Bulk Pick Up is Now On-Demand—and no longer THE first Wednesday of EVERY month!

While your regular trash and garbage collection is handled by private contractors, the City of Gaithersburg provides on-demand bulk refuse collection to single family homes and townhouses for large items, including heavy electrical appliances, furniture and other large household objects that private trash collectors will not accept.

Starting in September, 2020, the City of Gaithersburg is changing its bulk refuse collection program to make it more convenient for you, more efficient for City staff, and more thoughtful of the environment. You must now schedule an appointment to arrange for bulk pick up collection. There’s a limit of one per month, but it can be scheduled on any of your regular recycling days.

The City is happy to provide this service to you, and our goal is to recycle as much of what we collect as possible. However, reuse and repair are always preferred options. Before scheduling a bulk pick up, please consider alternatives to disposal. Montgomery County has an extensive list of donation options that can be explored here.

Complete details about this new program, including scheduling instructions and a list of what can and cannot be put out can be found on the City’s Bulk Pick Up webpage here. Questions? Contact the Department of Public Works at 301-258-6370.

Online Registration & Enrollment for Montgomery County Public Schools

If you have a child to enroll for the 2020-21 school year, your local schools would like to know!  Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) has launched a new online registration/enrollment process to support families who wish to enroll their children while school buildings are closed.  Families who need to enroll their children in prekindergarten/Head Start programs and kindergarten for the 2020-21 school year, as well as new K-12 and international enrollments for the remainder of this school year and the 2020-21 school year, can complete the process in three ways:

1.  Online, starting with the Registration Survey found here:  https://bit.ly/MCPS_Registration_Survey

2. Over the phone by calling 240-740-5999

3.  Using paper versions of enrollment forms.  To access paper forms, complete the Registration Survey (linked above) or call 240-740-5999 to request that forms be mailed to your home.

Additional information can be found on the MCPS website:  https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/info/enroll/index.aspx

Quick Garden Tips for Spring and Summer

Maintaining and beautifying the outdoors of you home should always be of growing interest, but even if you don’t have a green thumb, Mike McGrath of WTOP has some great advice to give before he goes on hiatus. You can view a couple of his quick tips below and view years of helpful posts on the station’s “Garden Plot” page by clicking here.

• Don’t cut your grass too short

• Water only in the morning and only if it hasn’t rained for a week

• Grow in raised beds so you don’t step on the roots of your plants

• Save and shred all your fall leaves for mulching and compost making

• Inspect your garden daily so problems can be solved quickly

Don’t forget, there’s mulch to think about this season.

Avoid piling up too mulch to the base of trees. No volcanoes! It could rot the bark. Keep in mind, these wood chips can suck plant-feeding nitrogen from the soil—so be frugal with your spreading. Avoid mulch that has been dyed (it could be hiding diseased wood among other things) and consider yard-waste compost to your surrounding plants.

Montgomery Parks Coronavirus Information & Restrictions

To view all website details, visit www.montgomeryparks.org/covid-19/

St. Patrick's Day Parade

Saturday, March 14, 2020

***EVENT CANCELED DUE TO CORONAVIRUS***

Parade starts at 10 AM.

Lucky you! Come join the fun at Rio Washingtonian Center with Celtic and Bolivian dancers, bagpipe bands, clowns, fire trucks, and more.

The City in partnership with The Peterson Companies & Rio, will host the 20th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade at Rio, at Rio Boulevard & Grand Corner Avenue. Free parking is available in three garages along Washingtonian Boulevard.

Interested in Participating in the Parade?

Community groups and other organizations are invited to march. It is a great way to be involved in the community and get your group noticed. Participant application forms will be posted here when available. All registration forms submitted must have a parade participant agreement form attached.

Please note that participation in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade by groups or organizations other than City of Gaithersburg officials, departments or committees does not constitute City of Gaithersburg endorsement.

Holiday Festivities & Events

WINTER LIGHTS FESTIVAL

Seneca Creek State Park

Now thru Dec. 31

Sun–Thurs, 6–9 PM.; Fri. & Sat. 6–10 PM

(Closed 12/25)

The 3.5 mile drive through the enchanted woodland setting of Seneca Creek State Park takes you past more than 450 illuminated displays and beautifully lit park trees that brighten the night. Admission at the gate is $12 per car Monday through Thursday and $15 per car Friday through Sunday. Details here.

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FIRE & ICE

Wed, December 4, 2019

Crown Park at Downtown Crown, Gaithersburg

Wed, December 4, 2019

6:30 PM – 8:30 PM

Enjoy live ice sculpting, hot chocolate bar, sweet treats, music, giveaways and more!

Special Dance performance by Dawn Crafton Dance Connection

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HOLIDAY SING ALONG & TREE LIGHTING

BlackRock Center for the Arts, 12901 Town Commons Drive, Germantown, MD

Wed, December 4, 2019

6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Come down to BlackRock on Wednesday, December 4 from 6-8 PM for a special holiday celebration. Warm up with hot chocolate, enjoy holiday cookies and craft a unique snowflake to turn the streets of Germantown into a winter wonderland.

Local students will take the grand staircase at 7 PM to lead us in song from: Seneca Valley High School , Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School , and Great Seneca Creek Elementary School .

This event is free and open to the public and there will be plenty of free parking.

Brought to you by: BlackRock Center for the Arts, Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber of Commerce, and Germantown Alliance.

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JINGLE BELL ROCK OUT

King Farm Village Center, Rockville

Sat, December 7, 2019

2:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Enjoy performances by Members of LDE Unplugged with Friends, appearances by The Grinch, Elvis, and the guest of honor: Santa Claus. A FREE, family friendly event with ton of holiday entertainment. Free photos with Santa, arts & crafts for the kids, complimentary face painting and balloon art, giveaways, hot cocoa, and more! First 150 kids to register at the King Farm Village Center table will receive a goody bag.

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CAROLING IN THE KENTLANDS & FREE CONCERT

Dec. 16, 2019

6 p.m. – Caroling (meet at Lakelands Clubhouse)

7:30 p.m. – Free Concert at Arts Barn, 311 Kent Square Road

Get in the holiday spirit with a caroling sing-along in the beautifully decorated Kentlands & Lakelands neighborhoods. Meet at the Lakelands Clubhouse at 6 p.m. After caroling, come to the Arts Barn for hot drinks and yummy treats at 7 p.m. At 7:30 p.m., enjoy a holiday concert by the Gaithersburg Chorus and the Kentlands Children's Chorus.

Amberfield's Annual Doggie Swim

POOCHES TO THE POOL!

Come to the neighborhood’s Annual Doggie Swim. Bring your four-legged friends for the last hour of pool time (7pm–8pm) on Labor Day—Monday, September 2, 2019. All dogs must be leashed upon entering the pool deck. They must also be current on all their vaccinations, especially rabies. All participating pooches need to be registered through the city of Gaithersburg or Montgomery County. And owners must sign an informed consent/release of liability agreement before entering the pool deck.

Don’t miss it! Celebrate the end of summer in true doggie fashion. “Go fetch!”

Summer Events in Gaithersburg

Nando’s Fiery Friday Night Concerts

Rio in Gaithersburg

June 7 – Sept 27, 6:30 pm– 8:30 pm

FREE concert series featuring all your favorite local bands LIVE on the Boardwalk Stage—near Union Jack’s. From alt-, pop-, and classic rock to jazz, R&B, and country, come and enjoy some sweet sounds under the stars.

Click for concert schedule.

SummerFest

Bohrer Park

Saturday, June 29, 2019, 5 pm – 11:30 pm

Celebrate America's independence at SummerFest, Gaithersburg's illuminating summer festival on the expansive grounds of Bohrer Park at Summer Hall Farm. The family-friendly event features live music, food and fun activities, all leading up to a spectacular fireworks display and SummerGlo After Party.

Click here for more info.

Montgomery County Agricultural Fair

Friday, Aug 9 – Saturday, Aug 17—See below for fair and carnival hours

Founded in 1949, the Montgomery County Agricultural Center has been home to the Montgomery County Fair since its creation. Sitting on 62 acres, the Fair has more than 50 buildings that are filled with more than 5,000 animals every year. The Fair has animals, entertainment, food, commercial, home arts, arts and crafts exhibits, and many others for the whole family to enjoy.

Click here for more info.

Kentlands Farmers & Artists Market

Go local! The Main Street Farmers & Artists Market is open Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., year round, with several local farms, kitchens, and a variety of local artists with unique handcrafted items. Products available for purchase include a vast assortment of fruits and vegetables, jams and jellies, various herbs, cut flowers, and potted plants, baked goods, crab cakes, dog treats, meat, pickles, eggs, and honey. Our arts and craft vendors sell jewelry, photographs, health and beauty products, blown glass, knitted items, quilts, purses, woodworking items, clothing, children’s accessories, yard art, and more.

Kentlands Main Street Park and Pavilion
301 Main Street
Gaithersburg, MD 20878

Saturdays, Year Round, 9 AM - 2 PM

Keep up with the latest offerings on Facebook.

Winterizing Your Home

As several neighbors have experienced this winter, frozen pipes can be an expensive and frustrating experience. But it can be avoided. Let’s start with making sure the water line that leads to the exterior of your home is drained, cleared, and shut off.

Instructions for Turning Off Hose Bibs

These are the outside water faucet/hose connections that have special adapters to drain water from the faucets once the flow of water has been turned off within the home. In as much as these outside faucets will freeze and fracture during the winter (unless properly drained), the Association recommends the following be adhered to.

Please note that the entire concept revolves around the complete absence of water in the pipe.  The water valve may, or may not, have a small knurled cap (like the valve cover on an auto tire) on the side.  If present, this is known as a bleeder cap. To secure these lines for winter, follow these procedures:

1. There are shutoff valves located in the utility room and under the kitchen sink of your homes that are connected only to the front and rear hose bibs. Turn these valves off (clockwise).

2. Open both front and rear hose bibs and allow to drain.

3. Remove the small bleeder cap from the shutoff valve in the utility room, and allow any remaining water to drain into the pot or pan.  Once the rush of air and any remaining water has stopped, you can close it again.

At this point, the line should be okay for the winter. The system is now winterized. Should you turn it on again to wash a car, etc., the entire procedure must be repeated.  It is not as complicated as it may sound, but it is vitally important to drain these lines.

The system can be left in this state for the rest of the winter or as long as the outside hose bibs are not needed.

To turn water back on in the spring, close the outside hose bibs first and open the shutoff valve in the utility room and under the kitchen sink.