7 Things to do in Montgomery County this week, including Strathmore music festival and a $5 workout class

Former Kennedy Center performers will take center stage at Strathmore this weekend for WoCo Fest, a celebration of female musicians and gender-marginalized composers.

“We really wanted to create a safe space, a community, a support system for all of the musicians that worked at the Kennedy Center who need that sort of support and feel the community and the love coming from everyone,” said Dr. Laura Colgate, executive and artistic director of the Takoma Park-based Boulanger Initiative, which founded the festival.

In its seventh year, WoCo Fest offers two full days of music, entertainment, food and workshops at The Mansion at Strathmore.

Friday’s opening night performance is free and features musicians from the National Symphony Orchestra and the Washington National Opera Orchestra (formerly the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra), and New York Philharmonic violinist Audrey Wright.

Saturday features a variety of events (varying in costs), including composer workshops, preconcert talks and performances from harpist-composer Maeve Gilchrist, the Argus Quartet and Claire Chase, dubbed “the most important flutist of our time” by The New York Times.

“We have composer workshops where composers try out ideas and experiment in real time with musicians,” Colgate said. “The audience can sit there and see how music is created in that way and get to experience that in real life, which is pretty rare to be able to do.”

Here are more things to do this weekend and beyond in Montgomery County.

A musical world premiere at Olney Theatre

Running now through May 24, times vary

The latest production at Olney Theatre is a new musical based on a 2013 play about two teens who bond over a school assignment on Walt Whitman’s poetry. “I and You” stars OTC alum Alex De Bard (“Frozen” and “Hello, Dolly!”) and J. Antonio Rodriguez (“Hadestown” National Tour), with music and lyrics by “American Idol” alum Ari Afsar.

Ticket prices range from $27 to $103.

A local bookstore crawl

Saturday, times vary

For Independent Bookstore Day, local shops around the region are joining forces for a Maryland and D.C.-based bookstore crawl. Those who collect stamps from six or more bookstores win a prize at their final destination. Participating Montgomery County locations include:

• Bergstrom Press & Books (Kensington)
• Big Planet Comics (Bethesda)
• Bonjour Books (Kensington)
• Kensington Row Bookshop (Kensington)
• Laurel Leaf (Takoma Park)
• People’s Book (Takoma Park)
• Wonderland Books (Bethesda)

Participation is free.

A cheap workout class in Bethesda Row

Saturday at 9:30 a.m.

Dance it out with a group fitness class courtesy of Equinox on Bethesda Lane this weekend. Bring your own water and towel, but mats are provided. Spots are first come, first served, and the first 20 people to check in will get a free small gelato or coffee from Dolcezza.

Tickets are $5 and come with a complimentary pass to Equinox for the day.

The inaugural Taste of Burtonsville

Saturday from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

The first-ever Taste of Burtonsville is heading to the Marilyn J Praisner Community Recreation Center, where attendees can listen to live music while sampling a variety of local restaurants.

Tickets are $25 in advance, $30 at the door and free for children under 12.

Rockville Science Day at Montgomery College

Sunday from noon-5 p.m.

Montgomery County’s largest STEM festival returns to Montgomery College’s Rockville campus for a day of family-friendly fun featuring rocket building and launching, plus lessons on lasers and more than 120 local exhibitors, including NASA.

Admission and parking are free.

Get crafty for a good cause

Sunday at 10 a.m.

You don’t have to have sewing or artistic experience to help make felt blankets for animals currently at the Montgomery County Humane Society. My Friends who Volunteer DMV is hosting its inaugural event at Universal Title Bethesda, where blanket-making supplies and light refreshments will be provided.

Attendance is free, RSVP here.