Baltimore's Child Baltimore's Child
Each month, our calendar offers a variety of family-friendly, kid-ready events of all sorts, including great art events for little musicians, dancers, painters and others. Check this month’s calendar for more fun along those lines — and look here for seven spring exhibits and events that are for all ages and make for awesome opportunities to bring a little more creativity to your kids.
African-American Children’s Book Fair
This fair is the one event on our list that is specifically for kids, but parents will like this one, too. Held annually at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum, this fair features readings from children’s books about African-Americans and other ethnicities, guided tours, performances and art, among other activities. In May. lewismuseum.org
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s 60th Anniversary Tour
If you haven’t seen this American treasure, you haven’t seen the best dance this nation has to offer. Celebrating six decades of pioneering performances and amazing choreography, we predict this show will be one you and dance enthusiasts will talk about for weeks. Modell Performing Arts Center at the Lyric, April 23, 7:30 p.m. modell-lyric.com
Annapolis Book Festival
This year’s featured children’s authors include Kurt Fried and Laura Gehl as well as parenting writer Katherine Reynolds Lewis (“The Good News About Bad Behavior”) among numerous popular fiction and nonfiction writers. Held annually at the Key School, the festival includes author discussions, music and, of course, plenty of titles to add to your shelves. April 6. annapolisbookfestival.com
BIG INK Exhibition
They had us with their catchphrase, “Print is dead.” But there is one more thing we love about this show that celebrates the collaboration between Maryland Hall and the New England-based woodblock printer, BIG INK: On March 30-31, you can see firsthand prints created on a 4-by-8-foot machine. Sure to be super cool, this is a good way to show kids how art literally comes to life. Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts, Annapolis, March 7-April 26. Free. marylandhall.org
Esther & The Dream of One Loving Human Family
For nearly a quarter-century, a collection of collages and needlework depicting the story of Holocaust survivor Esther Nisenthal Krinitz has toured the globe and been displayed in 42 museums. This year, these works finally return to the American Visionary Art Museum. Through 2024. Adults $16; seniors $14; students and veterans $10; members free. avam.org
‘Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix’ in Concert
Wizard watchers can take in the film on the giant screen, as the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra performs the score. Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, March 22-24. Tickets start at $45. bsomusic.org
Roland Freeman’s ‘Arabbers: Life in the Baltimore Streets’
For decades, Roland Freeman photographed Baltimore’s arabbers, and his work was eventually turned into a book. If you have never seen these photos, this exhibit is a must-visit look into our city’s past and a great way to introduce kids to documentary photography. Reginald F. Lewis Museum. Through March 31. $8 general admission. lewismuseum.org
