Free Things to Do with Kids in Baltimore

Gold Fever! The Ultimate Treasure Chase

📍 Online Event

An online educational webinar about the 1858 Fraser River Gold Rush presented by the Royal BC Museum.

Shake Out Your Sillies With Ms. Eliza — Ages Birth-5

📍 Enoch Pratt Free Library

Interactive music and movement program with Ms. Eliza

Summer Sunset Concert Series @ Allen Pond Park

📍 Allen Pond Park

Free weekly Sunday evening concerts featuring live music, food trucks, and community fun at Allen Pond Park in Bowie.

Shake Out Your Sillies With Ms. Eliza — Ages 0-5

📍 Enoch Pratt Free Library

Interactive music and movement storytime with Ms. Eliza for toddlers and preschoolers

🎵 Summer Sunset Concert Series @ Allen Pond Park

📍 Allen Pond Park

Free Sunday evening concert series featuring live music, food trucks, and community fun at Allen Pond Park.

Disney's Frozen the Broadway Musical - Auditions

📍 Children's Theatre of Annapolis

Open auditions for ages 12-18 to join the cast of Disney's Frozen the Broadway Musical. Auditions held August 8-10 with callbacks August 11, followed by rehearsals August 23-October 22 and performance

Over The Rainbow Of Rowhomes, We Fly

📍 UMBC Performing Arts & Humanities Building

An intergenerational group exhibition at CADVC featuring artists based in or connected to Baltimore, exploring the city's cultural landscape through experimental and interdisciplinary practices.

Fall Into Fantasy at Third Eye Comics

📍 Third Eye Comics

A fantasy-themed weekend event at Third Eye Comics stores featuring special promotions and Renaissance Faire costume incentives.

Fall StoryWalk® at Eden Mill

📍 Eden Mill Nature Center

A nature-based literacy activity combining reading, singing, and physical activity at Eden Mill Nature Center.

Oktoberfest Celebration

📍 Guinness Open Gate Brewery

Celebrate Oktoberfest at Guinness with live music and Bavarian-inspired food specials throughout the event.

9-2 Autumn Senior Stroll

📍 Cromwell Valley Park

A free weekly nature walk for seniors ages 55+ at Cromwell Valley Park led by naturalists along less strenuous trails.

Community Build Sessions for the Lion Turtle Island Lantern Puppet

📍 Black Cherry Puppet Theater

Free, volunteer-run build sessions to create a giant lantern puppet for the 2026 Great Baltimore Lantern Parade. Drop-ins welcome for all skill levels.

First Sunday Arts Festival

📍 West St. and Calvert Street

A monthly family-friendly street festival featuring over 150 vendors, food trucks, live music, and dining.

Irish Music Night - Second Floor

📍 The Judge's Bench

Monthly Irish music session featuring a local Irish music group performing live from 7:00pm-9:00pm on the second floor. Listeners welcome to enjoy food and drinks.

Unearthing Foundations, Hispanic Heritage Month Exhibition

📍 Montpelier Arts Center

A celebration of Latinx and Hispanic artists in the DMV area exploring how personal and cultural heritage influences the future.

A Nightmare on 22nd Street

📍 400 block of E 22nd St (439 E 22nd St)

Maryland Corn Maze

📍 Maryland Corn Maze

An 8-acre corn maze with farm activities including petting farm, pony rides, hay rides, and seasonal treats.

Café Diem: The Annapolis Coffee Crawl

📍 Multiple locations throughout Annapolis

A week-long coffee crawl through Annapolis featuring local coffee shops, cafes, and happy hour stops with prizes and giveaways.

U.S. Navy and Coast Guard ships, flyovers by the Blue Angels Flight Demonstration Squadron

📍 Inner Harbor Amphitheater

Laurel Farmer's Market

📍 378 Main St, Laurel

Weekly farmers market held every Thursday in downtown Laurel through October.

HGTV Open House

📍 The Mall in Columbia

A family-friendly HGTV-inspired experience at The Mall in Columbia featuring home and garden activities, photo opportunities, and lawn games.

Fells Point Fun Festival 2026 – 225+ Food, Drink, and Local Shopping Vendors

📍 Fells Point Fun Festival

Over 225 vendors line the streets of Fells Point all weekend, offering food, drinks, arts and crafts, clothing, antiques, and more. A great opportunity for families to explore local makers and eaterie

Fells Point Fun Festival 2026 – Live Music on the CFG Bank Main Stage

📍 Fells Point Fun Festival

Live music performances all weekend long at Broadway Square on the CFG Bank Main Stage. A diverse lineup of bands, many local to Baltimore, will take the stage Friday through Sunday.

International Edgar Allan Poe Festival & Awards

📍 Edgar Allan Poe House & Museum

Poe Baltimore presents the International Edgar Allan Poe Festival & Awards on October 2–4, 2026, commemorating the 177th Anniversary of Edgar Allan Poe's death in Baltimore with free festival admissio

Food Truck Fridays

📍 Anne Arundel County Farmers Market

Weekly food truck gathering in Annapolis with great food and good vibes every Friday evening.

ZooBOO weekends

📍 Maryland Zoo

ZooBOO! presented by Fulton Bank

📍 The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore

Annual Halloween festival at the Maryland Zoo featuring seasonal activities, costume contests, trick-or-treating, and animal encounters throughout October.

Jello Aquarium Crafternoon

📍 Enoch Pratt Free Library - Hampden

Create your own gelatin aquarium craft filled with candy fish, rocks, and waves as part of the Read to Reef program.

Fells Point Fun Festival 2026 – Family Fun in Thames Street Park

📍 Fells Point Fun Festival

An immersive Imagination Station returns to Thames Street Park on Saturday and Sunday, featuring arts and crafts, 3D pens, magic, storytelling, bubbles, balloons, games, mascots, and more for kids. A

Preschool Storytime

📍 Anne Arundel County Public Library - Riviera Beach Library

A storytime program for preschoolers ages 3-5 that builds early literacy skills through books, songs, and activities.

Community Baby Shower

📍 Anne Arundel County Public Library - Riviera Beach Library

Games, prizes, music and fun for expectant parents at the Riviera Beach Library.

Free Root Beer Float Day

📍 Rams Head Tavern Annapolis

Annual free root beer float celebration at Rams Head Tavern in memory of Chad Muehlhauser.

Savage Ukes (8 & up, teens & adults welcome!)

📍 Howard County Library System Savage

A 60-minute ukulele class for ages 8 and up at the Howard County Library System Savage branch.

Youth Fishing Rodeo

📍 Burba Lake Recreation Area

A free fishing event for children ages 3-15 at Burba Lake Recreation Area featuring face painting and activities.

Game of Pets Event

📍 Barnes & Noble - Ellicott City

Mega-bestselling author Aaron Blabey, creator of The Bad Guys, hosts a book event featuring his new series about an 11-year-old kid and a talking axolotl.

Monarch Migration - Butterfly Exchange (ages 7 and up)

📍 Howard County Library System - Central Branch

Learn about Monarch butterfly migration and decorate a life-sized butterfly to be exchanged with students in Mexico.

All Together Now (All Ages)

📍 Howard County Library System - Central Branch

A 30-minute interactive class for all ages with an adult featuring songs, stories, rhymes, and activities to build early literacy and social skills.

Garden Buddies

📍 Baltimore County Public Library Catonsville

Adult volunteers instruct teens on how to care for flowers and produce at the Catonsville Branch Community Garden.

Family and Friends Story Time

📍 Aberdeen Library - Meeting Room

A story time event featuring stories, music, movement, and fun for families at Aberdeen Library.

Glen Burnie Fall Fest 2026

📍 Glen Burnie Carnival Grounds

One of Glen Burnie's biggest community events featuring 125+ local vendors, food trucks, live music, and family-friendly activities.

Maryland Corn Maze

📍 Maryland Corn Maze

An 8-acre corn maze with farm activities including petting farm, pony rides, hay rides, and seasonal treats.

Hooray for Firefighters

📍 Aberdeen Library - Harford County Public Library

Celebrate firefighters and National Fire Prevention Month with an up-close look at a fire truck, fire safety education, and meet local firefighters.

Bel Air Farmers' Market

📍 Bel Air Farmers' Market

A producer-only farmers market featuring over 60 local vendors from Harford County selling fresh produce, meats, dairy, baked goods, and crafted beverages.

Free Root Beer Float Day

📍 Rams Head Tavern

Complimentary root beer float with any purchase at Rams Head Tavern. Dine-in only.

Oakland Mills Fall Festival

📍 Oakland Mills Village

A free fall festival featuring live entertainment, craft vendors, food, and a children's area at Oakland Mills Village.

First Saturday Family Craft and Music Morning

📍 Belvedere Square Market

A family-friendly morning of crafts and live music at Belvedere Square Market featuring Common Tone.

Stories Together

📍 Enoch Pratt Free Library - Central Library

An interactive storytelling program featuring stories, movement, songs, and activities for families with young children.

Fall Migration Bird-Watching Walk

📍 Enoch Pratt Free Library - Canton

Join experts from the Baltimore Bird Club for a guided fall bird-watching walk in Canton Waterfront Park.

Guided Nature Walk

📍 Masonville Cove

Join a guided walk around Masonville Cove campus to explore seasonal changes in nature.

Ballet Embody: Poe Stories in Dance

📍 Lexington Market Plaza — Poe Fest Main Stage

Maryland ballet company interprets Edgar Allan Poe stories in classical and contemporary dance. Free, on the main stage at Lexington Market Plaza. Part of the International Edgar Allan Poe Festival & Awards (Oct 2–4).

The Ultra Kings (Poe Fest Main Stage)

📍 Lexington Market Plaza — Poe Fest Main Stage

Rockabilly and roots rock-and-roll trio from the Lehigh Valley. Free, on the main stage at Lexington Market Plaza. Part of the International Edgar Allan Poe Festival & Awards (Oct 2–4).

Costume POErade & Contest

📍 Lexington Market Plaza — Poe Fest Main Stage

Costume parade from the main stage through the festival grounds; free to enter. Contestants check in behind the main stage at 2 PM for pre-judging. Free, on the main stage at Lexington Market Plaza. Part of the International Edgar Allan Poe Festival & Awards (Oct 2–4).

Poe Fest Opening with Chris Riehl and Chad the Bird

📍 Lexington Market Plaza — Poe Fest Main Stage

The 9th annual festival opens on the main stage with emcee Chris Riehl and YouTube comedian Chad the Bird. Free, on the main stage at Lexington Market Plaza. Part of the International Edgar Allan Poe Festival & Awards (Oct 2–4).

Darlington Apple Festival

📍 Darlington Apple Festival

The Humane Society of Harford County will have a vendor table at the 2026 Darlington Apple Festival selling swag, toys, and pet goodies.

Drop-in Art Making: Luminous Lanterns

📍 The Walters Art Museum

A family-friendly drop-in art activity where visitors create luminous lantern crafts inspired by the museum's collection.

College Park Day

📍 College Park Aviation Museum and Airport

A Dock Replacement / Fleet Winterization Work Party

📍 Downtown Sailing Center

A volunteer work party for dock maintenance and fleet winterization preparation at Downtown Sailing Center. Community members help prepare boats and facilities for the season.

Barnes & Noble Saturday Storytime

📍 Barnes & Noble Bel Air

Free weekly storytime for kids at Barnes & Noble. Stories, activities, and a love of reading — every Saturday at 11am.

See Beyond Festival

📍 The Maryland School for the Blind

NEC Drop-In

📍 Cylburn Arboretum - Nature Education Center

Nature-themed drop-in activities at Cylburn Arboretum's Nature Education Center on Saturday mornings.

Child Safety Fair

📍 The Bel Air Lions Club

A child safety fair hosted by the Bel Air Lions Club featuring safety education and resources for families.

2026 Wheelchair Costume Workshop

📍 Harford County Public Library - Bel Air

Volunteers create custom, wheelchair-accessible Halloween costumes for children who use wheelchairs.

Bat Craft

📍 Norrisville Library - Public Area Childrens

Drop-in bat craft activity for Bat Appreciation Month at Norrisville Library with all materials provided.

PAWS and Read

📍 Havre de Grace Library - Public Area Childrens

Children read one-on-one with therapy dogs at the Havre de Grace Library.

Upper Chesapeake Bay Pride Festival

📍 A Truth Seeker's Daughter

A family-friendly LGBTQIA+ festival featuring five hours of performances and over 100 booths.

Saturday Morning Storytime!

📍 Barnes & Noble - Ellicott City

Join Barnes & Noble for their weekly Saturday morning storytime at 11:00 AM.

Get Ready for Kindergarten: Early Literacy Workshop

📍 Prince George's County Memorial Library System - Laurel Branch

A workshop presented by a first-grade teacher to help families and rising kindergarten students prepare for school success through foundational academics and phonics.

Dinosaur Park Open House

📍 Dinosaur Park

Free monthly fossil hunting program at Dinosaur Park in Laurel, Maryland.

Broadneck Elementary Fall Festival

📍 Broadneck Elementary School

Annual fall festival at Broadneck Elementary School featuring free games, activities, crafts, food trucks, local vendors, and raffles.

Home Depot Kids Workshop

📍 Home Depot Towson

Free hands-on building workshop for kids ages 5-12. Kids build a wooden project and get to keep it, plus earn a pin and certificate.

Home Depot Kids Workshop

📍 Home Depot Dundalk

Free hands-on building workshop for kids ages 5-12. Kids build a wooden project and get to keep it, plus earn a pin and certificate.

Home Depot Kids Workshop

📍 Home Depot Columbia

Free hands-on building workshop for kids ages 5-12. Kids build a wooden project and get to keep it, plus earn a pin and certificate.

Home Depot Kids Workshop

📍 Home Depot Bel Air

Free hands-on building workshop for kids ages 5-12. Kids build a wooden project and get to keep it, plus earn a pin and certificate.

Home Depot Kids Workshop

📍 Home Depot Annapolis

Free hands-on building workshop for kids ages 5-12. Kids build a wooden project and get to keep it, plus earn a pin and certificate.

Patapsco State Park Hilton Area & Matthews: Slightly Moderate 6 - 7 Miles

📍 Hiking Around Baltimore (HAB)

Walk beside a stream with scenic views of water cascading over rocks. A few hills and a nice valley. We hike to a Scenic Overlook of Patapsco Park and River and view an area where trains emerge from the tunnels. Directions from I695: Take I695 Exit 13 Frederick Ave West towards Catonsville. In a few miles, take a left at South Rolling Rd (Light). In 100 yards, take a right at the fork to Hilton Ave. Proceed on Hilton for about 1.5 miles and take a right into the park entrance. Take the first rig

Halloween Pop-up Market and Toys for Tots Kick Off!

📍 Patapsco Masonic Lodge Parking Lot

1st Annual Halloween Pop-Up Market featuring vendors, spooky decorations, handmade crafts, and costume pieces with a Toys for Tots donation drive.

Home Depot Kids Workshop

📍 Home Depot Glen Burnie

Free hands-on building workshop for kids ages 5-12. Kids build a wooden project and get to keep it, plus earn a pin and certificate.

Barnes & Noble Saturday Storytime

📍 Barnes & Noble White Marsh

Free weekly storytime for kids at Barnes & Noble. Stories, activities, and a love of reading — every Saturday at 11am.

Barnes & Noble Saturday Storytime

📍 Barnes & Noble Ellicott City

Free weekly storytime for kids at Barnes & Noble. Stories, activities, and a love of reading — every Saturday at 11am.

Barnes & Noble Saturday Storytime

📍 Barnes & Noble Annapolis

Free weekly storytime for kids at Barnes & Noble. Stories, activities, and a love of reading — every Saturday at 11am.

Simchat Torah Service

📍 Baltimore Hebrew Congregation

A festive Simchat Torah service celebrating the completion and new beginning of the Torah cycle with joyful prayers and traditions.

32nd Street Farmers Market (Waverly)

📍 32nd Street Farmers Market

Year-round Saturday farmers market in Waverly.

EBB & NOVA

📍 Along Thames Street from Caroline to Wolfe

Ebb & Nova performs at the CFG Bank Main Stage during the Fell's Point Fun Festival, a community celebration featuring local vendors, craft cocktails and beers, artisan products, and live music performances.

Home Depot Kids Workshop

📍 Home Depot Owings Mills

Free hands-on building workshop for kids ages 5-12. Kids build a wooden project and get to keep it, plus earn a pin and certificate.

Festival Latinoamericano

📍 Arlington Mill Community Center

The free event features live entertainment, food, cultural exhibits and family activities.

Volunteer: Fall Cleanup

📍 Carrie Murray Nature Center

A volunteer opportunity for families and community members to participate in fall cleanup activities at the nature center.

Mutual Aid Food Drive

📍 Bolton Street Synagogue

A community service event where families collect and donate food to support those in need.

Dance Baltimore (Poe Fest Main Stage)

📍 Lexington Market Plaza — Poe Fest Main Stage

Performance by Dance Baltimore, the city's professional dance service organization. Free, on the main stage at Lexington Market Plaza. Part of the International Edgar Allan Poe Festival & Awards (Oct 2–4).

Poe Fest Festival Grounds at Lexington Market

📍 Lexington Market Plaza

Free outdoor Poe festival, moved this year from Poe House to Lexington Market Plaza: main stage music and performances, Poe-themed vendors, booksellers, workshops, food and a RavenBeer garden (21+). Free shuttles to Poe House, Westminster Hall and the Visitor Center. Part of the International Edgar Allan Poe Festival & Awards (Oct 2–4).

LOVE RIOT

5TH OF FOUR

📍 Along Thames Street from Caroline to Wolfe

5th of Four performs at the CFG Bank Main Stage during the Fell's Point Fun Festival, one of the city's largest community celebrations featuring local vendors, craft cocktails and beers, artisan products, and live music performances.

Fell's Point Farmers Market

📍 Fell's Point Square

Saturday farmers market on the Fell's Point square.

Bmore Flea at Broadway Market

📍 Broadway Market plaza

Vintage, antique, jewelry and apparel vendors on the Broadway Market plaza, free to browse.

Tot Shabbat

📍 The Associated: Jewish Federation

A child-friendly Shabbat celebration designed for toddlers and young children to learn about and experience Shabbat traditions.

Playful Pandas Music Playgroup

📍 STRŌB Apothecary

Free weekly music playgroup for toddlers ages 0-4 with songs, instruments, bubbles and snacks.

Community Wellness Open House

📍 Clay Pots

An open house event focused on community wellness resources and health initiatives at Clay Pots.

SHE\EDH: A Casual Commander Meetup for Women & Non-Binary Folks

📍 No Land Beyond

Inclusive Magic: The Gathering Commander meetup specifically for women and non-binary players featuring casual gameplay.

ZooBOO! presented by Fulton Bank

📍 The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore

Annual fall festival at the Maryland Zoo featuring Halloween activities, games, crafts, and animal encounters throughout October.

Fells Point Fun Festival 2026 – Pet Parade Hosted by Dogs of Charm City

📍 Fells Point Fun Festival

The beloved Pet Parade returns on Sunday, October 4th at 11:30am, inviting attendees to bring their four-legged friends for a festive procession through Fells Point. RSVP is encouraged to participate.

Acoustic Music Series - October 2026

📍 Hybridoma Organic Fruit Farm

Live acoustic music performances featuring local musicians at the farm from 4-7:30pm. Multiple performances scheduled throughout October.