This is Baltimore for Less weekend downtown, which is good news for families. There will be free entertainment from Carnival Cruise Lines around the Harbor Saturday from 10:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m., and from the Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday at the West Shore Park, where there will be (among other activities) yoga and a petting zoo. There will also be a scavenger hunt Sunday, and there are deals on lots of Inner Harbor and downtown attractions (including the Top of the World observation level at the World Trade Center, left) throughout the weekend.
Full details here.
Thanks to interns Lindsey Citron and Sophia Terbush for their help with the rest of our list:
Thursday, April 23:
Madeline & Pepito: Celebrate author Ludwig Bemelman’s 111th birthday at Howard County Library’s Glenwood Branch. There will be French-themed stories, crafts and activities for ages 4-8. The event begins at 11 a.m. and lasts 45 minutes. Free. Registration required. Call 410-313-5579 or visit hclibrary.org.
Take a Wild Ride: It’s a jungle at the Enoch Pratt Free Library’s Orleans St. branch – children ages 6-12 will participate in crafts, dramatics and wild animal stories from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Free. No registration required. Call 410-396-0970 or visit prattlibrary.org.
Friday, April 24:
A Day Out With Thomas: Thomas the Tank Engine chugs into the B&O Railroad Museum this for 25 minute train rides, opportunities to meet Sir Topham Hatt, live entertainment, story telling, building with LEGO bricks, and more. The event runs from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday-Sunday (as well as the following weekend) and is open to ages 2 and up. For tickets visit ticketweb.com/dowt or call 1-866-468-7630. Tickets will be sold at the door at $14 per person, but these will not include the train ride. For more information: 410-752-2490 or borail.org.
Fun with Pam and Rascal: The Rainbow Theatre’s monthly puppet show is a story about Pam the “kindersinger” and her pal Rascal. The event starts at 10 a.m. at Slayton House, Wilde Lake Village Center, Columbia. Tickets required, $5 in advance and $6 on show day. For ages 2-5. Call 410-730-3897 or visit columbiavillages.org/wildelake.
Boys & Girls Fashion Show: The boys and girls of Medfield Heights Elementary School (grades PreK-5) will be walking in this 2nd annual fashion show, featuring designers from Sew Fabulous Sewing School. Sponsored by the Medfield Heights PTA, the event is to benefit school activities and MSA testing books, and will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Western/Poly High School Auditorium (West Cold Spring Lane and Falls Road). Tickets $7, required in advance, call 443-324-9161 or visit medfieldheights.com.
Sugarloaf Crafts Festival: The works of more than 300 renowned artisans in metal, ceramics and wood at this weekend’s Sugarloaf Crafts Festival. Items for display and sale include pottery, sculpture, glass, jewelry, fashion, furniture and home accessories, garden items and photography. Gourmet food, craft demonstrations, live music and activities for children are part of the festival, which runs 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday at the Maryland State Fairgrounds, 2200 York Road, Timonium. Admission for all three days is $7 online and $8 at the door (free for children younger than under 12). Call 800-210-9900 or go to sugarloafcrafts.com.
And…
Saturday, April 25:
Famous Faces of the Maryland Historical Society: Students from the Baltimore School for the Arts will bring to life the subjects of several portraits in the museum, performing original monologues developed with help from the MdHS. Billie Holiday, fashion designer Claire McCardell and more will make an appearance. event is from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. for ages 5-18 at the Maryland Historical Society, 201 W. Monument St. Free with museum admission ($4 adults, $3 senior citizens, children under 12 free), which can be purchased at the door. Call 410-685-3750 ext. 319 or visit mdhs.org/events/index.html.
Banneker’s Earth Day Festival: Be kind to the Earth by celebrating outdoors at Banneker’s Park with a free barbecue cookout. The day also includes a nature hike, an interactive recycling presentation, tree and flower planting, workshops on container gardening, hiking, compost bin and birdhouse building, a native plant sale, and an opportunity to meet live Bay animals from the Marshy Point Nature Center. The festival runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 300 Oella Ave., Catonsville, and is free. For information, call 410-887-1081 or visit this site.
Walters Family Festival: Celebrate stories and art with an all-day festival including story-telling, demonstrations, movies, dancing, and arts and crafts at the Walters Art Museum, 600 N. Charles St., 10 a.m.-4 p.m. All ages. Free. Call 410-547-9000 ext. 300 or visit thewalters.org.
D.C. Dance Troupe performs at Meyerhoff: See Rudyard Kipling’s Jungle Book performed by Washington’s CityDance contemporary dance troupe at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall. The BSO Family Fun Zone, which includes activities and face-painting, precedes the event. Family Fun Zone starts at 10 a.m., concert at 11 a.m. Fun Zone is free with admission, Tickets from $11-20. All ages. Advance reservations required. Call 410-783-8000, or visit BSOmusic.org.
ROAR for Autism: Families can ride bicycles or hike to support autism research at Oregon Ridge Park in Cockeysville. Registration ranges from no charge for children under 4 to $30 for adults on the day of the festivities. Details here.
Sunday, April 26:
Angelina Ballerina Dance Day: The Dance Conservatory of Maryland celebrates National Dance Week with children ages 3-5. There will be a beginner ballet class, a story about Angelina Ballerina and a performance by costumed ballerinas who will pose for pictures afterward. From 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. at 701 Whitaker Mill Road, Bel Air. Ticket purchase and registration required by Friday. $5 per child; space is limited. Call 410-877-3281 to register; visit danceconservatoryofmd.com.
Baltimore Mommies 2nd Birthday Event: The Mommies Network celebrates its presence in Baltimore, Howard, Anne Arundel and other counties for the second year by donating clothing, toiletries, toys and furniture to benefit the Bea Gaddy Foundation, Visit baltimoremommies.com or call 443-538-1114 for more information.
Free Atlantic String Quartet Concert: The Atlantic String Quartet (featuring members of the BSO) performs for free, presented by Har Sinai Congregation, Har Sinai Congregation, 2905 Walnut Ave., Owings Mills. 3 p.m. All ages. Free. Call 410-654-0000 ext. 4, or visit harsinai-md.org.
(Photo by Baltimore Sun photographer Jed Kirschbaum)
