Park After Dark – C&O Canal Trust

Save the Date for Park After Dark on Saturday, September 20, 2025!

Join us to celebrate Park After Dark 2025 on Saturday, September 20, 6 – 9 pm, at the Historic Great Falls Tavern! This special annual event, held under the stars beside the canal, is the C&O Canal Trust’s largest annual fundraising event in support of the C&O Canal National Historical Park (NHP). Over 150 guests will enjoy a lively evening spending time with supporters of this beloved national treasure. The evening’s program includes music by the Seneca Creek Bluegrass Band, and a Silent Auction featuring canal-inspired art and weekend getaways showcasing the unique historic and recreational activities of the Canal Towns along the Potomac, s’mores by the campfire and an optional ranger-led night hike.

Proceeds from the event support the mission of the C&O Canal Trust, the official nonprofit partner of the C&O Canal NHP, and directly fund preservation programs of the C&O Canal NHP, which hosts millions of visitors each year. This year, the evening’s program spotlight will focus on raising funds for restoring the historic culverts that are an integral structural component of the foundation for the canal’s 184.5 mile long towpath that connects the port of Cumberland, Maryland to the harbor in Georgetown, Washington, D.C

Park After Dark 2025 sponsors are key to the success of this event and to the mission and goals of the C&O Canal Trust. For more information and details, contact our Development team at [email protected] or view sponsorship opportunities below.

Last year, at Park After Dark, the C&O Canal Trust raised nearly $200,000 to support the Park, including over $38,000 for Canal Classrooms, the National Park Service outdoor education program actively inspiring the next generation of park stewards. Thank you to all who made our success possible! Here is a link to photos from the event.

Help us sell out our tickets this year by buying a table and inviting friends to join us and learn more about the C&O Canal Trust and it’s vital mission to support the C&O Canal National Historical Park for current and future generations.

Sponsorship Opportunities are now available!

Tickets sales begin May 1, 2025.

2024 Photos

Didn’t make it to Park After Dark this year?

You can still contribute to support the Park with a donation here.

Make a Donation

Tune into our e-newsletters and follow us on social media to receive announcements about future events.

With Many Thanks,

C&O Canal Trust Staff