Organ Grinder News

Organ Grinder Schedule
and Photo Album

2024
Organ Grinder Appearances 24

Friday,
Saturday
May 3 - 4
10 AM - 4 PM

84th Annual
Flower Mart
Washington National Cathedral
Washington, DC

Terry has been playing "Happy Music for Ears of All Ages" at the Cathedral Flower Mart since 1996.

Sunday
May 26
11 AM - 3 PM

C & O Canal National Historical Park
Potomac, Maryland

The 26th Annual demonstration of street organs and antique music boxes by the National Capital Chapter of the Musical Box Society International.

Thursday
July 4
8:30-10 AM

Independence Day
Little Patriots Parade
Great Falls, Virginia

This traditional parade for the under age 6 patriots will take place on the green in Great Falls, It will be follwed by the main parade at 10 AM..

Friday amd
Saturday
Oct. 4-5
10 AM - 4 PM

The 80th Waterford Fair
Waterford, Virginia

Terry began performing at the Waterford Fair in 1992.
Look for him on Main Street.

Sunday
October 13
Noon - 5M

Oktoberfest at the Kentlands
Gaithersburg, Maryland

Terry has been performing at Kentlands with his German street organ since 2008.

2023
Organ Grinder Appearances

Sunday,
April 23
Sun

32nd Annual Rockville Science Day
Montgomery College
51 Mannakee St., Rockville Maryland

Terry joined Organ Grinder Lola to demonstrate the science of the music produced by street organs. It was an afternoon of family fun, with hands on exhibibits, demonstrations and performances in all fields of science.

Friday,
Saturday
May 5 - 6
10 AM - 4 PM

83rd
Flower Mart
Washington National Cathedral

Terry has been playing "Happy Music for Ears of All Ages" at the Cathedral Flower Mart since 1996. Because of repairs to the Cathedral, he was moved to a small park up the road.

Sunday
May 28
11 AM - 3 PM

C & O Canal National Historical Park
Potomac, Maryland

The 25th Annual demonstration of street organs and antique music boxes by the National Capital Chapter of the Musical Box Society International.

Saturday and Sunday
June 10-11

East Broad Top Railroad
Rockhill, Pennsylvania

Terry participatied in a band organ rally presented by the Carousel Organ Association of America. This 150 year old narrow gauge railroad is being restored, and yes, there were steam train rides! And trolley rides!

Tuesday
July 4
9 to 10 AM

Independence Day
Little Patriots Parade
Great Falls, Virginia

This traditional parade for the under age 6 patriots will take place on the green in Great Falls, It will be follwed by the main parade at 10 AM..

Friday amd
Saturday
Oct. 6-7
10 AM - 4 PM

The 79th Waterford Fair
Waterford, Virginia

Terry began performing at the Waterford Fair in 1992.
Look for him on Main Street.

Sunday
October 8
Noon - 5M

Oktoberfest at the Kentlands
Gaithersburg, Maryland

Terry has been performing at Kentlands with his German street organ since 2008.

2022
Organ Grinder Appearances

Monday,
July 4
8:30 - 10 AM

Independence Day
Little Patriots Parade
Great Falls, Virginia

On Village Green in
Great Falls, Virginia

Fri. & Sat.
Oct 7
Oct 8
10AM - 4 PM

78th Waterford Fair
Waterford, Virginia
Terry began performing at the Waterford Fair in 1992

. Photoboard

Waterford asked folk artist Carol Davis to create a "photo board" for people to take photographs with their faces in the openings. The monkey's face opens for a third face. It was across the street from where Terry was performing.

Singing saw duet

Only in Waterford! Mime, Mark Jaster and his wife, Sabrina, from Happenstance Theater, stopped by so that Mark and Terry could repeat their world exclusive duet of musical saw and street organ.

Sunday
Oct. 9
Noon - 5 PM

Oktoberfest at the Kentlands
Gaithersburg, Maryland

Kentlands Crowd

It was a beautiful day. A large crowd of families came to Kentlands in Gaithersburg, Maryland to enjoy an afternoon of beer, food. music, dancing, face painting and other fun. Terry has been performing at Kentlands with his German street organ since 2008.

2021
Organ Grinder Appearances

Saturday,
May 30
Noon - 4 PM

C & O Canal National Historical Park
Potomac, Maryland
[EVENT CANCELLED]
The 24th Annual demonstration of street organs and antique music boxes by the National Capital
Chapter of the Musical Box Society International

Sat. & Sun,
June 19
June 20
10AM - 5PM

Bender's Circus Calliope
Knoebel's Amusement Park
Elysburg, Pennsylvania

Organ Rally presented by the Carousel Organ
Association of America

Sunday,
July 4
8:30 - 10 AM

Independence Day
Little Patriots Parade
Great Falls, VA

On Village Green in Great Falls, Virginia

Sat. & Sun.
August 14
August 15

Glen Echo Park
Glen Echo, Maryland
Bender's Circus Calliope

100th Anniversary of the Dentzel Carousel
Organ Rally presented by the Carousel Organ
Association of America

Old Bowie Celebrates
Bowie Maryland

Saturday
Sept. 18
11 AM - 5 PM

Old Bowie Festival

Terry and Jan performed as part of a demonstration of street organs and antique music boxes by the National Capital Chapter of the Musical Box Society International near the Bowie Railroad Museum..

October 3 and 4
77th Annual Waterford Fair
Waterford, Virginia
Terry began performing at the Waterford Fair in 1992.
Terry took two organs to the fair. On Saturday he played his Raffin 20/78, made in 2018, with 6 ranks of pipes and 20 notes. It is decorated in a Swiss theme. On Sunday he played his largest organ, a Raffin 31/119, made in 2008, with 6 ranks of pipes and 31 notes.

Saturday
October 9
10AM-4PM

Traditional Brunswick Stew
Competiton & Fair
Lawrenceville-Brunswick Municipal Airport

Terry was unable to play this year because of the rain.

Sunday
October 10
NOON - 5PM

Kentlands Oktoberfest
Kentlands, Maryland
(City of Gaithersburg
[EVENT CANCELLED]

Terry has been performing at Kentlands with his German street organ since 2008.

2020 Events
Most events were cancelled except for the two below.

Saturday,
July 4
10 AM - 11:00AM

Village Parade
Great Falls, Virginia
This year, because of COVID-19, the main parade was a "Reverse Parade". The various parade units were positioned at the ends of driveways in two communities and residents drove the special one-way route to see the displays and hear the music. Over 300 cars with families came through.

76th Annual
Waterford Fair
Oct 2 - 4

Waterford, Virginia

Although this year's Waterford Fair will not be live in Waterford, you can suppport Waterford and the artisans online at the first ever Virtual Waterford Fair. The 2020 participating artisans will be featured on the Foundation's online shop at
https://www.waterfordfoundation.org/shop-our-artisans/

Friday,
Oct. 23

Brook Grove Retirement Village
Private Performance

AtBrookeGrove I
It was a pleasantly warm day for an Oktoberfest theme. We strolled the streets of cottages, and the residents listened from their porches and patios.

2019
Organ Grinder Appearances

Saturday
March 2
11:30 AM- 3:30PM

Culpeper,
Carnival
in Culpeper, Virginia

Culpeper Carnival

An all day family friendly Mardi Gras sponsored by Culpeper Renaissance.

Friday,
Saturday
May 3 - 4
10 AM - 4 PM

80th Annual Flower Mart
Washington National Cathedral
Washington,DC

At Cathedral
Terry has been playing "Happy Music for Ears of All Ages" at the Cathedral Flower Mart since 1996.

Sunday
May 26
11AM - 3 PM

C & O Canal National Historical Park
Potomac, Maryland

Terry-C&OCanal Park

The 23nd Annual demonstration of street organs and antique music boxes by the National Capital Chapter of the Musical Box Society International.

Thursday
June 20

Appletree II Preschool Childcare Center
Private Event

Saturday, Sunday
June 29-30

Bender's Circus Calliope
Shupp's Grove Antique Market
Reingholds, PA (Lancaster County)

A Mechanical Music Rally (organs, calliopes, music boxes large and small) presented by the Carousel Organ Association and the Musical Box Society.

Thursday
July 4
8:30-10 AM

Independence Day
Little Patriots Parade
Great Falls, Virginia

Aug. 28 - 31

Musical Box Society, International (MBSI)

70th Annual Meeting

Rockville, Maryland

Mbsi Meeting 2019
Terry played during the happy hour before the Welcome Dinner, in the Hospitality Room exhibit, and during the Awards Luncheon. He also presented a seminar about his experiences as an organ grinder.
Photo by Lowell Boehland

75th Waterford Fair
Waterford, Virginia

Friday,
Saturday
Oct. 4, 5
10 AM - 4 PM

Waterford Fair2019

Terry began performing at the Waterford Fair in 1992.

Saturday
Oct 12
10AM-4PM

Taste of Brunswick
Traditional Brunswick Stew Competition & Fair
Lawrenceville-Brunswick Municipal Airport

Brunswick Fair 2019
At least 20 stew crews competed with their secret Brunswick Stew recipies.

Sunday
Oct 13
Noon-5PM

Kentlands Oktoberfest
Kentlands, Maryland
(City of Gaithersburg)

Terry has been playing music on his German street organ at Kentlands Oktoberfest since 2008.

Friday
Dec. 6
5 PM - 8:30 PM

A Dickens of a Christmas
Chestertown, Maryland
(An outdoor celebration in the town square)

PHOTO ALBUM

G-20 World Bank and IMF Spring Meetings
Washington, DC
Germany chaired the 2017 G-20 Meetings
(Entertainment Exchange, Silver Spring, Maryland)

Waiting for the cue to begin playing German music.

A family, members of a German schuhplattler dance group at the Kentlands, MD Oktoberfest, listen to the music of the German street organ.

In 2012, The Cathedral Flower Mart honored Jamaica. The Kingston College Chapel Choir of men and boys performed several times each day. Here they meet Terry and listen to the music of the street organ, something they had not seen before.

2015 was Terry's 20th year at the National Cathedral Flower Mart. The little girl in pink kept calling out "More, More!" whenever he stopped playing.

Nat'l Cathedral

Terry and wife, Jan, at the 21st annual demonstration of street organs and antique music boxes by the National Capital Chapter of the Musical Box Society International.

C & O Canal National Historical Park
Potomac, Maryland

Terry joined the Fox 5 team for a morning pep rally outside Nats Park.

At the Bluemont, Virginia fair, Terry explains how the organ works and the connection between looms, weaving, and mechanical musical instruments. (The Bluemont area weavers, and the llamas and alpacas from nearby farms are in the tents.)

At the C&O Canal Historical Park in Maryland, Terry played as the canal boat went on down the canal after going through the lock.

C& O Canal Park

For this 2009 world exclusive performance at the Waterford Fair, Terry, cranking the street organ, and Mark Jaster, playing musical saw, were joined by Mark's wife, Sabrina, playing cymbal.

Over the years, the tree by the Post Office grew, providing all day shade for Terry and a pleasant pause for the many folks who attended the Warrenton Spring Festival.

Dancing to the Clarinet Polka at the Warrenton Fair.

Netherlands Ambassador,
Mr. Christiaan
M. J. Kröner listens to Terry play a march at the Netherlands Embassy celebration honoring the Queen's birthday, May 2008.

Terry talks with scouts at the
C & O Canal about the history and traditions of organ grinders.

Thousands enjoy typically perfect weather at the Bluemont Fair each year. “Big Daddy's” is a favorite food stop, and people could eat while they listen to the happiest music on earth!

Bluemont Fair, Bluemont, Virginia

Dancing the polka at the Bluemont Fair.

The Panda at the National Zoo's Guppy Gala danced to "Rock Around the Clock".

Visitors from the Civil War stopped by to listen on their way through Waterford during the Fair.

Like kids everywhere, these girls were excited to see the organ grinder.

Waterford Fair

Kentlands Oktoberfest, Kentlands, Maryland
(City of Gaithersburg)

Kentlands, MD
Members of a German schuhplattler dance group listen to the music of the German street organ.

Other Events With Organ Grinders

Summer, Fall 2024
Both the Carousel Organ Association of America and chapters of the Musical Box Society International sponsor events with street organs of all sizes and types. Go to my LINKS page for links to their websites.

June 2025
Orgelfest,
Waldkirch, Germany
This historic village, renowned in street organ maker circles, is filled with street organs of all sizes, from the huge fairground organs to the small busker organs. This festival is held every three years.

Click Here
for photos and story about the 2005
Orgelfest

World Exclusive Performance of Duo

Mark Jaster & Terry Bender

In what is believed to be a world exclusive in instrumental duos, Mark Jaster, Washington, DC's favorite mime, plays his musical saw along with Terry's street organ at the Waterford Fair.

Terry at Cathedral

Terry with Parrot

Washington Cathedral

Organ Grinder Schedule and Photo Album

Organ Grinder Schedule
and Photo Album