Things to do with the family this week
This weekend we hit a September sweet spot, when farm activities and a fair for the Jewish holidays coexist with still-summery activities such as the dragon boat races in the Inner Harbor. And don't miss the half-off child's admission coupon the National Aquarium is offering (details under the dolphin's birthday announcement below.)
Let the fun begin:
Thursday (Sept. 11)
Elmo's Green Thumb: Elmo and friends come to First Mariner Arena in a live show through Sunday. Details here. $13-$35.
Friday (Sept. 12)
Celebrate a dolphin's birthday: Foster, the baby Atlantic bottlenose dolphin at the National Aquarium, had his first birthday this week. Through Sunday, you can send birthday messages to him at the dolphin shows and buy special birthday cupcakes in the aquarium's cafes. (Part of the proceeds go to "enrichment items" for Foster and the other dolphins.) You can get half off a child's admission (with another child's full admission) through Oct. 29 by printing this coupon.
Star-Spangled Banner Weekend: This weekend Fort McHenry honors Defenders Day, Baltimore’s oldest holiday commemorating the bombardment of Fort McHenry during the War of 1812 and the writing of The Star Spangled Banner. There will be re-enactors, parades, military bands and fireworks. $7 for adults, free for kids from 10 a.m-4 p.m. today through Sunday, 2400 E. Fort Ave. Call 410-962-4290 or go to nps.gov/fomc.
Free class with baby: The Jewish Community Center of Greater Baltimore will hold a free class to help first-time parents introduce babies 3 weeks to 4 months old to the outside world...
(Photo of dragon boat races courtesy of Catholic Charities)
..including sensory stimulation activities and support discussions for parents Fridays through Oct. 3 from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at The Healing Path, on the second floor of the Cross Street market in Federal Hill. Call Sharon Seigel, 410-356-5200 x. 347, or visit www.thehealing-path.com.
Custom Car Cruise: This Friday night event continues weekly through Halloween. The Centre at Glen Burnie, at the corner of Ritchie Highway and 8th Ave. in Glen Burnie, hosts weekly Street Survivors of Maryland Classic and Custom Car Cruise shows Fridays from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. through Oct. 31. Call 410-573-3800 or go to streetsurvivorsofmaryland.com. Free for spectators.
Saturday (Sept. 13)
Dragon boat races: This biannual event returns to the Inner Harbor today from 8 a.m.-6 p.m., where about a dozen area corporate teams will race from the World Trade Center to the Maryland Science Center. Free to watch.
Children's weekend at the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Museum: The museum at 901 W. Pratt St. will host a festival featuring performances by the kids' band Milkshake, moon bounces, an "All Aboard" calling contest, face painting and free train rides from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Free with museum admission; here's a $1 off admission coupon.
Hampden Fest: Bring the kids to the Avenue (36th Street) in Hampden to enjoy live music, a children's area, an "eco lounge" and more from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. More at hampdenfest.com.
Irvine Nature Center reopens: The nature center holds a two-day festival from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and noon-4 p.m. Sunday to celebrate its new facility at 11201 Garrison Forest Road, Owings Mills. Watch puppet shows, play nature games, walk trails. Here's the schedule. Free.
All Aboard Thomas at the Strasburg Railroad: If you're up for a day trip to Pennsylvania Dutch country, you can ride a train pulled by Thomas the Tank Engine and meet Sir Topham Hatt (if you have a 3-year-old boy, you know what I'm talking about) at the Strasburg Railroad, One Historic Drive, Strasburg, Pa. Through Sept. 21. Here are the details; advance ticket purchases recommended. $18 for ages 2 and up; free for those under 2.
Sunday (Sept. 14):
Some of Saturday's activities carry over to today, of course. And there's...
Free Family Sunday at the BMA: This week's theme is "Resting at home" for family art workshops, which begin at 2 p.m. at the Baltimore Museum of Art. Free.
Rosh Hashanah Family Fair: The Jewish Community Center of Greater Baltimore will hold a family fair with kids' activities and a holiday boutique from 1:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. at the Rosenbloom Owings Mills JCC, 3506 Gwynbrook Ave., Owings Mills. Children can make a shofar, design Rosh Hashanah greeting cards, and put together family books to reflect on the year's accomplishments. $5 per child. Registration required; call Eileen Berman, 410-356-5200, x324 or email eberman@jcc.org
Comments
You missed the annoying pop under ad on your site's front page. The zoo is having a reggae festival this weekend.
Posted by: brian | September 11, 2008 7:44 AM
We love going to the Maryland Steam Show in Upperco each year. Great, family-friendly venue! Steam-powered everything, including trains. Free, and closer than Strasberg.
http://www.marylandsteam.org/steamshow.htm
Posted by: Baltomommie | September 11, 2008 10:32 AM
There are fireworks evening at dusk's fading light at Ft McHenry this Saturday after a mock re-enactment of the battle.
Posted by: ej | September 11, 2008 1:29 PM
Thanks for telling people about Foster's birthday and about our Fall childrens events! We wrote a blog entry about Foster's birthday (with a special video) that can be found here: http://nationalaquarium.wordpress.com/2008/09/09/happy-birthday-foster/
Posted by: National Aquarium | September 16, 2008 12:11 PM
If you are a member of ChesapeakeMommies dont forget we are hosting our 1st Birthday at Susquehanna State Park in Havre de Grace from 2-4 on Saturday Sept. 20th.
We will have a moonbounce, a visit from the tumblebus, the urban pirates, food, raffles and so much more!!!!
For more details check out www.chesapeakemommies.com
Posted by: Theresa Jenkins (Site Admin) | September 17, 2008 1:23 PM