Germantown, Maryland

==Culture==
[[File:US Navy 090801-N-6914S-065 Members of the U.S. Navy Band rock ensemble,.jpg|thumb|right|Sailors from the [[United States Navy Band]] perform at the [[BlackRock Center for the Arts]] in Germantown, Maryland, on August 1, 2009.]]

===Music===
The [[BlackRock Center for the Arts]] is located in the downtown Germantown, at the Germantown Town Center. The BlackRock Center for the Arts also sponsors the Germantown Oktoberfest, an annual festival held every year in the fall, which includes various genres of music, including traditional [[German folk music|German folk]], rock and pop.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.germantownoktoberfest.org|title=Germantown Oktoberfest|publisher=Germantown, MD|access-date=September 5, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170829193011/http://www.germantownoktoberfest.org/|archive-date=August 29, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[Harmony Express Men's Chorus]] is a 4-part [[a cappella]] men's chorus based in Germantown.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://harmony-express.org/|title=Harmony Express Men's Chorus|publisher=Harmony Society|access-date=September 5, 2017}}</ref>

The band [[Clutch (band)|Clutch]] is also from Germantown. Members of the group attended [[Seneca Valley High School]] together, with several members graduating with the Class of 1989. Two years later, in 1991, the band was formed.<ref name="Clutch"/>

===Sports===
The [[Maryland SoccerPlex]] sports complex is located in Germantown. Maureen Hendrick's Field at Championship Stadium hosts many amateur, collegiate, and regional [[soccer]] and lacrosse tournaments.<ref name="History" /> The Montgomery County Road Runners Club annually hosts the Riley's Rumble Half Marathon & 8K that starts and finishes in the SoccerPlex.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Riley's Rumble Half Marathon & 8K 2020 – CANCELLED|url=https://mcrrc.org/calendar-event/rileys-rumble-half-marathon-8k-2020/|access-date=2020-10-06|website=Montgomery County Road Runners Club|language=en-US}}</ref> The SoccerPlex formerly hosted the [[Washington Spirit]] of the [[National Women's Soccer League]]. The Germantown Swim Center is also located within the SoccerPlex. The swim center has hosted many major swimming events including Metros and the 2022 Landmark Conference Swimming & Diving Championship.<ref>{{Cite web|title=2021–22 Landmark Conference Swimming & Diving Championship|url=https://www.landmarkconference.org/sports/swimdive/2021-22/championships}}</ref>

===Historical society===
The Germantown Historical Society (GHS) was formed in 1990 as a non-profit organization with a mission to educate the public about local history and preserve local historic sites.<ref name="Historical Society"/> The GHS office and future museum is located in the historic Germantown Bank (1922) at 19330 Mateny Hill Road, across from the MARC railroad station. The GHS offers lectures on local history and has traveling exhibits about Germantown.<ref name="Historical Society"/> It also sells the books, Liberty Mill T-shirts, and other souvenirs. The main fundraiser for the organization is the Germantown Community Flea Market, held on the first Saturday of the month April through November in the MARC parking lot, Rt. 118 and Bowman Mill Drive, featuring more than 150 vendors.<ref name="Historical Society">{{cite web |url=http://www.germantownmdhistory.org |title=Germantown Historical Society |publisher=Germantown Historical Society |access-date=February 11, 2016 }}</ref>

===Media===
Germantown is served by a news and information website known as the ''Germantown Pulse''.<ref name="Pulse">{{cite web|url=http://www.germantownpulse.net/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200115170312/https://www.germantownpulse.net/|archive-date=January 15, 2020|title=Germantown Pulse|access-date=August 16, 2017}}</ref> The ''Germantown Pulse'' covers a wide range of topics, including sports, schools, crime, music, and other events of note in the area.<ref name="Pulse"/>  However, its main website ceased to update by August 2019.<ref>{{cite web |last1=O'Rourke |first1=Kevin |title=Thank You, Germantown, for Five Amazing Years |url=https://www.germantownpulse.net/single-post/2019/07/19/Thank-You-Germantown-for-Five-Amazing-Years|website=Germantown Pulse |access-date=27 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200124223125/https://www.germantownpulse.net/single-post/2019/07/19/Thank-You-Germantown-for-Five-Amazing-Years |archive-date=24 January 2020}}</ref>

===Veterans===
Germantown veterans are served by the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, American Legion Post 295.<ref name="Vets">{{cite web |url=http://www.amlegionpost295.org |title=American Legion Post 295 Vietnam Veterans Memorial |publisher=American Legion Post 295 |access-date=August 1, 2016 }}</ref> American Legion Post 295 sponsors Cub Scout Pack 436, a Venturing Crew and is establishing a Sea Scout Ship. American Legion Boys State and American Legion Baseball have been longtime programs supported by the Post.<ref name="Vets"/>