Fun with the family this weekend

We're all in something of a Halloween hangover, but there's still fun stuff to do this first weekend in November. To wit: Pumpkin chucking.
Thursday, Nov. 5:
Harry Potter Potions Class: Scientists from the Edgewood Chemical & Biological Center at Aberdeen Proving Ground demonstrated how to make potions "straight out of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry" from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Edgewood branch of the Harford County Public Library. For grades 3-8. Register by calling 410-612-1600.
Nature Storytime:Listen to a story about nature and make a craft at 11 a.m. at the Eden Mill Nature Center. Donation requested to cover the cost of the craft. Families are welcome to bring a picnic lunch to eat following the event. Registration required; call 410-836-3050.
Friday, Nov. 6
Whooo done it? Solve a mystery while looking for clues around the nature center and trails from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Irvine Nature Center. For ages 5 and up. $6 members, $10 nonmembers.
Fun with Pumpkins and Gourds: Learn about pumpkins with a master gardener, then make a craft at 2 p.m. at the Savage branch of the Howard County Library. Ages 5 and up. Reservation required; call 410-880-5978.
"A Christmas Carol" opens at IMAX:The IMAX theater at the Maryland Science Center starts showing the Disney version of the Christmas classic starring Jim Carrey. Tickets required.
New LEGO store opens: Kids can help build a giant Christmas tree with master builders to celebrate the opening of a new LEGO store at the Arundel Mills Mall. Building will continue until the tree is finished. Kids get a certificate for helping. Free.
Greek Heritage Festival: Go Greek for three days at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Annunciation, 24 W. Preston St. Festivities include live music and Greek dancing, folk dance performances, a European marketplace, children's activities and cathedral tours. There will also be plenty of Greek fare and a martini bar. The event is free and takes place from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday and noon to 7 p.m. Sunday. Call 410-727-1831.






In my 
October is prime time for fun with the family. I've compiled my list of 

Here's what's on for families this weekend:
Check out the 

The dog days of August have arrived. Fortunately, the libraries still have a lot going on, along with some other venues. And then there's Kidstock:

The end of this week and the weekend bring lots of fun at local libraries, free outdoor concerts, and something called SalsaPolkaLooza at the Creative Alliance at the Patterson.
With Friday being a holiday for lots of working folks, this weekend is all about Independence Day, all the time. We have a few activities not related to the holiday, but much of what you'll find here has an element of flag-waving fun.
If you haven't hit the beach yet this summer, you might check out
It's a great festival weekend -- which is good, since kids fresh out of school, as they will be in several local districts, will be eager for fun. In the city you've got your Honfest and St. Nicholas Greek Folk Festival; in Howard County, the Columbia Festival of the Arts has lots to offer for children.
This is the weekend that summer reading kicks off in earnest at city libraries. Branches of the
Fun on tap this weekend includes story times, an early summer reading kickoff in Columbia, and children's theater (see the set for "Goodnight Moon," on the left) and ballet. Thanks to Ethan Goldberg for his compilations:


Here's our weekly guide to the weekend, with Mother's Day an obvious theme this time around. There's something for moms who prefer the sedate (Ladew Topiary Gardens, the Walters) and the possibly raucous (Urban Pirates).
This is a weekend of Baltimore spring rituals, from the 
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
I know lots of you couldn't get tickets under the new online system for admission to the
The folks at 
As you may have read yesterday in my weekend activities post, tomorrow (March 14) is 
This weekend brings maple sugaring at Oregon Ridge, a free African-American festival at the Walters, and, notably, two free family concerts by musicians from the Hopkins Symphony Orchestra and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. (A story by BSO violinist Ellen Pendleton, pictured at right, will be featured in the BSO concert.) It's also time for those Dr. Seuss birthday celebrations...
Kids can take part in Oscar fever this Saturday with a double feature of popular children’s movies at the 
Sister blogger Jessica McFadden, also known as A Parent in Silver Spring, recently wrote an essay for the Washington Post about taking kids to the 
Ravens, King day, inauguration...have we had enough excitement this week? The coming weekend seems pretty calm by comparison. But here are a few things you might want to do with the family:
Here's our short list of things to do this weekend, including the Russian American Kids Circus on Sunday:
Happy New Year! Here's a short list of things to do with the family before school starts up again (for most, that's next Monday). If you have a Bank of America card or a zoo membership, sounds like it's a good time to get to one of Baltimore's museums...
Merry Christmas!
Whether you celebrate Hanukkah or you're just looking for something to do on Christmas Day, you'll want to know about the Jewish Community Center of Greater Baltimore's Cinco de Chanukah party this Thursday (on the fifth day of Hanukkah).
Here's our short list of things to do this weekend. There are several opportunities to make gingerbread houses -- always a fun activity. (Just don't leave your house on the back porch where the squirrels can get it...)

It's not quite Thanksgiving yet, but
Can it really be time already to sit on Santa's lap? He'll be coming to some of our local malls starting...today.
You mean after all the Halloween activities and election fever, you don't just want to veg this weekend? (That would be my plan, if it could be.) 
Two more events to tell you about for the weekend, and they're both free:
Here's this weekend's short list, compiled by Lindsey Citron, with the Baltimore Russian Festival and more. Don't forget it's still
Halloween candy won't come soon enough for your kids? Today is the start of the 26th annual
It's getting to be time to pick your pumpkin. If your preschool or school doesn't have a field trip scheduled, perhaps you're going on your own this weekend or next. But which pumpkin patch is best to visit?
It's October, which makes it kids' month in downtown Baltimore, as well as Free Fall Baltimore month. There are lots of events, museum deals and cultural happenings for families to enjoy.
It's
Thursday, Sept. 18:
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.)
Ah, Labor Day weekend. Will you stay or go? If you stay, there are a few more days of the 
Can you believe it's been ten years since the first Harry Potter book was published? I mean, in a way, that it's only been ten years. It seems like the series has been an integral part of childhood reading for longer than that.
On the agenda for family outings this week: a festival and car show in Hamilton; the German festival at the state fairgrounds in Timonium; a 4-H fair in Carroll County, and more:
Artscape is upon us! And there's more to do with the family over the next few days:
Here's our list of family activities through the weekend. It starts with a county 4-H fair today: