Last weekend before the buses roll, and the calendar is packed with send-offs. The marquee is the Under the Sea Bash out in Aberdeen — live mermaids, acrobats, and a bounce-house dance party for about ten bucks a family. In the city, back-to-school takes over: a downtown supply-and-resource bash at War Memorial Plaza, a free back-to-school day at the BMA, a Friday-night concert with backpacks at Belvedere Square, a liquid-nitrogen slushie lab at the Science Center, and a Reservoir Hill block party Sunday. Out in Anne Arundel there's Kids Comic Day, a bubble festival for the little ones, and Nitro Circus to close Sunday night. Pack it in before the homework starts.

Top Pick

Under the Sea Bash 2026 — Aberdeen Festival Park, Aberdeen Saturday, August 22, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM ET | All ages | $5 per kid (12 & under), adults free

Real live mermaids, jellyfish on stilts, acrobats, walking bubbles, bounce houses, and a Deep Blue mega dance party, all to benefit the Sea of Hope Foundation. Kids' wristbands come with a treat bag and bounce-house access. It's out in Aberdeen — worth the drive for a near-free morning with this much going on.

Quick Weekend Wins

Free, and you can just show up

BMA Back to School Day — Baltimore Museum of Art, Baltimore City A free morning of back-to-school activities in the galleries, open to teachers, students, and families. Saturday, August 22, 9:30 AM – 1:00 PM ET | All ages | FREE
Back to School Kick-Off — War Memorial Plaza, Baltimore City Free school supplies, activities, and community resources in the heart of downtown. Saturday, August 22, 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM ET | All ages | FREE
21st Annual ResFest — German Park, Reservoir Hill, Baltimore City Reservoir Hill's community block party: live music, local resources, and free giveaways for all ages. Sunday, August 23, 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM ET | All ages | FREE
Back 2 School Jam — The Greene Turtle, Edgewater Free backpacks, treats, puppuccinos, and live music on the patio. Saturday, August 22, 12:00 – 3:00 PM ET | All ages | FREE
Kids Comic Day — Third Eye Comics, Annapolis Giveaways and promos for young collectors, running all day. Saturday, August 22, 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM ET | All ages | FREE
Hayrides at Kinder Farm Park — Kinder Farm Park, Millersville A tractor-pulled hayride through the park — simple, outdoor, and free. Saturday, August 22 | All ages | FREE

Ticketed This Weekend

These need a ticket — grab them ahead

Nitro Circus 2.0 at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, Annapolis — 20 athletes and 100-plus FMX, BMX, and scooter stunts on the big ramps, the one true spectacle this weekend and a touring date that won't repeat. Tickets run into real money, so it's a natural parent-plus-tween outing if the full-family number climbs; check the price before you commit. Sunday, August 23, 6:00 PM ET | All ages | paid.
The Playground: Family-Friendly Comedy at The Highwire Center, Baltimore City — an all-ages improv set built to land for kids and grown-ups at once. Saturday, August 22, 3:00 – 4:00 PM ET | All ages | paid.

Budget-Friendly Finds

Summer Sounds with The New Romance at Belvedere Square, Baltimore City — the season's back-to-school edition: live music, an open-air food market, and free back-to-school bags for the kids while they last. Friday, August 21, 6:00 – 9:00 PM ET | All ages | FREE.
Farmers Market at Clarksville Commons — Clarksville, Howard County — local produce, baked goods, and live music to browse. Saturday, August 22, 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM ET | All ages | FREE.
Luau at Chick-fil-A Forest Hill — Forest Hill, Harford County — a free Hawaiian-themed evening with Polynesian and fire dancers, games, and crafts. Saturday, August 22, 5:30 – 8:00 PM ET | All ages | FREE.

For Toddler Families

Playful Pandas Music Playgroup at STRŌB Apothecary, Crofton — songs, instruments, bubbles, and snacks built for the 0-to-4 crowd and their grown-ups. Free. Saturday, August 22, 10:00 – 11:00 AM ET | Ages 0–4.
Bubble Fest at the Chesapeake Children's Museum, Annapolis — a room of hand-made bubble blowers and bubble games at a museum sized for small kids. Saturday, August 22, 10:30 AM ET | museum admission.
Rainy-day backstop: Port Discovery at the Inner Harbor is open both days — three floors built for ages 0–10.

Tween-Approved

Real skills, real bragging rights

Liquid Nitrogen Slushie Lab at the Maryland Science Center, Inner Harbor — make your own slushie with liquid nitrogen and watch the science happen. Included with Science Center admission. Saturday, August 22.
Microbe Art Worlds at BUGSS, the Baltimore Underground Science Space — build landscapes for microbes and grow colorful microbe artwork at a real working lab. Saturday, August 22, 10:00 – 11:00 AM ET | Ages 9–14 | ticketed.
Gospel Glow Skate Night at Skate Zone, Odenton — glow lights, gospel music, and open skating; bring a friend. Registration required. Friday, August 21, 5:00 – 7:00 PM ET | paid.

Mark Your Calendar

Book these now

September 6 (Sunday): Rosh Hashana Apple Picking at Baugher's Orchard, Westminster — apple picking, shofar, and singing for the Jewish New Year; register through the JCC of Greater Baltimore. Orchards cap headcount, so this fills before the holiday.
September 12–13: The 39th Annual Reisterstown Festival at Hannah More Park — two days of live bands, a parade, a petting zoo, and fireworks Saturday night. Free.
Save the date: Charm City Live returns September 5, and the Baltimore Book Festival lands September 19–20 — the two big free fall anchors.

Local Intel

Cylburn Arboretum runs free drop-ins both days — a Nature Education Center drop-in Saturday and a Garden Educator drop-in Sunday afternoon, an easy low-key pair for a nature weekend. And Sunday marks the anniversary of the burning of the Lion of Baltimore on August 22, 1814 — Historic Hancock's Resolution in Pasadena opens a small War of 1812 "Remember the Lion" display to mark it (Sunday, 1:00 – 4:00 PM ET, free).

Also This Weekend

Orioles vs. Rays — a Sunday day game at Camden Yards, first pitch 1:35 PM ET | paid.
Ken & Brad Kolodner's Annual Backyard Concert — a Baltimore City backyard show where the fence line is the capacity. This one sells out. Sunday, August 23 | ticketed.
Shake Out Your Sillies at the Creative Alliance, Baltimore City — a movement-and-silliness hour for wiggly kids. Saturday, August 22.
Hands-on Glassblowing at McFadden Art Glass, Baltimore City — make and keep your own glass piece; open to ages 5 and up, by reservation. All weekend | paid.

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Live mermaids in Aberdeen, a free back-to-school circuit, and Nitro Circus in Annapolis