Fireworks displays in Bethesda, Chevy Chase and Potomac 2022

Who needs the hassle of riding Metro downtown, or getting caught up in the Independence Day traffic, when there are many other fireworks shows right here in Montgomery County - most private - that can be viewed from nearby parking lots. Just remember not to trespass on private property. If you are within two blocks of a professional fireworks launch site, consider wearing hearing protection to avoid developing tinnitus or hearing loss, especially for children.

Let's take a look at what the fine country clubs and other organizations have in store for us this July 4th holiday of 2022:

Bethesda/Chevy Chase/Potomac

Columbia Country Club - June 28/9:10 PM

Congressional Country Club - July 3/9:15 PM

Kenwood Golf & Country Club - June 30/9:00 PM

Gaithersburg (PUBLIC)

Bohrer Park - July 2/9:20 PM

Germantown (PUBLIC)

South Germantown Recreational Park - July 4/9:15 PM

(18041 Central Park Circle in Germantown/Concert 7:00 PM/No alcohol/No pets/"Low" lawn chairs, blankets & coolers permitted)

Laytonsville

Montgomery Country Club - July 1/9:20 PM

Poolesville (PUBLIC)

Upper Montgomery County Volunteer Fire Department at soccer fields on Hughes Road at Sugarland Road - July 4

(Event begins 5:00 PM, fireworks "after dark"/Parking $5.00/No alcohol/No pets/Coolers will be inspected)

Rockville

Manor Country Club - July 1/9:00 PM

Norbeck Country Club - June 30/9:20 PM

Mattie JT Stepanek Park - July 4/9:15 PM (PUBLIC)

Silver Spring

Argyle Country Club - July 1/9:00 PM

Wheaton (PUBLIC)

Albert Einstein High School - July 2/9:15 PM

(Event begins with concert at 6:00 PM/Disabled parking only on-site/Park at Westfield Wheaton Mall beginning at 5:30 PM and take free shuttle to Einstein HS/No alcohol/No pets/"Low" lawn chairs, blankets & coolers permitted)

Photo courtesy Warner Brothers

Fireworks displays in Bethesda, Chevy Chase and Potomac 2021

UPDATE: Good news - The Kenwood Golf & Country Club fireworks display is on for 2021!

Montgomery County has canceled its government-funded public fireworks displays this year, making it an outlier among our neighbors Frederick and Howard counties, who are proceeding with theirs. The City of Rockville has also canceled its display, and City of Gaithersburg officials have postponed theirs. What is a traditionalist to do? If you are near any of these mostly-private fireworks displays, you may be able to enjoy a free show anyway (just don't trespass on private property).

Bethesda/Chevy Chase/Potomac

Chevy Chase Club - July 3, 2021/9:30 PM

Columbia Country Club - June 29/9:10 PM

Congressional Country Club - July 4/9:15 PM

Kenwood Golf & Country Club - June 30/9:15 PM

Poolesville (PUBLIC)

Upper Montgomery County Volunteer Fire Department at soccer fields on Hughes Road at Sugarland Road - July 4/Event begins 5:00 PM, fireworks "after dark"/Parking $5.00

Rockville

Manor Country Club - July 1/9:30 PM

Norbeck Country Club - July 1/9:20 PM

Woodmont Country Club - June 26/9:30 PM

Silver Spring

Argyle Country Club - July 2/9:30 PM

Kenwood fireworks 2017 set for June 29

via GIPHY
The best fireworks display in the D.C. area will once again be presented by the Kenwood Golf and Country Club in Bethesda. This year's Kenwood fireworks will be held on Thursday, June 29, 2017. The event at the private club is for members only. However, the fireworks are visible some distance around the club, and usually begin after 9:00 PM.

Nearby residents - and those with apartment balconies facing the club - know the drill by now: Plan a backyard party modest or grand, and then gain the cachet of The Great Gatsby himself when an expensive fireworks display suddenly erupts in the sky above, and caps off the evening.

Savvy Bethesdans (a.k.a. readers of this blog) who aren't part of the landed class can still partake of the fireworks - if they know where to go. The smart spot is in the church parking lot across River Road from the club, where those-in-the-know converge on foot or by car.

I haven't bothered to go into D.C. or out to Rockville for fireworks since Kenwood began their fireworks displays over a decade ago. The Kenwood display is superior, and gets better each year, and it certainly did in 2016.

Impress your friends, avoid getting your pocket picked or purse snatched downtown (or by the crooked Montgomery County Council!), and take in the best fireworks in the D.C. area. Gracious toast and "I'm Gatsby" line are optional.

KENWOOD FIREWORKS 2014 - THE BEST FIREWORKS IN DC ARE IN BETHESDA

The best Independence Day fireworks in the DC area aren't in DC - they're in Bethesda. I hear that this year's Fourth of July fireworks at the Kenwood Golf and Country Club on River Road are currently scheduled for Sunday, June 29. That is several days before July 4th.

Kenwood's fireworks - like the club - are not open to the general public. However, they are visible from several nearby parking lots. And residents of nearby homes, or apartment buildings in the Westbard and downtown Bethesda area which face the right direction, often plan parties around this explosive fireworks show, which is like a private fireworks display for free.

But not last year. Before you start planning, let's not forget that Kenwood pulled the rug out from under local fans of the fireworks last year, canceling the show due to poor weather. And then never rescheduled. Let's hope for better weather this year.

KENWOOD FIREWORKS POSTPONED UNTIL LABOR DAY 2013 IN BETHESDA

A representative of the Kenwood Country Club tells me that the fireworks display that was canceled last night, has been postponed until Labor Day in September 2013.

[Here is video of the opening of the 2009 Kenwood fireworks]

Obviously, this is mostly disappointing news. And the weather was actually fine for fireworks last night, as it turned out.

The only positive is that Bethesda will have fireworks on Labor Day weekend, and they will be the same, high-quality Kenwood fireworks.

If you are a member of the club, the employee said you can place reservations for the rescheduled fireworks, dinner, etc., etc. beginning tomorrow.

"BIG BULLY" GAITHERSBURG MUSCLES IN ON CELEBRATE DAMASCUS FIREWORKS

My favorite place besides Bethesda in Montgomery County is Damascus.

Each year, this small town holds an event called Celebrate Damascus, usually the Friday and Saturday the next week after July 4th.

This year, it is this Friday, July 13, and Saturday, July 14.  Friday night will be the parade and fireworks, and Saturday is a townwide celebration at venues ranging from the Damascus Volunteer Fire Department, VFD Activities building on Lewis Drive, the Damascus Library, etc.

The fireworks display is one of the best kept secrets in the county, and has always been held after July 4th, which boosts turnout for the Damascus display.  Usually, there is no competing fireworks show.

Until this year.

Gaithersburg, which canceled its July 4 fireworks in political solidarity with allies in Rockville and Montgomery County government, abruptly announced it would have its fireworks after all.

On July 13.

So much for mutual respect among jurisdictions!

The most offensive part of this decision, is that Gaithersburg is using a taxpayer funded event to the detriment of Celebrate Damascus, which - in contrast - is the result of mostly private, volunteer efforts.  And the Damascus fireworks are usually paid for by at least one generous, private donor.

It's just bad sportsmanship by the City of Gaithersburg, whose "city elders" are surely aware of the Damascus event, and its importance to town pride and charitable organizations, schools, churches and businesses.

So join me in giving a hearty "BOOOOO!!" to Gaithersburg, which should have gone ahead on July 4th.

But wait, take it a step further.  Go to the parade and fireworks in Damascus.  After 6:30 PM or so, you'll have to park in the Weis Markets lot, as streets north of there close for the parade.

One other Celebrate Damascus item to pass along.  If you go Saturday, somewhere in town there is supposed to be a booth where the Damascus United Methodist Church (located at the corner of Main Street and Woodfield Road) will be raising money to restore its 1930 Skinner pipe organ.

The restoration will cost $129,954 and 75 cents.

You can learn more about the organ - and see some interesting photos of the current church under construction - in this video.

Other town highlights?

Damascus water tower

My personal favorite is the water tower.  Other favorites?  Weis Markets, the historic Druid movie theater (still standing, but now a Rite Aid), Jimmie Cone, the Damascus Heritage Museum (behind the library) and Tom and Ray's restaurant.

One of the greatest historic structures in Montgomery County is the
Druid movie theater on Main Street.  Now a Rite Aid[!!].

In Friday's parade, you'll see other favorites of mine, including John Deere and Farmall tractors, muscle cars, and Damascus, Laytonsville and Mount Airy VFD firetrucks, ambulances, and rescue vehicles.

When the 2 day event ends, you may have a new appreciation for the vital role volunteer fire departments play in communities like Damascus, and think about signing the petition to oppose the Ambulance Fee.

BETHESDA STORM UPDATE: KENWOOD FIREWORKS ASTOUND, POWER OUTAGES ABOUND

There were more lights in the sky over some parts of Bethesda, than there were on the ground below.

Some residents and businesses remained without power last night, including the neighborhood of Kenwood Park (bordered by River Road, Goldsboro Road, Wilson Lane and Bradley Boulevard) and 7-11 on River Road.

Meanwhile, many homes in hard-hit 20817 had their power restored throughout the Independence Day holiday.

While Montgomery County Government inexplicably canceled its official fireworks displays (as did cities with close political ties, like Rockville and Gaithersburg), thanks to the private Kenwood Golf and Country Club, Bethesda residents in-the-know were still able to enjoy a spectacular fireworks show.

A record crowd gathered nearby, and there was no nightmarish trip home on hot, crowded Metro cars, and no pickpockets to deal with!

If Friday's storm proved anything, it's that the demise of the air-conditioned, American indoor shopping mall, and personal automobile, have been prematurely predicted by the usual suspects.

THE DC AREA'S BEST FIREWORKS DISPLAY IS IN... BETHESDA - IF YOU KNOW WHERE TO GO!

Pity your friends who are going to stuff themselves into Metro subway cars like sardines for a lackluster fireworks display on the Mall Wednesday night.

Fortunately, you are a smart person who reads this blog, and you're about to be let in on another of the many secrets of Bethesda:  Fireworks at the Kenwood Club on River Road.

For the last decade or so, smart, wealthy and frugal residents of neighborhoods near "The Club" have followed a simple formula to wow friends and co-workers, while saving a lot of money in the process:  Find out when the Kenwood fireworks are.  Go to Giant or Whole Foods for grilling, All-American and/or pretentious food items, add a stop at Talbert's or the county liquor emporium in the Westwood Shopping Center if it's an adults-only celebration, and invite guests.

Finally, at about 9:15 PM, stand by for a loud and impressive fireworks display, that beats just about any other display in the area.

Some of these parties are held in backyards near the club.  Some are held in apartments whose occupants are lucky enough to face the direction of the Kenwood Club, either on higher floors in downtown Bethesda, or better yet, in Westwood Tower or Park Bethesda on Westbard Avenue, or in the aptly-named condos of The Kenwood.

But what if you aren't part of the landed class?  Do what so many in Bethesda do so well - fake it!

Park in a nearby parking lot.  The most popular, with the best view, is at the church right across River Road from the club.  Many families walk there to get a better view.  Just remember, if you bring small kids, the fireworks are L-O-U-D and you may want to pack earplugs.

This year's display will be on July 4th, the first time I can recall that happening in the history of Kenwood.

No long drives.  No overpriced Metro fare.  High-quality, professional Fourth of July fireworks in Bethesda.  It's like being a tycoon and having your own fireworks display!

You're welcome!