All events were scheduled at the time of posting. Please confirm with event hosts before making plans.
Sarah's Family Friendly Event Picks
August
21
Summer Sounds at the Shops at Kenilworth. The Shops at Kenilworth is bringing the sounds for those dining out on the patios! Enjoy live music on the patio while you dine from 5PM-7PM. This week listen to music from Joe Hughes while you enjoy happy hour specials from 4PM-6PM. Tables on the patio are first come first serve. FREE. 5PM-7PM. The Shops at Kenilworth, 800 Kenilworth Dr., Towson. https://www.theshopsatkenilworth.com/events/summer-sounds/
Summer Sounds with The New Romance. It’s time for back-to-school night at Summer Sounds with The New Romance! The parking lot will be transformed into an open-air market, featuring food and beverage specials available for purchase from local favorites Atwater’s, Pono Taco, Bonjour Crepes, Kesh & Fresh, and Grand Cru Market Bar. Kids can pick up their free back-to-school bag and the Belvedere Square Merchants’ Association will be collecting donations for kids in need in the Baltimore community to start the school year on the right foot. FREE. 6PM-9PM. Belvedere Square, 529 E Belvedere Ave., Baltimore. https://belvederesquare.com/whats-up-at-the-square/summer-sounds/#
Friday Night Live: Summer Concert Series. The Summer Concert Series at the Hunt Valley Towne Centre returns! Join the fun every Friday from June 13 through August 28 to enjoy live music from your favorite local bands! This year’s Summer Concert Series is located on the upper deck between California Pizza Kitchen and Sammy’s Trattoria. Each concert will feature a Beer & Wine Garden and free balloon art and a pre-concert magic show. This week enjoy music from The Real Geniuses, your not-so-average cover band delivering hits from the '70s to today. FREE. 6:30PM-8PM. Hunt Valley Towne Centre, 118 Shawan Rd., Cockeysville. https://www.shophuntvalley.com/events/summer-concert-series/
22
Shake Out Your Sillies. Shake out your sillies with song, nursery rhymes, puppet shows, instruments, and, of course, a dance party! Each class begins with a breathing exercise before transitioning into music and movement activities. Taught by Eliza Adams, a Maryland preschool teacher and musician, this class is designed for children 5 and under. Caretakers are welcome to join or watch! 11AM. $26; $21 Members. Creative Alliance Creativity Center, 3137 Eastern Ave., Baltimore. https://creativealliance.org/event/shake-out-your-sillies/2026-08-22/
Kerplunk! Free Family Art Drop-In. Kerplunk! Family Art Drop-in class is great for younger kids and families! Come join in the Creativity Center to create art projects based on current exhibitions and fun crafts! FREE. 12PM-3PM. Creative Alliance Creativity Center, 3137 Eastern Ave., Baltimore. https://creativealliance.org/event/kerplunk-free-family-art-drop-in-2-2/2026-08-22/
Liquid Nitrogen Slushie Lab. Sample a classic Baltimore treat with a Science Center twist! Discover what makes liquid nitrogen a unique culinary tool as Science Center experts quickly freeze lemonade into a slushie! Pop in a peppermint stick, and you’re on your way to sampling a Baltimore summertime tradition with a Science Center twist. Every participant will receive an up-close encounter with liquid nitrogen, performed by our expert educators, and a small lemonade slushie with a peppermint stick. $5 add-on to normal admission prices. 12:30PM or 1:30PM. The Maryland Science Center, 601 Light St., Baltimore. https://www.mdsci.org/events/slushie-lab/
Zoo Snooze. Join other zoo-loving families for an educational sleepover at the Zoo. You and your family will sleep outside and enjoy the sights and sounds of the Zoo by night. You all will explore Zoo exhibits to learn about African penguins, African reptiles and mammals, and some of our local nocturnal animals. $105 per person; $95 per person Members. 5:30PM-9:30AM. The Maryland Zoo, 1 Safari Pl., Baltimore. https://www.marylandzoo.org/event_series/zoo-snooze-overnights/family-overnights/
27-30
Maryland State Fair. The Maryland State Fair is proud to feature the thrills, chills, sights, sounds, and aromas of numerous carnival rides, games, and delectable fair food. The Maryland State Fair is the largest celebration of agriculture in Maryland. Known for delicious food, tons of free entertainment and world famous concerts. Ticket prices vary; see link for details. 5PM-9PM Thursday; 9AM-9PM Friday through Sunday and Labor Day Monday. Maryland State Fairgrounds, 2200 York Rd., Lutherville-Timonium. https://marylandstatefair.com/
27
Summer in the Squares. Summer in the Squares returns with a great lineup of performances featuring Baltimore's amazingly talented musicians. The performance features Bay Jazz Project plays a variety of Jazz, Blues, & Latin music with energy and soul. With Baltimore's Seth Kibel as lead soloist, they're always a crowd pleaser! 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, W Mount Vernon Pl., Baltimore. https://www.facebook.com/events/795673033513078
28
Summer Sounds at the Shops at Kenilworth. The Shops at Kenilworth is bringing the sounds for those dining out on the patios! Enjoy live music on the patio while you dine from 5PM-7PM. For this final concert of the season, enjoy the sounds off Jack Heit while you enjoy happy hour specials from 4PM-6PM. Tables on the patio are first come first serve. FREE. 5PM-7PM. The Shops at Kenilworth, 800 Kenilworth Dr., Towson. https://www.theshopsatkenilworth.com/events/summer-sounds/
Friday Night Live: Summer Concert Series. The Summer Concert Series at the Hunt Valley Towne Centre returns! Join the fun every Friday from June 13 through August 28 to enjoy live music from your favorite local bands! This year’s Summer Concert Series is located on the upper deck between California Pizza Kitchen and Sammy’s Trattoria. Each concert will feature a Beer & Wine Garden and free balloon art and a pre-concert magic show. For the final concert in this series, enjoy the electric mix of rock and soul classics. FREE. 6:30PM-8PM. Hunt Valley Towne Centre, 118 Shawan Rd., Cockeysville. https://www.shophuntvalley.com/events/summer-concert-series/
29-30
Maryland Renaissance Festival. The Maryland Renaissance Festival, a tradition for the entire family, begins its 50th season August 29th and runs Saturdays and Sundays and Labor Day Monday through October 25th for nine weekends of thrills, feasting, handmade crafts, entertainment and merriment in Crownsville, near Annapolis. The 27 acre Village of Revel Grove comes to life each autumn with more than 200 professional performers on ten stages, a 3,000 seat arena with armored jousting on magnificent steeds and streets filled with village characters. Join His Most Royal Highness King Henry VIII in the forests and glades with over 140 artisans exhibiting crafts in their own renaissance shops, five taverns featuring cool libations, 42 food and beverage emporiums providing a vast array of succulent and sweet treats to sate even the most hearty of appetites. $31 Adults; $27 Senior; $17 Children (ages 7-15); FREE for children 6 & under (ticket still required). 10AM-7PM each day. Maryland Renaissance Festival, 1821 Crownsville Rd., Annapolis. https://rennfest.com/
29
Breakfast with the Rhinos. Rise and shine as this VIP experience takes you BEHIND the scenes of the Rhino exhibit before the Zoo opens. Enjoy a delightful al fresco breakfast alongside these gentle giants. A full menu will be available as a freshly prepared buffet style meal. The adventure doesn’t end there! Guests will be treated to a one-of-a-kind Rhino Keeper Chat, offering rare insights into the lives and conservation of these majestic creatures. $75; $70 Members; FREE for children under 2 (ticket required). 9AM-10:30AM. The Maryland Zoo, 1 Safari Pl., Baltimore. https://www.marylandzoo.org/event_series/breakfast-with-the-animals/breakfast-with-the-rhinos/
Kerplunk! Free Family Art Drop-In. Kerplunk! Family Art Drop-in class is great for younger kids and families! Come join in the Creativity Center to create art projects based on current exhibitions and fun crafts! FREE. 12PM-3PM. Creative Alliance Creativity Center, 3137 Eastern Ave., Baltimore. https://creativealliance.org/event/kerplunk-free-family-art-drop-in-2-2/2026-08-29/
September
3-7
Maryland State Fair. The Maryland State Fair is proud to feature the thrills, chills, sights, sounds, and aromas of numerous carnival rides, games, and delectable fair food. The Maryland State Fair is the largest celebration of agriculture in Maryland. Known for delicious food, tons of free entertainment and world famous concerts. Ticket prices vary; see link for details. 5PM-9PM Thursday; 9AM-9PM Friday through Sunday and Labor Day Monday. Maryland State Fairgrounds, 2200 York Rd., Lutherville-Timonium. https://marylandstatefair.com/
5-7
Maryland Renaissance Festival. The Maryland Renaissance Festival, a tradition for the entire family, begins its 50th season August 29th and runs Saturdays and Sundays and Labor Day Monday through October 25th for nine weekends of thrills, feasting, handmade crafts, entertainment and merriment in Crownsville, near Annapolis. The 27 acre Village of Revel Grove comes to life each autumn with more than 200 professional performers on ten stages, a 3,000 seat arena with armored jousting on magnificent steeds and streets filled with village characters. Join His Most Royal Highness King Henry VIII in the forests and glades with over 140 artisans exhibiting crafts in their own renaissance shops, five taverns featuring cool libations, 42 food and beverage emporiums providing a vast array of succulent and sweet treats to sate even the most hearty of appetites. $31 Adults; $27 Senior; $17 Children (ages 7-15); FREE for children 6 & under (ticket still required). 10AM-7PM each day. Maryland Renaissance Festival, 1821 Crownsville Rd., Annapolis. https://rennfest.com/
18
Summer Sounds with Mambo Combo. Summer Sounds at the Square is sending off Summer with Baltimore’s favorite, Mambo Combo! The parking lot will be transformed into an open-air market, featuring food and beverage specials available for purchase from local favorites Atwater’s, Pono Taco, Bonjour Crepes, Kesh & Fresh, and Grand Cru Market Bar. FREE. 6PM-9PM. Belvedere Square, 529 E Belvedere Ave., Baltimore. https://belvederesquare.com/whats-up-at-the-square/summer-sounds/#