Takoma Park Middle School
Takoma Park Middle School hosts the Takoma Park Folk Festival across seven stages, three indoors and four outdoors, and on-site parking is very limited. Free shuttle buses run from 10:15am to 5:30pm from the Montgomery College TPSS East Garage, Washington Adventist University, and the Takoma Metro station, and food is sold from trucks around the grounds rather than inside the school.
Before you go
- Indoor or outdoor
- Both: seven stages, three indoors and four outdoors
- Official site
- tpff.org
- Next festival here
- Takoma Park Folk Festival, Sep 27, 2026
Worth knowing before you go
- On-site parking is very limited, plan on the free shuttle instead.
- Shuttles run 10:15am to 5:30pm from three pickup points.
- No buses run past the site on Sundays, so the shuttle or a short walk from Takoma Station is the transit option.
- Food is not allowed inside the school building.
Festivals here
Venue basics: On-site parking very limited · Free shuttle from three locations · Seven stages, indoor and outdoor.
Is it for you
Choose it if
- You are comfortable relying on a free shuttle rather than driving straight to the door.
Think twice if
- You are counting on parking right at the school: on-site spaces are very limited.
Getting there and parking
The festival is at Takoma Park Middle School, 7611 Piney Branch Road, Takoma Park, MD 20912.
On-site parking is very limited. Free parking is available at the Montgomery College TPSS East Garage and at the Washington Adventist University lot, both served by free shuttle buses. Limited parking is also available on neighborhood streets, without blocking driveways or crosswalks.
Take the Red Line to Takoma Station; a free shuttle runs between the station's Kiss and Ride lot and the festival from 10:15am to 5:30pm, or it is a 15 minute uphill walk. The P30 Metrobus and 17 RideOn bus also stop nearby on Piney Branch Road, though no bus lines run past the site on Sundays.
Accessibility
The free shuttle bus service is wheelchair accessible. A limited number of accessible parking spaces are available on site on a first-come, first-served basis, and cars with disability placards can drop off at the festival entrance and park off site. The seven stages are wheelchair accessible under the rules that guide the school's facilities.
Confirm your specific needs with the venue before you travel (tpff.org).
Camping
We don't yet have confirmed information about camping at Takoma Park Middle School. The venue's own pages are the place to check: tpff.org.
Food, water and what you can bring
Food is not allowed inside the school building. Food trucks and vendors are positioned throughout the festival grounds, with options for various dietary preferences including vegan and gluten-free.
Quick answers
Is there parking at Takoma Park Middle School?
Barely. On-site parking is very limited, so the free shuttle from the Montgomery College garage, Washington Adventist University, or Takoma Metro is the better plan.
How do I get to the Takoma Park Folk Festival by transit?
Take the Red Line to Takoma Station and catch the free shuttle from the Kiss and Ride lot, running 10:15am to 5:30pm, or walk about 15 minutes uphill.
Is the festival wheelchair accessible?
Yes. The free shuttle is wheelchair accessible, there are a limited number of accessible parking spaces on site, and all seven stages are wheelchair accessible.
Can I bring my own food?
You can bring food onto the grounds, but not inside the school building. Food trucks around the grounds also offer vegan and gluten-free options.
Is the Takoma Park Folk Festival free?
Yes. It is a free annual festival celebrating the arts and the Takoma Park-Silver Spring community, held rain or shine.
How many stages are there?
Seven: three indoors and four outdoors, including the outdoor Children's Nook stage.
Can I camp at the festival?
We don't yet have confirmed information about camping at Takoma Park Middle School. The venue's own pages at tpff.org are the place to check.
A little history
The festival's mission is to present a free annual folk festival each September celebrating the arts and the Takoma Park-Silver Spring community, held rain or shine, with music stages, a juried crafts show, international food, community nonprofit tables and children's activities.
The Takoma Park Folk Festival has run for more than 40 years. It began in 1978 as a one-stage festival at what was then Takoma Park Junior High School, raising about $1,100 to help keep the Takoma Theatre from a developer. It remains an all-volunteer, community-run event carrying on the legacy of founder Sam Abbott, mayor of Takoma Park from 1980 to 1986.