That “April showers” saying may be about rain, but this month, the events are pouring in.
As spring is blooming, so are festivals around Baltimore from flying kites in Patterson Park, to feasting on food and cocktails by the Inner Harbor, to learning about the experiences of blind and low-vision individuals at the Maryland School for the Blind, and more.
Plus, Easter is bunny-hopping into Baltimore with egg hunts and other fun activities for the whole family.
Check it all out in our April events roundup:
Spring Illuminations, Friday, April 4, through June 30, Maryland Zoo. Take in the dazzling sights of floral and animal-themed light displays. Visitors will also be able to purchase Asian-inspired food and drinks. Read more about the event in this Baltimore Fishbowl article.
Almost Queen: A Tribute to Queen, Friday, April 25, doors 7 p.m., show 8 p.m., Baltimore Soundstage. With their four-part harmonies and carefully curated setlist, Almost Queen is “guaranteed to blow your mind.”
Resilient DNA, Saturday, April 26 and Saturday, May 3, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Baltimore UnderGround Science Space (BUGSS). Are your genes making you stressed? Participants will genotype themselves for a variant associated with stress resiliency to explore the relationship between genes, environment, and personality.
See Beyond Festival, Saturday, April 26, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Maryland School for the Blind. Join Maryland School for the Blind for an immersive, hands-on event designed to give attendees a new perspective on accessibility. This free, family-friendly event includes adaptive sports, interactive art and sensory experiences, live music, face painting and balloon animals, a fully accessible playground, local food trucks and vendors, and a Maker’s Market featuring students’ businesses and local artisans.
2025 Marquee Ball: Creative Alliance’s 30th Anniversary, Saturday, April 26, 8 p.m., Creative Alliance. Celebrate 30 years of creativity and connection, and support Creative Alliance in their biggest fundraiser of the year.
Baker Artist Awards Celebration at BMA, Saturday, April 26, from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Baltimore Museum of Art. New and existing work by five Baker Award-winning artists, Selin Balci, Kelley Bell, Oletha DeVane, Jordan Tierney, and Stephen Towns, will be on view from April 27 to July 27. At Saturday’s celebration, meet the artists featured in the exhibition, catch presentations from awardees in other disciplines in the auditorium, and enjoy late-night access to the galleries, free hors d’oeuvres, a cash bar, and a live DJ set by Pangelica at this free event. Registration is required.
Foodie Fest, Saturday, April 26, from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m., The Vortex at CAA Park. The Music City Maryland Association presents Foodie Fest. Plenty of delicious food from the local restaurants and food trucks at the event and beverages including adult beverages will be provided, and live music, too, so grab a lawn chair and blanket and come celebrate the first 2025 event at The Vortex! Order tickets here.
Mr. Trash Wheel’s Earth Day Birthday Party, Saturday, April 26, 3 p.m., The Public Works Experience. Mr Trash Wheel celebrates his 11th Earth Day Birthday with all kinds of fun and trashy activities! Will he have his eyes back? Who knows? Tickets required – early bird pricing through March 31!
Past Events
Charm City Sings: One Night Choir – Wig Out!, Tuesday, April 1, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., The Winslow. Throw on a wig, warm up those vocal cords, and join Charm City Sings for Baltimore’s biggest sing-along event.
Profs & Pints Baltimore: Bird Songs, A Listeners’ Guide, Wednesday, April 2, 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Guilford Hall Brewery. Gain a better understanding of our feathered friends’ messages with Stephen Ferguson, visiting assistant professor of biology at the University of Richmond and a physiobehavioral ecologist who extensively researches birds.
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.
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.
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.
Akeelah and the Bee, ongoing through Sunday, April 13, afternoon and evening performances, Baltimore Center Stage. Featuring cast members from Baltimore School for the Arts, Akeelah and the Bee kicks off a spring celebration of BCS’s youth programs, culminating in the 40th anniversary of the historic Young Playwrights Festival.
Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? , ongoing through Sunday, April 20, 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. performances, Everyman Theatre. Written by Edward Albee and directed by Vincent M. Lancisi, this Tony Award-winning, Pulitzer Prize-nominated play is the perfect blend of explosive comedy and harrowing drama.
The Self in Writing: A Reading and Conversation Between Authors, Thursday, April 10, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Bird in Hand. Writers Danielle Ariano, Pantea Amin Tofangchi, and Judith Krummeck will read from their works and consider questions such as, “How much of the author’s “I” finds its way into writing?” and “Is the novelist omniscient, or is she inevitably writing herself into the story?”
Lip Butter Workshop, Friday, April 11, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Star Bright Farm. In this two-hour workshop, Priya (of Priya Means Love Body Care) will guide participants as they choose ingredients to create their own ultra-healing lip balm.
Wine & Vine at the B&O, Friday, April 11, 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., B&O Railroad Museum. Bring your plants, cuttings, and seeds to an adults-only evening at the B&O and enjoy wine tastings, live music, yard games, and plant swaps.
19th Annual Empty Bowls: Candlelight & Clay Event, Friday, April 11, 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Maryland State Fairgrounds. Join St. Vincent de Paul of Baltimore for an evening of music and dancing, food tastings from Baltimore area restaurants, complimentary beer, wine, and more as they raise funds to help those impacted by hunger, homelessness, and poverty.
114th My Lady’s Manor Steeplechase Races, Saturday, April 12, gates 10 a.m., first race 1:30 p.m., Jarrettsville Pike (MD 146) at Pocock Road in Monkton, Maryland. Since 1909, this exciting day of equestrian sport has marked the beginning of spring in the Harford County countryside. The afternoon includes four steeplechase races, live bluegrass music from the Mayo Family Band, horse-themed merchandise tents, and food trucks.
Maryland Apple Blossom Cider & Mead Festival, Saturday, April 12, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Linganore Winesellers. Join the Cider Association of Maryland for its first Maryland Apple Blossom Cider & Mead Festival. Sample a variety of ciders and meads from Maryland producers, ranging from traditional to modern, dry to sweet, still to sparkling, cysers, grafs and more.
Feastival, Saturday, April 12, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., West Shore Park, Inner Harbor. With proceeds benefiting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, this all-you-can-taste foodie event promises a stellar lineup of local restaurants and carefully crafted cocktails featuring your favorite spirits.
19th Annual Empty Bowls: Family Event, Saturday, April 12, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Maryland State Fairgrounds. Enjoy fun family activities, food tastings, a local artisan marketplace, and more while supporting St. Vincent de Paul of Baltimore’s mission to help those impacted by hunger, homelessness, and poverty.
Mortified Baltimore: Spring Break 2025, Saturday, April 12, 7 p.m., Creative Alliance. Mortified Baltimore, produced by Alex Hewett and Adam Ruben, stars everyday adults sharing their most embarrassingly real teenage diary entries, poems, love letters, lyrics, and locker notes…in front of total strangers.
The Second Saturday S#!T Show feat. Bill Monaghan, Saturday, April 12, doors and happy hour 7 p.m., show 8 p.m., Ottobar. Join host Mike Quindlen as he welcomes headliner Bill Monaghan and featured comedians Mert Wolf, Dom Driscoll, Shawn Leverett, and Mike Smith.
Glow in the Dark: Sip ‘n Paint Day Party, Sunday, April 13, 3 p.m., Baltimore Soundstage. This Sunday afternoon sip ‘n paint event will feature live music, vendors, games, a cash bar, and great vibes. All art supplies will be provided.
Grazing on Maryland, Sunday, April 13, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., West River Center. Enjoy an evening of local flavors including a pig roast, live oyster bar, wonderful local salads/field greens and great desserts, live music, and a silent auction. Proceeds will benefit West River Center’s camp scholarship fund.
Penny & Sparrow Live, Tuesday, April 16, doors open 7:15 p.m., The Duchess. Austin singer-songwriter duo Penny & Sparrow, known for their heartfelt harmonies, perform on the Avenue in Hampden at The Duchess. Field Guide opens the evening before Penny & Sparrow take the stage. Tickets, $85, include two drinks.
COLD: 13 Ways To Bleed On Stage & A Different Kind Of Pain, Thursday, April 17, doors 6 p.m., show 7 p.m. Celebrating 25 years of “13 Ways To Bleed On Stage” and 20 years of “A Different Kind Of Pain,” COLD will be playing both albums in their entirety.
Bunny BonanZOO, Friday, April 18, through Sunday, April 20, Maryland Zoo. Bring the little ones to participate in an egg hunt; take photos with the Easter Bunny and Zoo mascots Sphen the penguin and Pretzels the bear; make crafts; watch a puppet show; and more.
Baltimore Old Time Music Festival, Friday, April 18, 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. and Saturday, April 19, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., Baltimore Museum of Industry. This two-day all-ages musical celebration will include hands-on workshops, a Family Square Dance, kids’ programming, food and drink vendors, and live performances from some of the nation’s brightest Old Time Stringband musicians.
Candlelight: A Tribute to Whitney Houston, Friday, April 18, 6:30 p.m. to 7:45 p.m., Meyerhoff Auditorium, Baltimore Museum of Art. Kennedy String Quartet will perform the songs of Whitney Houston by candlelight in this live, multi-sensory musical experience.
Grim Reefer Fest, Saturday, April 19, 2 p.m., Ottobar. Celebrate the High Holidays with a full day of dank vibes, high spirits, and live performances from Rezn, Vosh, Temple of the Fuzz Witch, Haze Mage, Temptress, Sorge, Consumer Culture, Thunderchief, Spellbook, and Knub.
