A Personal Note
Swibits Sundays is back at Columbia Swim Center, and your kids are going to lose their minds over giant inflatable obstacles in the pool. It's the last weekend of the season. The Hatton-Regester concert series kicks off on the B&A Trail, the Baltimore Birth Festival takes over Patterson Park, and 42nd Street closes out its run in Annapolis. Here's what stood out for May 16-17.
Top Pick: Swibits Sundays
Swibits Sundays at Columbia Swim Center (Splashdown) Sunday, 11am-4pm | All ages | $5 members / $10 non-members
Giant inflatable water obstacle course with slides, climbing walls, and splash zones. Three of our five evaluation criteria flagged this as the strongest pick of the weekend. Best for families whose kids have dropped their afternoon nap, ages 3+. If your toddler is still on a nap schedule, you'll hit the wall around 1pm.
Why it's cool: This is the last Swibits Sunday of the season. Inflatable water obstacles in a pool, $20 for a family of four. There's nothing else like it this weekend.
Quick Weekend Wins
Just show up, no tickets needed.
- Hatton-Regester Green Concert Series: Jeff Herbert — Free live music on the B&A Trail in Severna Park Sunday, 4-6pm | FREE | All ages Outdoor concert series with room to spread out. Bring a blanket and snacks. The trail is right there if the kids need to run.
Ticketed This Weekend
These need tickets or advance booking.
- 42nd Street at Classic Theatre of Maryland, Annapolis — Through May 17 | $61-89. Tony Award-winning musical, last weekend of the run. Broadway tap at its best. Saturday and Sunday showtimes available.
Budget-Friendly Finds
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Anchors & Artisans Pop-Up Market — 50+ local makers at Annapolis Town Center. Sunday 11am-4pm. Free to browse. Live music by the Joe Teague Duo.
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Free MakeBreak Crafts at Michael's — Guided crafting with all supplies provided. Sunday 2-4pm. Free. Multiple Baltimore-area locations.
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Weekend Open Swim at Kids First Swim School — Family swim sessions Saturday and Sunday. $5/person. Cockeysville.
For Toddler Families
Baltimore Birth Festival Sunday, 10am-3pm | FREE | Patterson Park
Sixth annual community festival with 80+ vendors, care providers, and resources for expecting and new parents. Free raffle with hundreds of dollars in baby gear. Stroller-friendly outdoor setting. Register free.
- SkyZone Little Leapers — Discounted trampoline session for kids 6 and under. Saturday 7-9am at Owings Mills. One free adult per paid child. The early slot means you're home before nap time.
- Storytime at Weber's Farm — Sunday 10:15am in Cockeysville. Limited spaces, register ahead. Farm setting with animals and barnyard fun after the reading.
Tween-Approved
- Free Family Tennis at Truxtun Park, Annapolis — Rackets and balls provided, all abilities welcome. Saturday 4-5:30pm. Free. The kind of thing where your tween can actually compete, not just watch.
- 42nd Street at Classic Theatre of Maryland — Last weekend of the run. If your tween likes musicals, this is a strong one-on-one outing. Saturday and Sunday showtimes.
Mark Your Calendar
Coming up in the next few weeks.
- May 24: Pearlstone Strawberry Festival and Concert — annual event at the farm in Reisterstown. U-pick season opens the same day at $6/lb. Worth booking early.
- May 23-24: Artscape 2026 — Baltimore's massive free arts festival. Plan your parking now.
- June 1: Summer Camps start (BaltCo Rec, Code Ninjas, Therapeutic Rec). Registration is open. Spots fill.
Local Intel
Sunday lineup: Birth Festival (10am-3pm) at Patterson Park, then Swibits (11am-4pm) at Columbia Swim Center, then Hatton-Regester concert (4-6pm) on the B&A Trail. Three free or cheap events, all on Sunday, all family-friendly.
Anne Arundel double-header: Free Tennis on Saturday (4-5:30pm) and Anchors & Artisans on Sunday (11am-4pm) are both at Annapolis. Two trips or one long weekend day in the area.
Weather backup: Swibits is indoors at Columbia Swim Center. MakeBreak Crafts at Michael's is also rain-proof. Both are on Sunday.
Also This Weekend
- K-Town Culture Day — Sun 4-7:30pm, FREE, walking tour + Korean food + K-pop at SNF Parkway Theatre. More adult-oriented but older kids may enjoy the reception.
- Emma at Everyman Theatre — Sat/Sun various times, paid
- Children's Meditation Class — Sat 10:30am, varies
- Dinosaur Little Leapers at SkyZone Gambrills — Sat 8:30am, varies
- EC Jazz Collective at Little Market Cafe — Sat 12-3pm, varies
- Mindfulness Hike at South River Farm Park — Sat 1-2pm, varies
- Paint with Kittens (Pottery Stop) — Sun 6pm, paid
- Agent of Change at Chesapeake Children's Museum — Sat 9am, varies
- Theatre Night for Teens at Everyman — Sat evening, varies
- Barre at the Barn, Wilde Lake — Sun 6pm, FREE