Looking for endless fun for your preschooler this month? Here is a list of events from festivals to parades to nature programs in Maryland that families with preschoolers are sure to enjoy.
Monday 1
Creepy Crawlers Preschool Program
Turtle tails theme. Story time, hiking, crafts, live animals and more for ages 2-5. Registration required. $3; $5 nonmembers. Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center, Grasonville. 410-827-6694, bayrestoration.org
Day Out With Thomas
Through May 7. Ride Thomas the Tank Engine, meet characters, take part in Thomas-themed activities and more. $21-24. Check website for times. B&O Railroad Museum, Baltimore. borail.org
Tuesday 2
Mr. Paca’s Backyard Preschool Program
May 2-3. Celebrate May Day with games, activities, stories and more. $8. 10-11:15am. William Paca House and Garden, Annapolis. 410-990-4543, annapolis.org
Animal Babies Little Explorers
Nature walks, stories, songs and other activities. Ages 2-6. Registration required. $15; $5 members. 10:30am-1:30pm. Ladew Gardens, Monkton. 410-557-9570, ladewgardens.com
Kids Club: Graham Cracker Cake
Children’s culinary workshop using all natural ingredients. Registration required. $5. 11-11:45am. Whole Foods Market, Annapolis. 410-573-1800, wholefoodsmarket.com
Discover Dinosaurs
Learn about the history of dinosaur discoveries in Maryland. Presented by Peter Kranz, Dinosaur Fund founder. Free. 7-8pm. Laurel Library. 301-776-6790, pgcmls.info
Thursday 4
Creek Critters
Thursdays weekly. Learn about the local environment with indoor and outdoor activities. See what critters live in the woodlands and creek. Stories, songs, games and crafts. Ages 3-10. Free with $4 museum admission. 10am-noon. Chesapeake Children’s Museum, Annapolis. Theccm.org
Peter Pan Club
Story time and hands-on craft activities. Ages 0-5. Free with museum admission. $4 adults; $2 children; free ages 1 and younger. College Park Aviation Museum. 301-864-6029, collegeparkaviationmuseum.com/page62383.aspx
Home School Classes
May 4-5. Homeschool class featuring spring topics of study including butterflies, snakes and turtles, and more. Three age groups available — 4-5, 6-9 and 10-13. Some age groups only occur on certain days. $30. 2:30-4pm. Robinson Nature Center, Columbia. 410-313-0400, howardcountymd.gov
Star Wars — May the 4th Be With You
Celebrate the official Star Wars Day with themed stories, crafts and activities. Free. 4pm. Riviera Beach Library, Pasadena. 410-222-6285, aacpl.net/location/rivierabeach
Springfest
May 4-7. Food, entertainment, arts and crafts and more. Free, headline acts require admission. See website for schedule. Inlet Lot, Boardwalk, Ocean City. ococean.com
Friday 5
Tales & Tails
Fridays weekly. Animal stories followed by an animal meet and greet. Free. 10-11am. Irvine Nature Center, Owings Mills. 443-738-9220, explorenature.org
Saturday 6
Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival
May 6-7. Live animals, crafts and supplies, demonstrations, entertainment and more. Free. Saturday, 9am-6pm; Sunday, 9am-5pm. Howard County Fairgrounds, West Friendship. sheepandwool.org
Planet Walk
Walk along a 4.7 mile segment of the B&A Trail between Glen Burnie and Severna Park. Stations along the trail will provide information about that planet and answer questions. Free. 10am-2:30pm. Baltimore and Annapolis Trail, Glen Burnie. friendsofaatrails.org/planet-walk
Duck Races
Entertainment, food for sale, activities and rubber duck race along contained portion of the Anacostia River. Sponsor a duck for $10 to help support nonprofits. 10am-4:30pm. The Yards Park, Washington, D.C. dcduckrace.org
Solomons Maritime Festival
Exhibit of antique and classic boats, toy boat building, demonstrations, live music, food and more. Free. 10am-5pm. Calvert Marine Museum, Solomons. calvertmarinemuseum.com
Healthy First Saturday
Yoga for kids, Kinderfit! with the Kindersinger, service dogs from FIDOS for Freedom, family art projects and more. $14.95. 10am-5pm. Port Discovery Children’s Museum, Baltimore. 410-727-8120, portdiscovery.org
Juice Box Jams
Puppet show, entertainment, face painting, Lego table and more. $5. 10:30am. Paladar, Annapolis Towne Centre. 800-255-2071, juiceboxjams.com
Towsontown Spring Festival
May 6-7. Carnival ride, ferris wheel, live bands, performances, shopping, beer and wine and more. Free entry. Saturday, 10am-8pm; Sunday, 1-6pm. Towson. towsontownspringfestival.com
Naptown BarBAYq
Live music on three stages, food, cooking demonstrations, a barbeque competition, arts and crafts vendors and more. $15; free for kids 12 and under. Noon. Anne Arundel County Fairgrounds, Crownsville. barbayq.com, 410-353-9237
Teddy Bear Farm
May 6-7. Free hayrides for all children who bring a favorite bear. Teddy bear contest at 1pm and 3pm, Sat. and Sun. Folk singing with Tony McGuffin, noon-4pm both days. Meet the seven dwarfs and try gem mining. Free; some activities require a fee. Noon-4pm. Clarks Elioat Farm, Ellicott City. 410-730-4049, clarklandfarm.com
Make a LED Mother’s Day Card
Make a light up card for Mom, Grandma or someone special. Free. 1-3pm. Broadneck Library, Annapolis. 410-222-1950, aacpl.net
National Train Day
Train-themed games, activities, crafts and more. Free. 1-4pm. Chesapeake Beach Railway Museum, Chesapeake Beach. 410-257-3892, cbrm.org
‘The Jungle Book’
Sat. and Sun. through May 28. Play based on the story by Greg Banks. Mowgli is a human child brought up in the jungles of India by a family of wolves. $15-30. Showings at 1:30 and 4pm. Imagination Stage, Bethesda. 301-961-6060, imaginationstage.org
Sunday 7
Made in Maryland Festival
Artisans, crafts, food, live music, character meet and greets, petting zoo, moon bounce, face painting, exhibits and more. Free. Noon-5pm. Kurtz’s Beach, Pasadena. madeinmarylandfest.com
Free Family Sunday
Create a craft with family. Materials provided. Free. 2-5pm. Baltimore Museum of Art. 443-573-1700, artbma.org
Peaceful Kids Yoga
Sundays weekly. Children learn to manage stress in a healthy way. Yoga, art, meditation, singing and more. Karma Yoga for adults across the hall. $10. 4pm. Imagine Yoga & Wellness Center, Bowie. 443-510-6308, imaginetheplace.com
Monday 8
Tiny Explorers
Read stories, make pinecone art, sing, dance and more. Free. Registration is required. 9-10am. The Key School, Annapolis. 410-263-9231, keyschool.org
Tuesday 9
Maryland Discovery Days
May 9-12. For children with special needs and their caretakers. Lowered volume, sound effects, and lights. Activities are designed for children with special needs, but all children are welcome. $14.95. 9:30am-4:30pm. Port Discovery Children’s Museum, Baltimore. 410-727-8120, portdiscovery.org
Time Traveling Story Time
Story time transports children back in time and activities based around the story’s setting. Free. 10-11am. Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum, St. Leonard. 410-586-8501, jefpat.org
Super Mom
Celebrate your mom with stories, crafts and dancing. Free. 10:30am. Annapolis Library. 410-222-1750, aacpl.net/location/annapolis
Wednesday 10
CARS 3: Road to the Races
Life-size, character look-alikes of Lightning McQueen, Cruz Ramirez and Jackson Storm, fun activities and a sneak peek of the new Cars movie. Check website for prices. Noon-5pm. Downtown Silver Spring. Cars3tour.com
Hot Horns Brass Ensemble
A group of musicians playing brass, woodwind and percussion instruments and various genres of music including classical, jazz, pop and rock. Free. 7pm. Maryland City Library. 301-725-2390, aacpl.net/location/marylandcity
Thursday 11
Farm Craft and Activity
Farm themed story and a craft. Ages 2-12. $4. 10am. Watkins Park Drive, Upper Marlboro. 301-218-6702, pgparks.com/page70094.aspx
Homeschool Day
Fun and games the colonial way. For homeschoolers. $6 members; $8 nonmembers.. 10am-noon. Historic London Town Gardens, Edgewater. 410-222-1919, historiclondontown.org
The Walk @ Waugh Chapel
Fundraiser features a short stroll through Waugh Chapel, kid friendly entertainment, festivities, food, live music and more to benefit Walk the Walk Foundation. 6-8pm. Waugh Chapel Towne Centre, Gambrills. wtwf.org
Friday 12
Teddy Bear Picnic
Songs, dances and rhymes followed by a parade led by Laurel Bear. Snacks to follow. Free. 10:30am-noon. Laurel Library. 301-776-6790, pgcmls.info
Summer Social
Live music by Kelly Bell Band, food, children’s activities and more on the waterfront. Third Friday of every month through August. Free. 5-8pm. West Shore Park, Baltimore. 410-243-3790, waterfrontpartnership.org
Saturday 13
Joy Kids 5K Family Fun Walk/Run and Carnival
Face painting, arts and crafts, sack races and more. Registration required. $5-22. 7:30am. Mayo Elementary School, Edgewater. Joykidslearning.com
Community Health Fair
Interactive health classes and screenings, children’s activities, over 50 vendors and more. Free. 9am-2pm. Fairland Sports and Aquatics Complex, Laurel. 301-362-6060, pgparks.com
Mothers Day Tea and Walk
May 13-14. Walk through the nature center and enjoy snacks and tea after. $6. 10am-noon. Oregon Ridge Nature Center, Cockeysville. 410-887-1815, oregonridgenaturecenter.org
Dog Day Afternoon
Contests, treats, activities, vendors and more. Dogs welcome. Free. 10am-2pm. Columbia Dog Park. columbiaassociation.org
Mother’s Day Weekend
May 13-14. Free hayrides for all mothers and grandmothers accompanied by a child. Petting zoo, crafts, gem mining and more. Some activities may require a fee. 10am-5pm. Clarks Elioat Farm, Ellicott City. 410-730-4049, clarklandfarm.com
Green Festival Expo
May 13-14. Natural products, yoga sessions, free cooking demos, activities for kids, live entertainment and dozens of speakers. Moms receive 50 percent off admission. $10-19. Sat., 10am-6pm. Sun., 10am-5pm. Washington, D.C., Convention Center. 212-593-5855, Greenfestivals.org
Little Day
Yoga, sing alongs, interactive play and more for children ages 5 and younger. $14.95. 10am-5pm. Port Discovery Children’s Museum, Baltimore. 410-727-8120, portdiscovery.org
Mother’s Day Craft
Make a handmade gift for Mom or special woman in your life. Free. 11am. Riviera Beach Library, Pasadena. 410-222-6285, aacpl.net
Mother’s Day Story Time
A Mother’s Day story time featuring the book “How to Raise a Mom.” Crafts to follow. Free. 11am. Barnes and Noble, Annapolis. 410-573-1115. barnesandnoble.com
Mothers Day Crafts
Make a gift for Mom, Grandma or someone special. Free. 1-4pm. Odenton Library. 410-222-6277, aacpl.net
Weekend Walkin
Explore new creative territory and make a project inspired by a beloved visionary artist. Supplies provided. All ages welcome. $5. 1-4pm. American Visionary Museum, Baltimore. 410-224-1900, avam.org
Sunday 14
Mother’s Day Celebration with the Baysox
Celebrate Mom with a day at the ballfield. Package includes four tickets, meet and greet with the players, $50 in baysox bucks to be used for food or souvenirs and more. $125. 2pm. Bowie. 301-464-4880, milb.com
Click next below for more events for preschoolers.
