Calendar of Events - Family Friendly Events

All events were scheduled at the time of posting. Please confirm with event hosts before making plans.

Sarah's Family Friendly Event Picks

July

20-27

Harford County Farm Fair. Family fun for a full week in Harford County! Event includes agricultural & environmental resources, 4-H exhibits, food trucks, vendors, beer & wine vendors, live music, games, pig races, and tractor pull events. Click the link for a full list of events. $10 Adults Saturday July 20-Thursday July 25; $15 Adults Friday July 26 and Saturday July 27. $5 Teens (ages 13-18); FREE for kids 12 & under. 12PM-10PM Satudays and Sundays; 4PM-10PM Monday through Friday. https://farmfair.org/

Zoo Snooze. Join other zoo-loving families for an educational sleepover at the Zoo. Participants will tour an area of the Zoo and engage in fun planned activities. Ticket includes dinner and breakfast, games and activities, and admission to the zoo the next day. Participants must be 6 years and older and must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. $95; $85 Members. 5:30PM-9:30AM. The Maryland Zoo, One Safari Pl., Baltimore. https://www.marylandzoo.org/event_series/zoo-snooze-overnights/family-overnights/

August

Summer in the Squares: Rattlewood. Summer in the Squares returns with a great line up of performances featuring Baltimore's amazingly talented musicians. Tonight's performance features Rattlewood, an acoustic septet broadly categorized as Americana whose songwriting draws influence from underground, college rock of the '80s and '90s and Appalachian string bands and many other genres in between. Formed in the Hampden in 2013, the band has performed in multiple venues, stages, and establishments throughout the city including Flower Mart. To date, the band has released two full-length albums and one EP and recently recorded a new collection of original music while in quarantine. Bring a blanket or chair and enjoy an evening of music in the beautiful West Square of Mount Vernon Place! FREE. 7PM-8:30PM. Mount Vernon Place, 699 Washington Pl., Baltimore. https://www.facebook.com/events/993774829030453

Teddy Bear Pajama Party. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, what do you see? Brown Bear sees children and their families stomping on catapults to pack a teddy bear picnic, helping little lost bears find their way home in an eco-sensory exploration, gazing up at the stars in the planetarium, playing through the Maryland Science Center’s exhibit halls, and searching high and low for Brown Bear’s friends—Red Bird, Green Frog, Blue Horse and more! This event is designed for children ages 8 and under, and their families. Older siblings are welcome to join in on the fun! All children must have a paid adult in their party. A light snack will be provided. $35. 5:30PM-8:30PM. The Maryland Science Center, 601 Light St., Baltimore. https://www.mdsci.org/event/teddy-bear-pajama-party/

Master Gardener Fest. Join the University of Maryland Extension for their garden celebration! Visit the BCMG Demo Garden to see techniques for growing vegetable gardens, orchard trees, herbs, composting Bay-Wise gardening, attracting pollinators, avoiding deer damage, and more. Each garden will have Master Gardeners available to answer any questions and help explain the BCMG program. There will be many fun activities for future gardeners in the Children's Garden. While you are there, enjoy the Hereford Junior Farm Fair. FREE. 10AM-3PM. Agricultural Center and Farm Park, 1114 Shawan Rd., Cockeysville. https://extension.umd.edu/locations/baltimore-county/home-gardening-master-gardeners/

Kerplunk! Free Family Art Drop-In. Kerplunk! is great for younger kids and families! Join in the Creativity Center every Saturday to create fun seasonal crafts and art projects based on current exhibitions! This week the theme is Nature's Textures - Collagraph Prints. FREE. 12PM-3PM. Creative Alliance Creativity Center, 3137 Eastern Ave., Baltimore. https://creativealliance.org/event/kerplunk-free-family-art-drop-in-2024-2024-08-03/

Summer in the Squares: N-CHAT. Summer in the Squares returns with a great line up of performances featuring Baltimore's amazingly talented musicians. N-CHAT, a nonprofit organization that promotes healing through the arts is excited to return to Mount Vernon Place for their annual participation in MVPC’s Summer in the Squares. Join N-CHAT for a fun-filled, family-friendly evening where you will experience the healing power of the drum, learn African dance, and hear beautiful Drumetry™ performed by Drum Dr. Dot! Bring your family, your friends, and your dancing shoes and be ready to enjoy this powerful experience! Bring a blanket or chair and enjoy an evening of music in the beautiful West Square of Mount Vernon Place! FREE. 7-8:30PM. Mount Vernon Square, 699 Washington Pl., Baltimore. https://www.facebook.com/events/1373088953365110

10-11

Mess Fest. Get ready to get messy! Grab your paint clothes and dirty sneakers because the Maryland Science Center is making an ooey, gooey mess at their annual Mess Fest celebration! This is the annual celebration of the most mucky, slimy, sticky, sloppy science they can come up with. FREE with paid admission. 12PM-4PM both days. The Maryland Science Center, 601 Light St., Baltimore. https://www.mdsci.org/event/mess-fest/

Hot August Music Festival. Get ready for one of the hottest music festivals in MD! Featuring musical performances by Grace Potter, Snarky Puppy, Neal Francis, Cris Jacobs, Eggy, Sam Grisman Project, Pressing Strings, PRS Eightlock, and The Hot August Collective. A ticket is required for admission to the festival grounds for every person over the age of 12. Children 12 and under are admitted FREE and do not need a ticket but must be accompanied by an adult. Tickets grant General Admission to the festival grounds with access to both stages of music, food and drink, vendors, games, kids area, and more. VIP tickets are available and include numerous VIP amenities. All vehicles parking on site will be required to have a parking pass. GA parking passes are available for purchase; VIP tickets include access to premiere parking in the price of that ticket so no additional parking pass is required. Event is rain or shine. $99 General Admission; $249 VIP; $45 VIP for 12 and under; $20 Parking Pass; FREE under 12. 11AM-11PM. Oregon Ridge Park, 13401 Beaver Dam Rd., Cockeysville. https://hotaugustmusicfestival.com/

Kerplunk! Free Family Art Drop-In. Kerplunk! is great for younger kids and families! Join in the Creativity Center every Saturday to create fun seasonal crafts and art projects based on current exhibitions! This week the theme is Summer Sun Catchers. FREE. 12PM-3PM. Creative Alliance Creativity Center, 3137 Eastern Ave., Baltimore. https://creativealliance.org/event/kerplunk-free-family-art-drop-in-2024-2024-08-10/

The Book Fair at Bel Air. This is a free event to celebrate the joy of reading. The goal is to connect authors with avid readers and foster a love for literature in the charming town of Bel Air. Meet new authors, connect with fellow book enthusiasts, get lost in a literary wonderland with a diverse selection of books from various genres, shop bookish merchandise, and foster a love of reading in the younger generation with kid-friendly fun. This festival is a treasure trove for book lovers! FREE. 12PM-4PM. The Bel Air Armory, 37 N Main St., Bel Air. https://bookfairatbelair.org/

Pizza Time: Family Cooking Class. Pizza is like a family: beautiful, messy, kneading lots of love, occasionally greasy. In this hands-on family culinary class, learn to make delectable dough, prepare fresh toppings, and craft a perfect pizza pie. After completing this most marinawesome of tasks, kick back, share in a pizza party, and enjoy the crusts of your labor. But the fun doesn’t end there! At the conclusion of the class, everyone goes home with dough and toppings to make sure it’s always going to be pizza o’clock. Children 8+ with accompanying adult. $55; $50 Members; $35 Additional Child. 11AM. Creative Alliance Creativity Center, 3137 Eastern Ave., Baltimore. https://creativealliance.org/event/pizza-time-family-cooking-class-w-chef-keith-curley/

Summer Haitian Caribbean Festival. Immerse yourself in Haitian culture at this Festival with food and craft vendors, merch and more. Plus a very special concert featuring LOKAL. Festival begins at 2PM; Concert from 6PM-8PM. FREE admission. 2PM. Patterson Park, E Pratt St. at S Patterson Park Ave., Baltimore. https://www.komiteayiti.org/komite-ayiti-s-caribbean-community-day

Kerplunk! & Film! - Spy Kids. Kerplunk! is great for younger kids and families! Join in the Creativity Center every Saturday to create fun seasonal crafts and art projects based on current exhibitions! Join in the theater after you make your creation for a screening of Spy Kids. Enjoy popcorn and other concessions. The movie begins at 2PM and is a ticketed event. Be sure to purchase in advance from the box office. $10 Adults (movie); $5 Children and Members (movie); FREE (Kerplunk! Art Drop In). 12PM. Creative Alliance Creativity Center, 3137 Eastern Ave., Baltimore. https://creativealliance.org/event/kerplunk-film-spy-kids/

22-25

Maryland State Fair. Excitement is just around the corner! The 143nd Maryland State Fair, a fun and educational destination sure to captivate visitors of all ages, runs from Thursday, August 22nd-Sunday, August 25th + Thursday, August 29th-Monday, September 2nd + Thursday, September 5th-Sunday, September 8th, at the Timonium Fairgrounds in Baltimore County. Maryland State Fair is complete with daily home arts, farm and garden, livestock and horse exhibits, rides, games, live concerts, and entertainment, live Thoroughbred horseracing, fair treats and farm fresh foods, U-Learn Ag. Education Zone, a museum, and more. No other event provides so much food, fun, and family entertainment for so little! Ticket prices vary; some events are ticketed separately from Fair admission - see link for details. 5PM-9PM Thursdays; 9AM–9PM Fridays - Sundays and Labor Day Monday. Maryland State Fairgrounds, 2200 York Rd., Lutherville-Timonium. https://marylandstatefair.com/

Summer in the Squares: Maryland Opera. Summer in the Squares 2024 Presents: Maryland Opera! Maryland Opera will present Katerina Burton, Tim Mix, and Opera Camp Alum Anand Abraham in a program of Opera and Broadway favorites, including selections from “Tosca”, “Carmen”, “La Boheme”, “South Pacific”, and “Porgy and Bess.” Bring a blanket or chair and enjoy an evening of music in the beautiful West Square of Mount Vernon Place! FREE. 7PM-8:30PM. Mount Vernon Square, 699 Washington Pl., Baltimore. https://www.facebook.com/events/1146882533215785

Summer Sounds with DJ Chris Luciano. Another amazing Summer Sounds night with DJ Chris Luciano! The Summer Sounds concert series showcases live music from local bands, as well as food and drink specials, prizes, and more. The parking lot will be transformed into an open-air market, featuring food and beverage specials available for purchase from local favorites Atwater’s, Neopol Savory Smokery, Prigel Family Farm, Market Bar, and Sassy Squeeze. FREE. 6PM-9PM. Belvedere Square, 540 E Belvedere Ave., Baltimore. https://belvederesquare.com/whats-up-at-the-square/summer-sounds/#

24-25

Maryland Renaissance Festival. Unique among most festivals, including renaissance festivals, the Maryland Renaissance Festival utilizes a storyline and progresses each year forward in the timeline of Henry VIII, through all his reign and all six of his wives. This season the year is 1537 and the royal story is played out in stage shows and in improvisations throughout the festival grounds. The Royal and Village stories are just one aspect of the Maryland Renaissance Festival, where visitors can find all manner of amusement, feasting and shops galore. More than 200 performers fill ten stages and taverns as well as the streets of the village with continuous entertainment. A three thousand seat jousting arena host authentic combat joust thrice daily as well as other large exhibitions. More than 140 merchants fill their shops with their predominately handcrafted wares by the artisan in the shop, as well as various demonstrating shops creating treasures before your eyes. Forty-two food and beverage emporiums and five taverns create a feast throughout the village to sate your appetite and quench your thirst. Ticket prices vary, see link for details. 10AM-7PM. Maryland Renaissance Festival, 1821 Crownsville Rd., Annapolis. https://rennfest.com/

29-September 2

Maryland State Fair. Excitement is just around the corner! The 143nd Maryland State Fair, a fun and educational destination sure to captivate visitors of all ages, runs from Thursday, August 22nd-Sunday, August 25th + Thursday, August 29th-Monday, September 2nd + Thursday, September 5th-Sunday, September 8th, at the Timonium Fairgrounds in Baltimore County. Maryland State Fair is complete with daily home arts, farm and garden, livestock and horse exhibits, rides, games, live concerts, and entertainment, live Thoroughbred horseracing, fair treats and farm fresh foods, U-Learn Ag. Education Zone, a museum, and more. No other event provides so much food, fun, and family entertainment for so little! Ticket prices vary; some events are ticketed separately from Fair admission - see link for details. 5PM-9PM Thursdays; 9AM–9PM Fridays - Sundays and Labor Day Monday. Maryland State Fairgrounds, 2200 York Rd., Lutherville-Timonium. https://marylandstatefair.com/

Summer in the Squares: Simone Baron & Arco Belo. Summer in the Squares returns with a great line up of performances featuring Baltimore's amazingly talented musicians. Arco Belo is a group of high-energy improvisers dedicated to redefining the concert form. Led by pianist, accordionist, and composer Simone Baron, this GenreFluid ensemble captures an irreverent sound melding reeds, strings, and percussive timbres. Together they present new adventurous compositions, reimagining a sound at the intersection of avant-garde chamber music, creative jazz, Brazilian music, and Jewish diasporic music. Bring a blanket or chair and enjoy an evening of music in the beautiful West Square of Mount Vernon Place! FREE. 7PM-8:30PM. Mount Vernon Place, 699 Washington Pl., Baltimore. https://www.facebook.com/events/1598725434022273

31-September 2

Sarah's Family Friendly Event Picks

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​July

August

July