Imagination Bethesda Returns to Downtown

BETHESDA, MD– The 22nd annual Imagination Bethesda, a children’s street festival celebrating children and the arts, is scheduled for June 4, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., according to a news release.

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Musical performances and professional children’s entertainers will light up the stage, while hands-on art and craft activities will line the streets along Elm St. and Woodmont Avenue in downtown Bethesda.

Organized and managed by the Bethesda Urban Partnership, the festival will host 20 local businesses and arts organizations that will provide hands-on art and craft activities to entertain and energize the 12-and-under crowd. Additionally, the festival will feature face painters, balloonists, a stilt-walker, free giveaways and more.

Imagination Bethesda is a free event produced by the Bethesda Urban Partnership.

The following restaurants will be participating: Café Deluxe, Gusto Italian Grill, Haagen-Dazs, Mamma Lucia, Silver and Smoothie King.

Event participants hosting hands-on activities for children include:

• Adventure Theatre MTC – Jungle craft activity
• Bach to Rock – Drum circle and musical parachute game
• Bethesda Library – STEM suction cup activity and make your own bookmark
• Glen Echo Park Partnership for Arts & Culture – Make-your-own carousel or aquarium activity
• Huntington Learning Center – Build your own monster game or create a dream catcher
• Imagination Stage – Create your own mermaid
• Iran Cultural and Educational Center – arts and crafts from Iran, face painting and book mark making
• KID Museum – Zoetrope animation and spin pins designed using circuits and motors
• Kidville – Decorate visors and door knockers
• Language Stars – Make your own dragon puppet
• Montgomery County Pedestrian Safety Initiative: Pedestrian safety craft activity and pledge
• Montgomery Parks - TBD
• Naval Support Activity Bethesda – Police demonstration and explore naval vehicle
• Plaza Artist Materials – Learn to draw characters using numbers
• Round House Theatre – Create-your-own dramatic journeys map
• Strathmore – TBD
• Washington Conservatory of Music – Musical instrument craft and hands-on musical instrument demonstrations
• Wonders Early Learning + Extended Day: Create animals, flowers and more with paper plates

Performances on the stage include:

• 10 a.m: Bach to Rock
• 10:30 a.m: Rainbow Rock Band
• 11:30 a.m: Dansez! Dansez!
• 12 p.m: Ryan Buckle and the Curiosity Crew
• 1 p.m: C-Unit Dance
• 1:30 p.m: Mr. Jon & Friends
• 2 p.m: Rocknoceros

>>Photo courtesy of Bethesda Urban Partnership