May Showers and Weekend Sunshine

I know we’ve seen enough rainy days but don’t be discouraged.  There are both indoor and outdoor events happening in Maryland that the Little Ones will love! The Tot Rock Festival (Alexandria) and Kids to Parks Day are both notable events worth checking out. But if all else fails, let them outside and enjoy splashing in muddy puddles, make mud pies or even dancing in the rain!

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Beauty and the Beast Broadway Musical – Baltimore
May 12-15
Hippodrome at France-Merrick Performing Arts Center
Cost: Price Varies
The romantic Broadway musical for all generations, Disney’s BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, the smash hit Broadway musical, is returning to Baltimore! This classic musical love story is filled with unforgettable characters, lavish sets and costumes, and dazzling production numbers including “Be Our Guest” and the beloved title song.

PRC’s Drive-In Family Movie Event hosted by the Promise Center – Leonardtown
St. Mary’s Fairground
May 13; 4pm – 10pm
Cost:$8-$40
Join us at the St. Mary’s County Fairgrounds in Leonardtown, Md for a classic drive-in movie experience, complete with a huge 40’ movie screen playing the movie “Inside Out”, AM/FM radio transmitters, and drive-in style parking. The Promise Center is excited to announce our Drive-In Family Movie Event!

Art and Story Time
Chesapeake Children’s Museum
Fridays, 10:30-11:30am
Cost: Free with admission.
We are eager to share the passion for great children’s literature and creative visual expression with our youngest visitors. Children ages two to five-years-old and their accompanying adults can share books, flannel board stories, puppets, and acting out stories along with related art and craft activities. Ages 6 & under.

Family Yoga in the Park 
Annmarie Sculpture Garden & Arts Center
May 14; 10am – 10:30am (ages 3-6); 10:45am – 11:45pm (ages 6+)
Cost: $5-7
Get outside and enjoy the benefits of yoga! This class is filled with yoga postures, partner poses, yoga games, breathing and relaxation techniques, and lots of smiles. Enjoy quality time together while relaxing and experiencing nature.

5K Family Fun Run/Walk & Carnival – Edgewater **FREE**
May 14; 8am
Second annual Joy Kids Fun Run, Walk, and Carnival open to kids of all ages.  A portion of the proceeds earned will go to the Backpack Buddies Program. There will be a silent auction, pony rides, and a moon bounce for families to enjoy. Hosted by Joy Kids Learning Center.

4th Annual African American Children’s Book Fair  **FREE**
Reginald F. Lewis Museum – Baltimore
May 14; 12pm – 4pm
Dive into the world of kids’ literature focused on African Americans and people of other ethnic backgrounds. Enjoy author readings, illustration workshops, performances, and craft activities. Purchase hard-to-find titles in the Book Village. Free children’s book for every family, while supplies last.

Family Day: Renwick in Bloom **FREE**
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Renwick Gallery
May 14; 10am -12pm 
Create crafts that explore the various flowers that are in bloom, the trees that are budding, and the bugs that are coming out. Music brings spring to life, and Smithsonian Gardens brings the blooms indoors with live plants and gardening ideas!

The Prince George’s Spring Festival **FREE**
PG Sport and Learning Complex – Landover
May 13; 11am – 5pm
Come out to a celebration of written word. The event will feature presentations and signings by authors, workshops, literary exhibitors, books sales, children’s activities and more.

Hike the Rails with Hike it Baby Prince Frederick hosted by Babywearning International of Southern MD
Indian Head Trail – White Plains
May 14; 2 pm
Meet near the trailhead for an event with Hike it Baby Prince Frederick!! Green level hike: carrier or stroller friendly.

Horse Discovery Center Special Weekend – Ellicott City
May 14-15
Clark’s Elioak Farm
To celebrate everything equine in Maryland kids will make stick horses, go gem mining and geode cracking. Hayrides,petting zoo, pony rides and cow train running throughout the day.

Tot Rock Festival – Alexandria, VA  **FREE**
May 14; 9 am – 1 pm
Most suitable for kids up to 7 years old, the Tot Rock Festival is a jammed packed event full of children entertainers.  This FREE event will feature local artist like Mr. Jon Music, Groovy Nate, Uncle Devin, the Great Zucchini the Rainbow Rock Band and more! Note: Please bring any NEW or USED music instruments to the festival!

Little Explorers Program – Hats!
May 18; 10am – 11am
Godiah Spray Tobacco Plantation
Cost: $4 per child ($3 Friends members)
Do you have a hat? Do you have a hat to keep you warm, or to keep the sun off your eyes? Join us on the search for the many hats people wear. Ages 3-5.

African American Family Day
May 15; 12pm
Riversdale House Museum
Cost: $5/adult; FREE children 12 & under with a paid admission
Celebrate the Plummers and other families during a day of historic fun with children’s activities and stations on Riversdale’s grounds.

SERC Open House
May 14; 10am-3pm
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center -Edgewater
Discover our connected Earth at SERC’s annual festival of science! Experience the Bay by land, air and water with Smithsonian scientists. Cruise down the Rhode River, Explore the Muddy Creek Stream Restoration, Live entertainment from The Lyric Response Team, Caribbean Nights and the SERC Band. Take thee family on a Scavenger Hunt and win a $50 gift certificate to Pirates Cove or Killarney House! Two wooden crabs will be hidden somewhere on the SERC campus, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Check the SERC Facebook page for photo clues.

Spectacular Spring Showcase featuring Silly Bus Children’s Band
May 15
Early Childhood School at B’nai Shalom of Olney
Cost: Ages 2+ $5 in advance/$8 door
Yoga and karate demonstrations, mega bubbles science station, magic by the Great Hulldini, Kona Ice and Silly Bus Band.

6th annual Montgomery County Spring Fair and Strawberry Festival
May 16-21
Zimmerman-Ace Field – Burtonsville
Fair includes carnival rides, games, fireworks, food trucks, beer garden, all things strawberry, a farmers and crafters market, live music and entertainment. Proceeds will help low-income Montgomery County residents to buy fresh produce from local farms at the Shady Grove Farmers Market.

Art of Science
Maryland Science Center – Baltimore
May 15-16
The Maryland Science Center is turning STEM into STEAM by adding Art to Science, Technology, Engineering and MathView artwork and participate in related activities that blend art, science, math, and technology. Make decisions about materials and design and use self-expression to create your own projects. Plus, engage with artists to hear about their perspectives.

Friday Night Stargazing **FREE**
Every Friday Night; 7pm – 10:30pm
Maryland Science Center – Baltimore
urban rooftop Observatory to view the night sky. The Moon, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn will all be featured this month. Stargazing is free to the public and weather permitting.

Kids to Parks Day
May 21
Local Parks Across the Country
Kids to Parks Day (KTP) is a nation-wide day of outdoor play organized by National Park Trust. The event encourages children across the country to explore their neighborhood parks and discover science, history, nature and adventure right around the corner or just across town.

Barnes and Noble Storytime – Thanksorama **FREE**
Special Event, Children’s Event, Storytime (Childrens)
May 21; 11 am
Local Barnes and Noble Stores
ThankoRama Storytime featuring The Thank You Book by beloved author Mo Willems. Enjoy a reading of the book and activities afterward that help remind children that thanking those who do things for you can be so much fun!

Touch A Truck hosted by Center for Children and Southern Maryland Blue Crabs
May 21; 10am
Blue Crabs Stadium – Waldorf
Cost: $6.50 adults/$2.50 children 18 and under
Touch-a-Truck is a unique and interactive community event that provides families with the opportunity to touch, learn, and explore trucks, construction vehicles, cars, public safety equipment as well as to meet those who protect, serve, and build our Southern Maryland community. This event also features special performances, local food vendors, face painting, games, and concludes with attendees enjoying the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs baseball team taking on the Lancaster Barnstormers.

Nextival
May 21; 11am-11pm Rain date is May 22  DATE MOVED TO JULY 9th
Anne Arundel County Fairgrounds
Cost: $15 in advance, $20 the day of the event. Kids under 14 are free with paying adult
The Nextival is a kid-friendly event featuring a kids area with bouncy-houses, art tables, Legos, Face Painting, Balloon-Twisting, Glitter Tattoos, and a kids music stage with music, magic and puppet shows all day. Four music stages, a family chill zone, and 30 food trucks and vendors.

Bibliobop Dance Party – **FREE**
Greenbelt Library
May 21; 10:30am
Calling all Preschoolers and Toddlers! Come and bust a move and shake your sillies out at the Greenbelt Bibliobop Dance Party. Bring your parents or caregivers and prepare to boogie and bop until we all drop!

Screen on the Green featuring “Home”
May 21; 7:30pm
Mechanicsville Volunteer Rescue Squad
Bring your chairs & blankets and watch “HOME” with us on the lawn.

Full STEAM Ahead – Wonderful Weather **FREE**
May 22; 1- 4pm
Annmarie Sculpture Garden
Preschoolers will inject creativity and fun into STEM–Encourage your little one to explore science, technology, engineering, art, & math!

Movies on the Potomac – Finding Nemo **FREE**
May 22; 6pm
National Harbor
Nothing says summer like an evening under the stars—and there’s no better way to enjoy the season than Movies on the Potomac at National Harbor.

Children’s arts drop-in **FREE**
May 22; 2-4pm
College Park Community Center
A hands-on workshop for ages 3-8, paper bag puppets

Creek critters  **FREE**
May 22; 2-3pm
Merkle Wildlife Sanctuary – Upper Marlboro
Learn to identify invertebrates and other animals that live in creeks and streams.

Read to rover **FREE**
May 24; 4pm
Baden Library – Brandywine
 Ages 5-12 are invited to practice skills by taking a favorite book — or choose one from the stacks — and read to a trained therapy dog. Registration required.

Pancakes and Pajamas Storytime **FREE**
May 25; 10am
Calvert Library Southern Branch – Solomons
Stories, songs and pancakes! Don’t forget the pajamas!

Prince George’s County Outdoor Pools Opening Day
May 28
PG Aquatics Parks across the County
All Outdoor pools, except Glenn Dale Splash Park, will be open from May 28, 2016 – September 5, 2016. Glenn Dale Splash Park will open on June 4, 2016.

National Kids to Parks Day: Stride to Ride **FREE**
May 28; 12pm – 4pm
Granville Gude Park – Laurel
Any school-aged child 12 and under who completes a full lap around the Granville Gude Lake path on May 21 during Lakehouse operating hours will receive one free boating pass to use any time during the 2016 season.

Grand Opening of the Patuxent River Naval Air Museum
May 28; 10am
Patuxent River Naval Air Museum – Lexington Park
Visitors to the museum will see a range of test and evaluation artifacts including a replica A-1 Triad, the U.S. Navy’s first aircraft; the X-35 prototype of the latest aircraft; galleries of engines and ejection seats; and much more. The museum also has flight simulators and the Flightline gift shop, which offers aviation souvenirs. Adults-$5
Seniors, Students, and Active Duty-$3, Kids under 6-FREE.

Movies on the Potomac – Monsters, Inc. **FREE**
May 29; 6pm
National Harbor
Nothing says summer like an evening under the stars—and there’s no better way to enjoy the season than Movies on the Potomac at National Harbor.

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