Family events in Frederick County, MD

Designed for ages 5 to 10, this afterschool art club nurtures creativity through drawing, painting, sculpting, and experimentation with a variety of materials. Each class builds technique and confidence while keeping the process fun. This session focuses on collage, encouraging kids to tear and layer repurposed painted papers and other materials to create abstract designs or outdoor-inspired scenes. Other themes in the series include dot mandalas painted on small coasters, imaginative 3D worlds made with bright foam clay, observational charcoal drawing, mixed media self portraits, and a mini showcase where young artists share their work.

Young beginners ages 7 to 12 can explore the ukulele in a friendly course focused on creating an original song. Guided by teacher Bridgette Chabot, sessions begin with the fundamentals, including how to hold the instrument comfortably, strum simple chords, and play starter tunes. From there, the class moves into the essentials of songwriting such as song form, chord progressions, and lyric writing. With its compact size, nylon strings, and four-string layout, the ukulele offers an approachable first step for new musicians. The fee is $20 per session. Please bring a folder or binder, a pencil with an eraser, a notebook, and a ukulele. About the instructor: Bridgette has played guitar for over 20 years and picked up the ukulele during time in Hawaii. She writes and releases original music, performs at songwriter showcases and local gigs, and is a member of Frederick Acoustic Music Enterprise. She enjoys helping children use music as a way to create and express themselves.

Hosted by Aya Cultural Arts Studio and supported by the Frederick Arts Council, this uplifting community drum circle invites people of all ages to gather at Sky Stage in the heart of Downtown Frederick. No experience is needed and drums are provided, making it easy for beginners and seasoned drummers alike to take part. Flow artists are welcome, and participants may bring shakers, bells, flutes, hand percussion, or other acoustic instruments. Learn rhythms, express yourself, and share the energy of live community drumming while connecting with neighbors and new friends.

This end of season Cars and Coffee meet is set at New Market District Volunteer Fire Company and will benefit the New Market Volunteer Fire Co. It serves as the final gathering of the season, with additional information to be announced. Help get the word out to anyone who might be interested.

In Frederick at Sophie & Madigan’s Playground, the Frederick Farmers Market features farm-fresh produce and plants from vendors such as Scenic View Orchards, Thistle Rock Nursery, Tuscarora Creek Farms, and Hope Valley Farms. Meat, eggs, and dairy are available from Rohrer’s Meats and Linden Hills Homestead. Baked goods and coffee come from Stone Hearth Bakery, General Warfield’s Coffee, Penelope’s Bakestop, Manoushé, and Just Amazing Café, and Don Horné Hot Sauce is noted for select appearances. Handmade and artisan offerings include work by JFG Designs, Heart J Creations, Momma Burch Soaps, and Creating Artists Pottery.

Explore the offbeat visual style of Tim Burton in a relaxed painting workshop that focuses on creating a moody portrait in shades of black, white, and gray. An instructor provides clear, step by step guidance to help capture expressive eyes and quirky details that echo his distinctive look. All materials are included, and handy facial feature reference sheets are provided to spark ideas. Beginners are welcome, and a playful spirit with a love for the wonderfully strange fits right in.

Everedy Square & Shab Row in Downtown Frederick hosts a weekend celebration of autumn with activities suited for all ages, seasonal tastes, and plenty of shopping and entertainment. Sample fall inspired food, drinks, and treats from local favorites, then browse distinctive finds from neighborhood shops, artisans, and makers spread throughout the area. The festivities continue across the entire weekend, so there is time to explore, shop, dine, and celebrate on both days. Participating businesses include Frederick Fudge & Ice Cream, Shab Row Tea Emporium, Frederick Coffee Co. & Cafe, Toned Pilates Studio, Eastside Artists Gallery, Frederick MADE, Relove and Rewind, Teresa's Treasures, and WAVELENGTH WEAR.

Walk-in DIY crafting is available at the craft bar with no registration required. Select from wood or canvas projects and a variety of ready-to-use stencils, then create your piece in the studio using included materials and guidance. This offering is available Wednesdays through Saturdays, except when a private event is scheduled, and project start times should be at least two hours before the session ends to allow enough time to finish.

The LHS Band Boosters present the Maryland Marching Band Association Western Regionals, featuring performances by more than 28 marching bands on the path to the state championships. Billed as their largest hosted show yet, it offers a full day of family-friendly performances at an accessible price. Attendees can support the Linganore High School Band Boosters by visiting the concessions stand or by purchasing air-grams, sock-grams, and candy-grams for student performers. Merchandise will be available as well, including novelty shirts, pins, and more. For updates, check this event and the Linganore High School Band page. Due to the size of the event, carpooling is strongly encouraged since parking will be extremely limited.

Enjoy old-fashioned country Halloween fun with trunk-or-treating. Spend time in fellowship with other followers of Christ, with light refreshments available.

A spirited 1K fun run and 5K return to Baker Park, now chip timed for accurate results and supported by the Steeple Chasers. Organized by the West Frederick Middle School and Frederick High School PTSAs, the 5K follows a route through the park and nearby neighborhoods, while the 1K remains within the park. All paces are welcome, from newcomers and stroller runners to those chasing fast times. Costumes are encouraged, with awards for Best Overall, Scariest, Funniest, Most Creative, Best Headless Horseman or Sleepy Hollow, Best Family or Group, and Best Kids Costume. Packet pickup will be available in advance and on race morning. Gently used running shoes will be collected for the Stride Forward Youth Program, a student-run nonprofit in Urbana that provides footwear to cross country and track athletes in underserved programs. Proceeds support both school communities equally.

This monthly Dad Meetup offers a welcoming space to connect with owner, Mathias, and fellow fathers, share experiences, and build community. It is open to new and expecting dads, with opportunities to socialize and let kids play. Children are welcome but not required. Play sessions are $5 per child, and infants under 6 months are free with a sibling.

Take part in a Pokémon League event using the Standard format. The competition is split into three divisions: Masters for ages 17 and up with a $10 entry fee, Junior for ages 13 to 16 at $5, and Seniors for ages 12 and under at $5. Each entry includes a prize pack, and the event runs three to five rounds based on turnout. Top finishers in every division receive additional prizes, and all entry fees go into a store credit prize pool.

Climb aboard a restored 1966 double decker bus for a one hour guided journey through Downtown Frederick that explores the city’s pivotal Civil War story and the medical breakthroughs shaped by the battlefield. Departing from the National Museum of Civil War Medicine, a museum docent shares vivid accounts of improvised hospitals, dedicated caregivers, and innovations born from necessity as the tour moves past historic streets and landmarks. See significant locations where wounded soldiers received treatment and gain a clearer sense of the challenges faced by doctors, nurses, and troops during this defining era. Tickets are $39 per person and include admission to the National Museum of Civil War Medicine. Spots are limited.

Enjoy a festive, family-safe afternoon in Historic Downtown Frederick near Baker Park with trunk or treating paired with a lively chili cookoff. Halloween fun for all ages includes costumes, lights, and a warm neighborhood spirit. The cookoff features tasting and voting, and spooky desserts add to the celebration. Trunk space is available for decorated vehicles, with early setup encouraged. For anyone not sampling chili, fried chicken and mac and cheese will be available. Certificates will recognize standout trunks, the most delicious chili, and the spookiest dessert. Voting for favorite trunks is done with canned food items. Everyone is welcome, and no church affiliation is required.

Get to know Greg Susla, the volunteer and retired critical care pharmacist behind the 19th-century medicinal herb garden at the Pry House Field Hospital on Antietam National Battlefield. Visitors can watch him care for the beds, hear what is planned for the garden, and learn how plants figured into Civil War medical care. Featuring more than 35 herb varieties representative of the Mid-Atlantic in that era, this living garden offers a close look at the remedies and practices of the time.

Caregivers and their preschoolers, ages 3 to 5, can share playful activities that build early learning and support social and emotional growth. This weekly program offers a friendly space to explore and learn side by side at C. Burr Artz Public Library in Frederick.

Because of staffing constraints, this Bear Cubs session will be open play rather than a guided program. There will be no structured activities. Parents and children two and under can spend time playing with toys and meeting new friends in a relaxed setting. Attendance is free, open to the public, and no registration is required.