours, while VIP tickets add a few extra sips for those looking to sample even more. $30+
👉 Get tasting tickets

Step inside the parlor of Woodlawn Manor for an afternoon tea with a historical twist. As part of America’s 250th birthday celebration, guests will enjoy English tea sandwiches, pastries, and fresh fruit while surrounded by the atmosphere of an early American home. The program also invites guests to imagine what the Boston Tea Party might look like today by creating their own protest sign. $55
👉 Reserve your tea seat

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

Summer in the Pike District means food trucks, local beer, and a little friendly competition. Head to the Pike District Pop-Up Park for an evening of cornhole, community, and laid-back summer vibes in the heart of North Bethesda.

Grab dinner from local vendors, enjoy a drink from Silver Branch, and see if your cornhole skills are sharper than you remember. Whether you're in it to win or just there for the atmosphere, this feels like one of those easy summer evenings that reminds you why we love living here.
👉 Toss in your heart

Trade your usual Friday night for live vintage country, early rock ’n’ roll, and a little two-step at Glen Echo Park. Dede & the Do-Rights bring the music, and admission includes a free beginner lesson led by Diana Nevills from the Church of Honky Tonk.

Whether you're a seasoned dancer or have never attempted a two-step, this is the kind of summer night that feels straight out of a movie. $22+
👉 Get tickets

Mahj Over Matter is bringing American Mahjong to Kumbia for a relaxed Monday night of tiles, shared appetizers, happy hour drinks, and table-side community. New players can choose a Mahj 101 mini-lesson, while more experienced players can join Open Play for a social evening with beautiful Mahjong sets and plenty of time at the table.

Tickets include hearty shared appetizers, one raffle entry, and happy hour pricing on select beverages. Come with friends, reserve a full table, or show up solo and get seated with other players. $40+
👉 Pick your Mahj experience

Bring your knitting or crochet project to Davis Library for a low-key evening with other local yarn lovers. It’s a chance to keep working on whatever you have in progress, get a little inspiration, and spend time around people who also understand the appeal of a good yarn stash.
👉 Join the group

Spend a Saturday afternoon looking at clay in a new way. This adults-only workshop introduces the basics of sculpture, from planning a sculptural project to shaping a piece with more personality and dimension.

You’ll also learn how sculptural elements can be woven into functional pottery, making this a good fit for anyone who wants their next mug, bowl, or handmade object to feel a little more their own. $75
👉 Register for the sculpture studio

Spend the day surrounded by local writers, small presses, poetry, prose, and big-hearted conversations at Capital Love LitFest. Hosted by Washington Writers’ Publishing House, this full-day literary salon celebrates Capital Love, a new anthology built around the idea that love shows up through action, healing, intent, and hope.

The day includes workshops, readings, literary discussions, and a closing reception, all at The Writer’s Center in Bethesda. The event is pay-as-you-can, with limited seating available.
👉 Reserve your seat

Learn the Japanese art of Kokedama, or “moss ball,” in this hands-on plant workshop. You’ll create a small plant display by wrapping a 4” plant’s root system in soil and moss, then finish it with fishing wire and an S-hook so it can hang as part of a suspended string garden. All materials are provided, and no experience is needed. $50
👉 Make your own Kokedama plant

Move your body, get outside, and stay active this week.

Ease into the day with Rise & Shine Flow Yoga, a seven-week morning series designed to wake up the body and settle the mind. Classes combine breathwork, gentle movement, and mindful sequences to build strength, flexibility, and balance in a way that feels accessible and supportive. $63
👉 Register for morning yoga

The Bethesda Running Club is hosting its regular Thursday evening 5K, followed by happy hour at Hawkers with the team from Barry’s Bethesda, which is opening soon next to Tatte. Runners and walkers of all levels are welcome on this out-and-back route along the Capital Crescent Trail, with paces ranging from a speedy 7-minute mile to a leisurely 15-minute mile.

Whether you're training for a race or simply looking to meet active neighbors, it's an easy way to add a little movement and connection to your Thursday evening.
👉 Join the run and stay for happy hour

Earlier picks still ahead — and still worth catching.

🎶 Salsa at The Square — Thursdays through Aug. 27, 6–9 pm — Free beginner-friendly salsa instruction followed by Latin music and social dancing at The Square in Rockville.

🎭 Sherlock Holmes, Ghost Stories, and a Country Manor — June 12–28 — A supernatural Sherlock Holmes play at Arts Barn in Gaithersburg.

🎭 Audition for Best Medicine Rep’s Upcoming Season — Sat, June 20, 10 am–4 pm — Paid local theater auditions at The Writer’s Center in Bethesda.

🎤 Patton Oswalt Live — Sat, June 20, 8 pm — Stand-up comedy at Strathmore in North Bethesda.

🎭 Montgomery College Summer Dinner Theatre — Select dates June 20–Aug. 2 — Dinner theatre season featuring Into the Woods and Anything Goes in Rockville.

🎭 The Game’s Afoot Open Auditions — June 22–23, 7–10 pm — Community theater auditions at Rockville Little Theatre.

🎤 Straight No Chaser: Beach Bash — Tue, June 23, 8 pm — Summer-themed favorites, tight harmonies, and crowd-pleasing arrangements at Strathmore.

🎶 Be Part of the Washington Folk Festival — Sun, Aug. 23 — Volunteer opportunities at Glen Echo Park for one of the region’s longest-running free cultural events.

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].

If you’re a local business interested in advertising or sponsoring a future issue, reach out to [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 this landed somewhere other than your primary inbox — spam, junk, Promotions — drag it over and add our address to your contacts. It's the easiest way to make sure The Good Week finds you every Thursday.

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.

© 2026 The Good Week. All rights reserved. Content may not be reproduced without permission.