SummerFest at Bohrer Park Debuts July 1

From the City of Gaithersburg: Join friends and family for SummerFest, Gaithersburg’s new illuminating event that combines and expands upon the best aspects of traditional July 4th Fireworks and the Celebrate! Gaithersburg street festival, creating one large summer lawn party on the expansive grounds of Bohrer Park. The free event takes place on SATURDAY, JULY 1, 2017, from 5 to 11:30 p.m. and features live music, food, and activities, all leading up to a spectacular fireworks display and SummerGlo After Party.

SummerFest kicks off at 5 p.m. with Nation, one of DC’s top dance bands. Enjoy classic R&B, soul, pop and rock throughout the evening as this stellar group performs up until the fireworks begin. Stay for an encore performance following the fireworks display, during the SummerGlo After Party.

Enjoy strolling entertainers, inflatable amusements including a dual-lane zip line, kid’s activities, face painting, balloon twisting, beer tastings from local breweries, a classic car show, family lawn games, and food trucks. Get creative with a virtual graffiti wall and watch a chalk artist create amazing art right before your eyes. “In the Dark Circus Arts” will perform four aerialist shows throughout the evening. A community stage will feature local talent groups from around Gaithersburg and a performance and lesson by Flow Circus.

The air-conditioned Activity Center will be home to more festival fun with inflatables, a DJ and kid’s crafts. It also serves as a comfort station with indoor bathrooms and space to relax up until 9 p.m.

Once the sun sets (approximately 9:30 p.m.), Bohrer Park will light up with a spectacular fireworks display featuring bursts that launch up to 500 feet in amazing colors and styles. Optimal viewing areas are at Bohrer Park and at various points in surrounding locations. A map showing the best viewing locations will be available here as the event draws nearer.

If you plan to wait out the traffic after the fireworks, we invite you to join us for our SummerGlo After Party. Nation will perform an encore performance while LED hoopers, jugglers, stilt walkers, and glow balloons entertain the crowd. The playground will be fully lit, and there will be glow-in-the dark items for purchase.

Attendees are welcome to bring their own food and blankets to enjoy a picnic during the event, or purchase your meal and treats from a variety of vendors and food trucks. For safety reasons, outside alcoholic beverages, weapons (real or facsimile), glass containers, and fireworks of any kind (including sparklers) are strictly prohibited. Pets are not recommended due to crowd and noise issues. If brought, they must be leashed. Skateboards, rollerblades and bikes will be confined to the Skate Park. Smoking and vaping are not permitted in public spaces in Gaithersburg.

Limited parking is available onsite. It is recommended that those who park onsite stay and enjoy the SummerGlo After Party as significant traffic delays are anticipated following the fireworks display. Bohrer Park is within a ¼ mile walk of Olde Towne, Gaithersburg, where there will be free parking in a variety lots and in the parking garage. Other parking options will be posted on the City’s website as the event draws nearer.

Note that the Gaithersburg Police Department is planning lane reductions along Route 355 adjacent to Bohrer Park and there will be a change in traffic patterns the evening of the event. Cars will not be able to cross over or turn left onto Route 355 between Cedar and Central Avenues (with the exception of Deer Park Road). Plan your route accordingly. If you are not attending the festival, please take alternate routes and avoid the area completely.

Crossing guards will be stationed at the intersections of Route 355 and South Summit Avenue, Education Boulevard and Deer Park Road. There will be many pedestrians in the area; please use caution. To ensure pedestrian safety, Summit Avenue between Hutton Street and South Frederick Avenue will close to vehicles at 8 p.m.

Please do not stop your vehicle on Route 355 to watch the fireworks display. You will be ticketed, and if you are not with your vehicle, it will be towed.

Photo via Pixabay