April 2026 DC Grommoff - Great Falls Picnic!

Potomac
Maryland

Hello to all my spring time snacking friends!

It's time for the April DC Grommoff, and we're back Maryland this time to enjoy a lovely picnic at Great Falls National Park! Everyone bring their favorite picnic treat to enjoy the lovely spring weather as all the green and warmer days return. Please note, there are no grills, so anything that needs to be cooked will have to be made ahead of time! We will meet around 1PM and likely hang out for a few hours.

IMPORTANT NOTE: if the weather is forecast to be poor that day, we will reschedule this event. Please check this page or the Discord the evening before to find out if the picnic has been postponed! We will still have the picnic even if it is overcast, however rain or worse will mean we reschedule.

If you are interested in joining the Discord group to keep up to date on this event and future events, again contact FatTrainNerd for an invite. All planning for future DC Grommoffs is done via this group, so it is highly suggested to join to make your voice heard regarding suggestions for events and when they happen! This month's event was voted on by our local community, so please get involved! We are currently working to follow a rotating pattern of events between DC, MD and VA, so we are always looking for suggestions of places to go. It is also a great place to find folks to go to other local events with.

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Event Costs:

A park pass costs $10-20 and must be purchased online (https://www.nps.gov/grfa/planyourvisit/fees.htm). The park gate does not take cash! Please make sure you save your pass to your phone before getting to the park, as there is limited to no cell service at the park.

It is kindly asked that you bring food or drink to share with the group. We generally see 10-20 people for our events, so bring something that has that in mind. Please mark your dishes with any allergens, and whether they are vegetarian, vegan, or gluten free. And please remember there are no grills at the park.

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Directions to the event:

Great Falls National Park Picnic area - 11710 Macarthur Blvd, Potomac, MD 20854 (https://maps.app.goo.gl/ACGFo4TVqaJgeJAJA)

We will meet initially near the Refreshments building (this may or may not be open) and then find a spot to setup from there.

Public Transit: There are unfortunately no direct public transit connections to the park. However some folks are willing to carpool. We will likely arrange rides for people to be picked up at Grosvenor-Strathmore Metro Station in MD (on the Red Line) or McLean Metro Station in VA (on the Silver Line). If you are willing to provide rides to people, please reach out to the organizer (FatTrainNerd) via DM or on Discord.

If driving, take Clara Barton Pkwy (exit is the directly by the American Legion Bridge on the Beltway) until it becomes Macarthur Blvd. Then follow Macarthur until you reach the park entrance.

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When arriving for the event:

Please aim to be at the meeting spot by 1PM. There is a fair amount of parking, but the park can get busy on the weekends. It's strongly recommended you also bring sunscreen, as while there is shade from the trees, it may not be enough.

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*GrommOffs are independently organized by members who've been vetted and approved as organizers, and who abide by a set of GrommOff Ground Rules which can be read in the Support link above. If you believe that these rules were not followed, please contact the GrommOff account here: https://grokio.atlassian.net/servicedesk/customer/portal/4/topic/3ab9d4b8-c5d9-4822-a936-64a17a41150f/article/181731339 *

Please note well the following rules for Grommoffs:

1. Respect personal space of the group and others.

Always ask before encroaching on other's space, especially with people new to you and the group. If asked to stop or give space, respect this. Failure to do so will result in being asked to leave and potentially being barred from future events.

2. Absolutely no racism, misogyny, ableism, homophobia, transphobia or other bigotry!

This shouldn't have to be said, but bigotry will not be tolerated at any Grokio events.

3. Respect the discretion of the group in public

Oftentimes, gatherings are held in public places (restaurants, parks, beaches, bowling alleys, etc.) and there will be other people nearby. Be aware that loud voices travel—if you’re talking about sensitive or potentially embarrassing topics, use your inside voice. Similarly, a public place is not appropriate for intimacy or sexualized touching. Even if the other person is comfortable with it, respect that you’re with a group in a public place and hold off until you have more privacy. Additionally, be mindful when taking photos/video at the event and allow for members to bow out or turn their heads if they do not wish to be recorded/photographed.

4. Illegal drug/alcohol use is not allowed

The use of drugs that are illegal in the local jurisdiction before or during a Grokio Community Gathering is strictly forbidden, as is the consumption of alcohol by those under the legal age in the local jurisdiction.

5. Guests from outside the community are only allowed with prior approval

We know that attending a GrommOff, Feabie Meet or Ferzu Event for the first time can be scary, but bringing along a friend from outside the community for support can make others feel uncomfortable and force them to edit themselves the way they do in the real world (the goal of our gatherings is to let everyone stop editing!) If you absolutely must bring a friend from outside the community and you are confident they will know how to behave appropriately, you must clear it with the organizer BEFORE the event. Any portion of a gathering occurring in a bar or pub is excepted from this rule.