2024 Recap
On Saturday, June 8, 2024, over 2,700 people attended and over 80 businesses and organizations participated in the 3rd Annual Trolley Trail Day!
It was an amazing day to showcase the Route 1 Community. There was a full range of things to do for all ages from College Park to Riverdale Park to Hyattsville, including – live local music, kid activities, arts, history, exercise and wellness, specials on food and beverages, and much more! People visited hubs of activity from Hyattsville to Hollywood or Hollywood to Hyattsville all day long! There were 10 activity hubs along the trail at: Hollywood Farmers Market, Berwyn Business District, Lakeland’s James Adams Park and Community Park, the Discovery District, Old Parish House, a Porchfest Party “at the Dead End” along the Trail, the Village Green in Riverdale Park Station, Riverdale Park Town Center, a Mini-Spot by the Hyattsville Municipal Parking Lot and the Hyattsville Hub at Melrose Skatepark.
Here’s a snapshot of the event by the numbers:
It was also a great day to be active. Arrow Bicycles, College Park Bicycles and Proteus Bicycles all hosted bike rides. RunnersHy and College Park parkrun both hosted fun runs. OpenBarre Studios held $5 Trolley Trail Day classes in studio, the Junior Tennis Champions Center (JTCC) handed out information, Posh Cycling and Fitness hosted a class and Berwyn Ballet tabled in Hollywood, there was Roller Skating with Skate Instruction and a Skate Jam in Hyattsville, and Rad Bikes, Smile Herb Shop and Vital Traditions were in Berwyn.
Music could be heard throughout the day including by the Archie Edwards Blues Heritage Foundation Ensemble, Stormi & The Blue Skies, Jim Groves and Friends, the Caiso Steel Drum Band, Allison Hughes from Paint Branch Creek, Kampfire Karaoke Singalong with Rumi!, the Overthinkers, ZooKulele Collective & Dave, Kristin Rebecca, Joshica Acoustic, Mike Hummel, Miles Spicer, Eric Maring AKA Mr. M, Dom Elliott, Janine Wilson, Tom Gleason, Laundry World and the CPAE’s College Park Chorale and more. And Art was everywhere - with College Park Arts Exchange leading art activities at the Old Parish House and Old Parish House Green, Pyramid Atlantic leading an activity at Melrose Skatepark, and Art Works Now mural artists chalking the trail near the Mini-Spot
There were samples and specials all day at local entities such as Pizzeria Paradiso’s Trolley Trail Day Tom Collins, 15 percent off at Muze Creations, free lemonade and a 10 percent discount at Nest Proper/Green Owl Design, fresh fruit stand by Yes! Organic Market, samples at the Old Parish House from Marathon Deli as well as in-store $6.00 gyros and subs, free samples at Riviera Tapas Bar, Manifest Bread Co, and more. The Hotel at UMD, the Cambria and the Discovery District Partnership all hosted raffles at the Discovery District Hub. The Hotel at UMD offered a 2-night weekend stay to include a southern difference facial, the Cambria offered a 2-night stay with free parking, and the Discovery District Partnership offered a $100 gift card to the JTCC Pro Shop!
There were also plenty of opportunities to learn about local history, heritage and resources. The Riversdale House Museum hosted a Reunion event for Descendants, The National Capital Trolley Museum had information about the history of the old Trolley Line, there was a Bench Dedication for former College Park Councilmember J. Chesley Mack in Lakeland. Resources throughout the trail included 21st District Delegation, Discovery District Partnership, District 3 County Councilmember Eric Olson, M-NCPPC, WABA, Capital Trails Coalition, the Purple Line, Community Preservation Trust, Lakeland Community Heritage Project, UMD Office of Community Engagement, the College Park Seniors Advisory Committee, Berwyn Civic Association, the Town of Riverdale Park, City of Hyattsville, Hyattsville CDC and more.
Finally, the end of Trolley Trail Day did not disappoint! The College Park Arts Exchange together with the College Park Aviation Museum and Anacostia Trails Heritage Area hosted the first ever wrap party to celebrate the event. Over 580 people attended the “Night at the Museum Rock Concert” which featured local band Laundry World and the College Park Chorale, and hosted food trucks from Para Hita, LaMeera Ice Cream and Streetcar 82 Brewing Co. All thriller, no filler.
Trolley Trail Day 2024 was featured in various regional news and events outlets. College Park Here and Now, The Hyattsville Wire and PG Suite Magazine all published stories about the 3rd annual event. It was featured weekend guides at WTOP, The Washingtonian, NBC 4 Washington, Visit Maryland, WABA, and various organizations newsletters and event pages!
Special thanks to our partners at the Hyattsville CDC, College Park City-University Partnership, College Park Arts Exchange, College Park Aviation Museum and M-NCPPC, City of Hyattsville, Town of Riverdale Park, Riverdale Park Station, University Park, the City of College Park and the University of Maryland for making Trolley Trail Day 2024 a tremendous success!