Looking for story times, activities and all around fun for preschool-aged kids in Maryland this month? We have a whole list of things to do and events in the Baltimore-Annapolis area. Check out our list and plan on some summertime fun with your preschooler!
1 Wednesday
Smithsonian Folklife Festival
July 1-5. Living cultural heritage with opportunities to learn, sing, dance, eat traditional foods and meet cultural practitioners. Free. 11am-5:30pm. National Mall, Washington, D.C. festival.si.edu.
Nature Crafting
Meet an animal, make a craft and hear a story. For ages 2-10. Registration required. $2-3. 2-3pm. Watkins Nature Center, Upper Marlboro. 301-218-6702, pgparks.com/Things_To_Do/Nature/Watkins_Nature_Center.htm
2 Thursday
Superhero Twist and Shout
Be a superhero with music and movement for little ones. Ages 2-3 with adult. 10:15-10:45am. Howard County Library Miller Branch, Ellicott City. 410-313-1950, hclibrary.org
Puppet Show
Watch a puppet show and meet a live animal. Ages 2-10. Registration required. $2-3. 2-2:45pm. Watkins Nature Center, Upper Marlboro. 301-218-6702, pgparks.com/Things_To_Do/Nature/Watkins_Nature_Center.htm
3 Friday
Family Discovery Hike
Take a hike at Watkins Nature Center. Ages 4 and up. Registration required. $2-3. 10-11am. Watkins Nature Center, Upper Marlboro. 301-218-6702, pgparks.com/Things_To_Do/Nature/Watkins_Nature_Center.htm
Picture Book Parade
Tales, tunes and crafts. Ages 2-5. Free. 10:30am. Howard County Library System, Savage Branch, Laurel. 410-313-0760, hclibrary.org
Fireworks Over the Bay
Annual patriotic fireworks display over the Chesapeake Bay. Free. Dusk. Rain date is July 5. Waterfront, Chesapeake Beach. chesapeake-beach.md.us
Star-Spangled Spectacular
July 3-4. Baltimore Symphony Orchestra performs patriotic music, choreographed to fireworks. $10-20. 8pm. Oregon Ridge Park, Cockeysville. bsomusic.org.
4 Saturday
Firecracker 5K and Family Fun Walk
A 5K race and 1-mile fun walk. All ages and abilities. Registration required. $10-25. 6:30am-noon. Kinder Farm Park, Millersville. aacounty.org/RecParks/movemore/firecracker5K_2015.cfm
July 4th Festivities at Port Discovery
Stars and Stripes Circle Time and patriotic crafts. Free with $14.95 admission. 10am-5pm. Port Discovery Children’s Museum, Baltimore. 410-727-8120, portdiscovery.org
Juice Box Jams
Concerts and playtime for children and families. $5-10. 11am. Union Jack’s, Annapolis. 800-255-2071, juiceboxjams.com
July 4th Festival & Fireworks
Live entertainment on two stages, food vendors, family activities and fireworks over the lake. Free. Some activities require fee. 5-10pm. Columbia Lakefront, Columbia. howardcountymd.gov.
Annapolis July 4th Celebration
Community parade, performance from the U.S. Naval Academy Band and fireworks over the harbor. Free. 6:30-9:15pm. Downtown Annapolis. annapolis.gov
Red, White and Boom Independence Day Celebration
Baseball, fireworks and a picnic. $7-15. Children 2 and under free. 6:35pm. Prince George’s Stadium, Bowie. baysox.com, 301-464-4880.
5 Sunday
Annapolis First Sunday Arts Festival
Arts and craft show featuring 100 local and regional artists, live music, dance, street performers, food and more. Free. Noon-5pm. Calvert and West streets, Annapolis. firstsundayarts.com.
6 Monday
ECO Adventures Presents The Incredibles
Meet live animals and learn about their super powers. Free. 9:30am. Glen Burnie Regional Library, Glen Burnie. 410-222-6270, aacpl.net/location/Glenburnie
Monday Movies
Watch “Paw Patrol” and color. Free. 10-11am. Calvert Library, Prince Frederick. 410-535-0291, 301-855-1862, calvertlibrary.info
Storybook Friends
A story and craft to enjoy with your child. Ages 2-5 with adult. Free. 11:30am-noon. Howard County Library System Central Branch, Columbia. 410-313-7800, hclibrary.org
7 Tuesday
Tudor Tots: Summer Fun in the Sun
Tuesdays. Read, sing and play. Ages 2-4. Registration required. $5, adults free. 10-10:45am. Tudor Place Historic House and Garden, Washington D.C. 202-965-0400, tudorplace.org
SuperHero Magic!
Meet superheroes in a magic show. Free. 7pm. Crofton Community Library, Crofton. 410-222-7915, aacpl.net/location/crofton
8 Wednesday
Talbot County Fair
July 8-11. Fun, food, entertainment and more. $2, children 12 and under free. Wed., 8:30am-10pm; Thurs., 7am-10pm; Fri., 7am-10pm; Sat., 7am-9pm. Talbot Agriculture and Education Center, Easton. talbotcountyfair.org.
Kids Groove Cruise
Family cruise aboard the Potomac Riverboat. $6-12. Sailing times: 12:30pm, 1:30pm and 2:30pm. National Harbor. potomacriverboatco.com/kids-groove.php
Fire Safety Storytime
Meet firefighters, listen to songs and stories, make a craft and see a fire truck. Free. 3:30pm. Brooklyn Park Community Library, Baltimore. 410-222-6260, aacpl.net/location/brooklynpark
9 Thursday
Blast-in-the-Past: A Hands-On History Playground
July 9-Aug. 8. Visit a kid-sized colonial village. Activities daily. All ages. $2-3. 11am-4pm. Montpelier Mansion/Historic Site, Laurel. 301-377-7817, history.pgparks.com/sites_and_museums/Montpelier_Mansion.htm
10 Friday
Small Fry Fridays
Fridays in July. A costumed docent plays a person from the past. Kid-friendly activities. $5-10. 10am-4pm. Sotterley Plantation, Hollywood. 301-373-2280, sotterley.org
Bilingual Family Storytime
Stories, songs and movement activities in English and Spanish. Free. 11am. Marley Station Mall, Glen Burnie. aacpl.net
Annapolis Irish Festival
July 10-11. Live music, food and Little Leprechaun Land where everything is free for kids. $15-110. Gates open at 4pm on Friday, 11am on Saturday. Anne Arundel County Fairgrounds, Crownsville. annapolisirishfestival.com
Family Movies
Watch “Hercules” (rated G). Free popcorn and drinks. 2pm. Howard County Library System East Columbia Branch, Columbia. 410-313-7700, hclibrary.org
11 Saturday
Polish Festival
July 11-12. Live entertainment, authentic Polish food and drinks, storytelling, trivia contest, Polish arts and crafts, dancing and more. Check website for price and times. Maryland State Fairgrounds, Timonium. pcamaryland.org.
Common Ground on the Hill Festival
July 11-12. Traditional music, dance and food from diverse American cultures. $10-50. Children under 6 free. See website for hours and performance schedule. Carroll County Farm Museum, Westminster. commongroundonthehill.org/festival-gen.html.
Sharkfest
Live sharks, shark crafts, music and more. Free with $4-9 admission. 10am-5pm. Calvert Marine Museum, Solomons. 410-326-2042, calvertmarinemuseum.com
Beautiful Swimmers
Go crabbing from the museum docks, hold a blue crab and make a craft to take home. Registration required. $5. 10-11am. Annapolis Maritime Museum, Annapolis. 410-295-0104, amaritime.org
Songs and Stories with Miss Maria
Story, song and dance with story dancer Miss Maria Broom. Free with $6-8 admission. 3pm. Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture, Baltimore. 443-263-1875, rflewismuseum.org
Taste of Cambridge Crab Cook-Off
Food, live music, children’s activities, craft fair and more. Crab cook-off $25-30, other activities free. 5-10pm. Downtown Cambridge. cambridgemainstreet.com
12 Sunday
Revolutionary London Town
Costumed reenactors portray an important day in Maryland history. Free with $5-10 admission. Noon-4:30pm. Historic London Town and Gardens, Edgewater. 410-222-1919, historiclondontown.com
Insect Extravaganza
Help collect butterflies, search for aquatic insects, enjoy games, face painting and more. Registration required. $8-10. 12:30pm. Robinson Nature Center, Columbia. 410-313-0400, co.ho.md.us/RNCprograms.htm
Family “Sundae” Sundays
Ice cream sundaes, games and more. $2.50-5 for sundaes. 1-4pm. Captain Avery Museum, Shady Side. captainaverymuseum.org
Full STEAM Ahead
Learn about butterflies. Toddlers and preschoolers. Free. 1-5pm. Annmarie Sculpture Garden & Arts Center, Solomons. 410-326-4640, annmariegarden.org
Click next below for more preschool fun in July.
