Check out these 51 activities for the family throughout the month of July all completely free. Keep boredom from setting in and your budget intact with this list of festivals, concerts, programs and more.
1 Saturday
Smithsonian Folklife Festival
July 1-4 and July 6 – 9. Learn, sing, dance, eat traditional foods and converse with cultural practitioners. Free. 10am-5:30pm. National Mall, Washington, D.C. festival.si.edu
Salute to Independence Concert
Live music performed by the Maryland Symphony Orchestra. Bring a blanket, water and flashlight. Limited parking in the park and additional parking on Rt. 65 and Rt. 34. Free. 7:30pm. Antietam National Battlefield, Sharpsburg. marylandsymphony.org
2 Sunday
First Sunday Arts Festival
Vendors, food, live music and more. Free. 11am-5pm. Calvert and West streets, Annapolis. firstsundayarts.com
Patriotic Program
Musket firing, music, interactive programs and more. Free. 1-4pm. Hancock’s Resolution, Gibson Island. 410-255-0454, historichancocksresolution.org
Fireworks Over the Bay
Annual patriotic fireworks display over the Chesapeake Bay. Free. Dusk. Waterfront, Chesapeake Beach. chesapeake-beach.md.us
3 Monday
Jacks Are Wild
Marian DeAngelo and her trained Jack Russell Terriers present a family friendly program. Free. 9:30am. Deale Library. 410-222-1925, aacpl.net/location/deale
4 Tuesday
Catonsville Celebrations
Bike ride, kids’ games, family fun fest, parade, fireworks and more. Free. 8:30am. Parade starts at 3 p.m. on Frederick Road. Various venues, Catonsville. catonsvillecelebrations.org
July 4th Pet Parade
Animal fun, prizes and more. Free. Pet registration at 9:30am, parade at 10am. American Visionary Art Museum, Baltimore. avam.org
Independence Day Naturalization Ceremony
Inspirational Naturalization Ceremony, tour the grand Georgian mansion, hands on activities and more.. Free. 10am-4pm. William Paca House and Garden, Annapolis. 410-267-7619, annapolis.org
Rock Hall July 4th Parade
Old-fashioned parade featuring floats, bands and more. Followed by festival with local food, music, crafts and more. Free. 10am. Main Street and Community Center, Rock Hall. rockhallmd.com
Severna Park 4th of July Parade
Old-fashioned parade. Free. 10am. Route from St. Martin’s-in-the-Field Church to Cypress Creek Park, Severna Park. severnaparkchamber.com
Watermelon Bash
Hot dogs, games, wet fun and plenty of watermelon. Free. 10:30am-1:30pm. Town Hall, La Plata. townoflaplata.org
National Independence Day Parade
Bands, floats, military and specialty units, special guests and more to celebrate America’s birthday. Free. 11:45am. Constitution Avenue, Washington, D.C. july4thparade.com
Annapolis July 4th Celebration
Community parade, performance from the U.S. Naval Academy Band and fireworks over the harbor. Free. 6:30-8pm. Downtown Annapolis. annapolis.gov
A Capitol Fourth
Performances, live cannon fire and fireworks display. Free. 8pm. U.S. Capitol West Lawn, Washington, D.C. pbs.org/a-capitol-fourth/home
4th of July Celebration
Concert at 8 p.m., followed by fireworks at 9:30 p.m. Free. 8-10pm. Boardwalk, Ocean City. ococean.com
Fireworks at Dusk
Fireworks over the Chester River. Free. Dusk, approx. 9:20pm. Chester River, Chestertown. townofchestertown.com
5 Wednesday
Billy’s Bridge Puppet Show
An interactive puppet show based on the story of “Three Billy Goats Gruff.” Free. 9:30am. Odenton Library. 410-222-6277, aacpl.net/location/odenton
6 Thursday
Children’s Program: Aquaponics
Listen to a story about farming, learn about fish and make a craft. Free. 10-11am. Chesapeake Beach Railway Museum, Chesapeake Beach. 410-257-3892
Kids STEM: Neon Slime Time
Make neon slime. Free. 11am. Mountain Road Library, Pasadena. 410-222-6699, aacpl.net/location/mountainroad
Architecture Fun
Use recycled materials to create your own structure. Free. 1-2pm. Largo-Kettering, Largo. 301-336-4044, pgcmls.info
WTMD First Thursday Concerts
First Thursdays through Sept. 7. Live music on the waterfront. No outside alcohol or glass containers. Free. 5:30pm. Canton Waterfront, Baltimore. wtmd.org/radio/first-thursday-concerts-in-the-park
Annapolis Symphony Orchestra
A member from the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra performs. Free. 6pm. Severna Park Library. 410-222-6290, aacpl.net/location/severnapark
7 Friday
Teen Mini-Golf
A game of 10 holes of mini-golf up and down the library aisles after hours. Please register. For teens. Free. 6-8pm. Crofton Library. 410-222-7915, aacpl.net/location/crofton
8 Saturday
Get the Buzz about Bees
Find out the important role bees play in our food chain, do a beeswax project, and taste different honeys. Free. 2-3:30pm. Twin Beaches Branch Library. 410-257-2411, calvert.lib.md.us
Quiet Waters Park Concert Series
Saturday nights, July 8-Sept. 3. Most concerts are 6-8 p.m. but some start earlier. Free. Bring a blanket or lawn chairs. No smoking or alcohol permitted and pets must be leashed. Plan to arrive early for parking. Quiet Waters Park, Annapolis. aacounty.org/RecParks/concerts.cfm
9 Sunday
Family Fun Day
Bounce, stretch, hula hoop, kid-friendly yoga, pony rides, an inflatable obstacle course, face painting, games, pony rides and crafts. Free; some activities require a fee. Noon-4pm. Power Plant Live!, Baltimore. Powerplantlive.com
10 Monday
Nature Tots: Roly Polies
July 10-11. Learn all about roly polies through songs, stories and crafts. Ages 3-4; registration required. Free. 10:30-11:30am. Patuxent Wildlife Visitor Center, Laurel. 301-497-5887, fws.gov/refuge/Patuxent
Family Game Night
Board games, cards, snacks and more. Free. 6:30-8pm. Maryland City at Russett Community Library. 301-725-2390, aacpl.net/event
12 Wednesday
Summer Sip and Paint
Use recycled cardboard and items to create a painting. Registration required. Free. 2-3pm. Upper Marlboro Library. 301-627-9330, pgcmls.info
Summer Fun Performance – Chris Fascione
Nationally-known family entertainer brings children’s stories to life with his high-spirited and innovative performances. Free. 2-3pm. Calvert Library Prince Frederick. 410-535-0291, calvert.lib.md.us
13 Thursday
Flicks from the Hill
Thursdays in July and August. Showing of “Napoleon Dynamite” (rated PG) on a 30 foot wide screen. Bring a blanket, picnic or lawn chair. AVAM open from 5-9 and free on Flicks nights. Free. 9pm. Hughes Family Outdoor Theater on Federal Hill, Baltimore. 410-244-1900, avam.org
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