To protect staff, volunteers and attendees, Brookside Gardens’ Drag Story Hour will be virtual only for at least May and June.
While previous drag story hours at the park in Wheaton have not been violent, other story hours in Silver Spring and throughout the country have, noted Melissa Chotiner, media relations manager for Montgomery Parks.
“We’ve received some negative feedback and some social media posts that were not in favor,” she said.
Therefore, she told MCM, “We’ve decided to make it virtual in the interest of safety for staff, volunteers and participants.”
The first virtual program is Saturday from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. and will feature drag performer D’Manda Martini, who will read stories and lead a craft activity. Participants are urged to stop by Brookside Gardens’ Visitors Center for an activity kit.
Register for the program to obtain a Zoom link here. The program will be a webinar, so no comments or interaction will be permitted.
Park staff is optimistic that more children will participate in the virtual program than come to Brookside Gardens. About 40 children with an accompanying adult usually attend story hour.
After the June 3 drag story hour, the program will be evaluated and a decision on whether to remain virtual or return to in person will be made, Chotiner said.
“This is kind of new territory for us,” she said.
Drag Story Hour returns to Brookside Gardens with a new virtual program. The free program features returning drag performer D'Manda Martini, who will read stories virtually and lead a craft activity. Register for our May 13 event: https://t.co/aile6DCqFN pic.twitter.com/nFSSN0yCS5
— Montgomery Parks (@MontgomeryParks) May 9, 2023
