Hey Baltimore parents! Valentine's Day weekend was stacked. Here's what we picked as the best family events:

Top Pick

Chocolate Festival at Grace United Methodist Church (Aberdeen) Saturday, 10am-2pm | All ages | FREE

The 13th Annual Chocolate Festival has chocolate-dipped strawberries, ice cream sundaes, a cake walk, and a hot cocoa bar. It's free, parking is easy at the church, and there's room for kids to roam.

Perfect for: Families who want a free Saturday anchor.

Arrive by 10:30am to beat the rush. The cake walk gets packed around 11am
Bring napkins (seriously, bring extra)
Pairs well with Valen-Tie Dye at Patterson Park Library afterward (1:30pm, also free)

More info

Quick Weekend Wins

Just show up - no tickets needed

Valen-Tie Dye - Make your own tie dye clothes and bags at the library. Kids take home something they'll actually wear. Saturday, 1:30-4pm | FREE Enoch Pratt Library - Patterson Park. Bring old white t-shirts or hit a thrift store first ($2 each). Details
Valentine's Day Collage Art at Walters Art Museum - Drop-in collaborative art making. No registration needed. Saturday, 10am-1pm | FREE Skip the $12 parking lot. Free street parking on Mount Royal, 2-block walk. Details
Half-Price Friday Night at the National Aquarium - Every Friday 5-9pm, admission drops to $24.95. Evening crowds are lighter than weekend daytime. Friday, 5-9pm | $24.95/person Eat dinner at home first (save $30+). Harbor parking drops to $5-8 after 6pm. Details
Free Family Sundays at BMA - Ongoing family programming every Sunday at 2pm at the Baltimore Museum of Art. Sunday, 2pm | FREE Free street parking on Charles St (4 blocks) saves you the $12 lot fee. Details

Book This Week

Worth getting tickets for

Be Our Guest: Royal Tea Party (Padonia Park Club) - Fairytale characters in a ballroom setting. Enchanting for ages 4-10. These tend to sell out 48 hours before. Sunday, 1:30-3:30pm | $48 | Details
The Science of Tempering Chocolate (BUGSS) - Hands-on chemistry class for ages 10-14. Kids learn to temper chocolate. Small class fills fast. Saturday, 10-11:30am | $17 | Details
Holes: Children's Theatre of Annapolis - The darkly humorous book adapted for stage. Great for ages 8+. Saturday, 7-9pm | Annapolis | Details

Budget-Friendly Finds

Box Forts at Whiteford Library - Build a massive fort from recycled cardboard. Two hours of free building time. Total cost: $0. Friday, 2-4pm | Whiteford Branch (Whiteford, MD)
Great Backyard Bird Count - Free citizen science at Benjamin Banneker Park (Catonsville). Bring binoculars or borrow from the library. Dress warm for February morning outdoors. Free. Sunday, 9am | Register free
Canton Brick Squad - LEGO club at the library. Free building time, no materials to buy. Great for ages 7-11. Saturday, 3-4pm | Enoch Pratt Library - Canton | FREE
HdG Love Walk - Valentine messages in shop windows throughout downtown Havre de Grace (~40 min from Baltimore). Free parking and admission. Lunch nearby runs $5-8/person. Saturday, 12-4pm | Details

Mark Your Calendar

Coming up in the next few weeks

Feb 16-17: Day Camp at Kids First Swim School - Schools are closed and these camps fill fast. Full-day swim camp with games and crafts. $55. More info
Feb 16: School's Out Day Camp at Hansel Hill Farm - Full-day farm exploration for ages 5+. $80. Farm camps fill fast. More info

For Toddler Families

CommonMoves with Common Tone - Music and movement class for toddlers. Interactive songs, dramatic play, and sensory props. 1 hour at Manor Mill. Good timing before nap. Friday, 10-11am | $5 | Register
Story Time at Parkville Library - 30 minutes of stories, songs, and movement. The shortest toddler outing you'll find. Arrive at 9:55, done by 10:30, home before anyone melts down. Friday, 10-10:30am | FREE
Common Tone at The Ivy Bookshop - Music for babies through age 5 in a cozy bookshop. Sunday morning, lines up well before nap. Sunday, 9:30-10:15am | $15 | Register

Tween-Approved

Skyzone GLOW Night (Owings Mills) - Neon dance party with black lights, lasers, and music. Late-night timing (8-10pm) makes it feel like a real outing. Bring a friend. Sunday, 8-10pm | $33.99 | Book
Galaxy Bowling (Odenton) - Cosmic bowling with glow effects and music. Competitive and social. Bring friends. Best for older tweens (9:30pm start is late for 10-year-olds). Saturday, 9:30-11:55pm | $20 | Details

Valentine's Weekend: Chocolate Festivals, Tie-Dye, and Free Art