Summer is finally here. And when school’s out, the phrase every parent dreads hearing from their children can often repeat itself through the season: “I’m bored.” But never fear. As we usher in June, we also welcome the return of many Baltimore area favorites.
U-Pick: Flowers and Berries
Head to any one of these farms to pick your own fruit and flowers for the season. Go for unique finds at Baugher’s Orchard in Mount Airy like sweet and sour cherries, garden peas, or gooseberries or gather up June lavender booms or more summer berries at the following:
- Serene Lavender Farm | Sykesville | 10 a.m.-4 p.m. June 13 & 20
- Pearlstone Retreat Center | Reisterstown | 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday
- Weber’s Peachberry Farm | Glen Arm | 10 a.m.- 6 p.m. weekdays, 9 a.m.-7 p.m. weekends
Bonus: Find more lavender at the Maryland Lavendar Festival June 21-22 in Thurmont!
Public Swimming
Did you know Baltimore has a lot of public swimming spots? No need to become a pool member. Simply create a Civic Rec Account to use Baltimore City’s 23 pools, purchase a day pass to enjoy Columbia Swim Center’s Splashdown water park or explore natural swimming holes like Beaver Dam Swimming Club and its can’t-miss rope swing in Cockeysville.
- Patapsco Valley State Park | Ellicott City
- Kilgore Falls | Pylesville
- Gunpowder Falls State Park – Hammerman Beach | Middle River
Movies & Outdoor Concert Series
Nothing beats a cool summer night sitting on a picnic blanket, eating snacks and watching a movie on the big screen or listening to a great band while stargazing at the night sky above you — especially when it’s free. But if you are looking for an air-conditioned alternative, make sure to check out the Carroll County Arts Council for free summer movies.
- Bengies Drive-In Theater | Middle River ($12.50 per person)
- Summer Movie Nights at Shamrock Park | Bel Air
- Belvedere Square Summer Sounds | Baltimore
- THE AVENUE LIVE outdoor music series | White Marsh
Community Festivals
Big festivals draw big crowds. So, for families looking for something more neighborhood focused, here are four festivals to check out for a fun time with the whole family.
- 35th Annual Old-Fashioned Strawberry Festival | Finksburg | June 6
- Music City Summer Fest | Catonsville | June 21
- Old-Fashioned Corn Roast Festival | Westminster | Aug. 1
- The Outer Rim Science Fiction Film Festival | Baltimore | Aug. 28-30
Not-to-Miss Festivals in June
There’s a lot happening this month to kick off the summer season. Plan ahead to beat the crowds at these three not-to-miss festivals.
- WTMD’s First Thursdays at Canton Waterfront Park | Baltimore | June 4
- AFRAM | Baltimore | June 19-21
- Columbia Festival of the Arts (Lakefest) | Columbia | June 20-22
Snowball Season
Legend has it that Baltimoreans have been enjoying snowballs since the 1800s. Mothers would flavor ice shavings their children had begged for from trucks passing through on their way to deliver ice to the south. Grab the classic egg custard or tigers blood flavors at these (and many more) local snowball stands.
- The Bus Stop | Upperco
- Chill Snowballs and Ice Cream | Reisterstown
- Emmorton Snowballs and Ice Cream | Bel Air
- Opie’s Soft Serve and Snowballs | Catonsville
- Snoasis | Timonium
- Stouten’s Marina and Snowball Stop | Dundalk
- Pete’s Snowballs | Columbia
Holidays
All month long is Pride Month, which many local communities celebrate with festivals, parades and more, such as Baltimore Pride Week (June 8-14) and Catonsville Family Pride Fest (June 13). Don’t miss celebrating these other early summer holidays with your family.
- National Best Friends Day | June 8
- Flag Day | June 14
- Father’s Day | June 15
- Juneteenth | June 19
- Fourth of July | July 4
- Free Slurpee Day | July 11
Summer Reading
Baltimore County Public Library’s dino-themed summer reading challenge, Unearth A Story, kicks off June 6. Children of all ages can track their reading on Beanstack or a paper game board, available at all branches and online through Aug. 29. Prizes include a Fizzy Mystery Dinosaur Egg and a Fidget Dinosaur for completing 10 hours of reading. All public Maryland libraries will have these resources available as members of the Summer Collaborative Library Program, with Harford County’s program launching June 1, Howard County’s June 15 and Carroll County’s June 17. Visit Carroll County’s Taneytown Branch for a kickoff with activity stations and live animals.
