This weekend, watch colorful kites soar over Patterson Park — and fly one of your own — at the Big Baltimore Kite Fest.
You can also hear from authors at the CityLit Festival, enjoy light displays at the premiere weekend for Spring Illuminations, and more.
Check it all out in our weekend events roundup:
Poetry in the Courtyard at MCHC, Thursday, April 3, 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., Maryland Center for History and Culture. Enjoy a free Thursday evening in MCHC’s Meyerhoff Courtyard as students from the Baltimore School of the Arts’ Black Student Union celebrate their music and literary creations in an open mic fashion.
Shucked, Thursday, April 3, through Sunday, April 6, Hippodrome Theatre. Are you a fan of corny jokes? Are you fielding candidates for your next favorite theatrical production? Well, you’ll be positively popping with excitement when you learn that the musical “Shucked” is coming to Baltimore. The musical tells the story of Cob County, a town who depends on its abundant corn crops. But when the corn starts dying, farmgirl Maizy goes in search of a solution.
Cloud Nebula, Thursday, April 3, through Sunday, April 6, 7:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. performances, The Voxel. From the outer reaches of space and time, Afro House brings a brand-new movie-going experience featuring live music performed by the Astronaut Symphony.
Baltimore Record Bazaar Vinyl Nite, Friday, April 4, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., Peabody Heights Brewery. DJ Mikie Love and friends will be spinning and selling vinyl in the taproom at this free, family-friendly event.
Armor for Sleep, Friday, April 4, doors 6:30 p.m., show 7:30 p.m., Baltimore Soundstage. Special guests Boys Night Out and Hellogoodbye will join Armor for Sleep as they celebrate the 20th anniversary of “What To Do When You Are Dead.”
The Baltimore Hayride Country Dance Night, Friday, April 4, 6:45 p.m., Old Line Spirits. Kick up your boots and join The Baltimore Hayride for a night of country music and dancing, featuring two-step dance lessons from Z Smith and live music from Baltimore’s own D.T. Huber and Whale Show.
Pipeline, Friday, April 4 through Sunday, April 27, Vagabond Players. A mother fights for her son’s future in this play by Dominique Morisseau.
Spring Illuminations, Friday, April 4, through Sunday, April 6, Maryland Zoo. Take in the dazzling sights of floral and animal-themed light displays as Spring Illuminations premieres this weekend. Visitors will also be able to purchase Asian-inspired food and drinks. Read more about the event in this Baltimore Fishbowl article.
The WOW Festival Baltimore, Saturday, April 5, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Rita Rossi Colwell Center. Presented by Notre Dame of Maryland University (NDMU), the Women of the World Festival Baltimore offers a day of inspiring speakers — including Olympic gold medalist and Hall of Fame gymnast Dominique Dawes — interactive sessions, live performances, and networking opportunities.
CityLit Festival, Saturday, April 5, 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Lord Baltimore Hotel. This daylong celebration of literature will include a Master Class with esteemed mystery author Dan Fesperman, conversations with authors Bernice L. McFadden and Michele Filgate, a literary marketplace with more than 65 vendors, an open mic, and more.
Book Day at the Fire Museum, Saturday, April 5, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Fire Museum of Maryland. Bring the whole family to meet local children’s author Claudia Friddell (“Goliath: Hero of Great Baltimore Fire”), and two local authors who also happen to work at the Fire Museum: John Eddinger (“Pete the Firehouse Raccoon”), and Nathan Davis (co-author of “Hidden History of Howard County”).
410Fest: A Celebration of Baltimore’s New Works, Saturday, April 5, 11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., Baltimore Center Stage. Join Baltimore Center Stage for food, fun, and storytelling as they celebrate three new plays written here in our city! This free festival will feature readings of plays written by the Inaugural BCS Lab410 playwrights-in-residence.
The Big Baltimore Kite Fest, Saturday, April 5, 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., Patterson Park, Observatory Hill. Presented by Creative Alliance and The Friends of Patterson Park, The Big Kite Festival will include a free Friendly Flyer workshop, kites for sale at the Creative Alliance Tent, food vendors, pop-up performances throughout the park, a professional fly zone, community resources, and more.
The Gospel According To… Stage Play, Saturday, April 5, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., Manifest Wonders Christian Center. After receiving rave reviews at the 2023 Harrisburg Fringe Festival, Regina Gail Malloy, writer and performer of this one-woman, semi-autobiographical stage play, will make her Baltimore debut.
Harm City Comedy presents: Umar Khan, Saturday, April 5, 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., The Lou Room @ Zissimos. Harm City Comedy is bringing the laughs to Hampden with a night of standup comedy featuring headliner Umar Khan.
Piano Four Hands: Father Paul Maillet and Vladimir Stoupe, Saturday, April 5, 7:30 p.m., doors open at 6:30 p.m., St. Mary’s Seminary and University. Two accomplished pianists will showcase their individual talent and collaborative style while traversing the works of composers Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Franz Schubert, and Gabriel Fauré.
Autism Acceptance Day at the Zoo, Sunday, April 6, Maryland Zoo. April is Autism Acceptance Month, and the zoo is hosting a day dedicated to autistic and neurodiverse visitors and their families. Visitors can rent sensory bags that include noise-reducing headphones, fidget toys, and non-verbal cue cards. There will also be a designated quiet room, story time featuring works by neurodiverse authors, and other activities.
Click these links for more April events and theatre productions.
