Community Calendar

The Rotunda Welcomes Back Popular Family-Friendly Concert Series this May
3rd Annual Rotunda Rocks Begins Friday, May 2 and Runs Every Friday through Friday, October 3

Grab a blanket or dust off your favorite portable chair and head on over to Hampden this spring for the return of the popular family-friendly concert series, the 3rd Annual Rotunda Rocks. This FREE weekly concert series, presented by MCB Real Estate, features live music on the Plaza and a street festival atmosphere with delicious local food and drinks, fun games and local vendors and will take place Fridays, 6-9 p.m. beginning May 2 and running until October 3. (711 West 40th Street). Whether you like rock n ’roll, folk, bluegrass, Indie, Latin, Celtic or reggae music, there is something for everyone and the event is open to the public. Pets are welcome and a portion of proceeds from beverage sales benefits the Maryland SPCA. For more information, log onto Rotunda Rocks | The Rotunda (rotundabaltimore.com) or call 410-662-0104.

Based on the beloved Newbery Medal- and National Book Award-winning novel—and the hit 2003 film starring Shia LaBeouf, Sigourney Weaver, and Jon Voight—this theatrical adaptation is a thrilling ride for audiences of all ages. When teenager Stanley Yelnats is hit by a pair of falling sneakers, his unlucky family curse strikes again. Wrongly convicted of stealing the sneakers and sent to the mysterious Camp Green Lake, Stanley joins a ragtag group of boys digging endless holes under the blistering sun—all in the name of building character. But as the layers of dirt pile up, so do the secrets buried beneath them. Part mystery, part adventure, and packed with heart, Holes is a wildly imaginative tale about friendship, fate, and the courage it takes to rewrite your story. Holes is “a fast-paced and inventive family show that works on every level” (The Stage).

1999 Newbery Medal
1998 National Book Award for Young People’s Literature
1999 Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for Fiction

Church Hill, MD - Church Hill Theatre is pleased to announce that registration for Basic Acting Skills for Students (BASS) will open online on December 10, 2025. BASS offers students in 1st through 8th grades a chance to bask in the glow of the footlights in a series of Saturday workshops. In this program, which begins on January 31, 2026, students learn about improvisation, character development, scene preparation, and musical theatre dance and vocals. The students’ exploration of theatrical scenes, storytelling, movement and song concludes with a performance for family and friends, scheduled for February 28.

In 2026, the program will include two class levels: students in grades 1-4, and students in grades 5-8. The program will be taught by Becca Van Aken, program founder and experienced theater and QACPS educator. Ms. Van Aken will be joined by experienced guest instructors and members of the Church Hill Theatre family.
Classes will be held on Saturdays beginning January 31, running through February 28. The BASS Jr class (1st to 4th graders) will run from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM. The BASS Sr. class (5th to 8th graders) will run from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM. There will be a joint class for both groups on the final day, February 28 from 9:00AM to 1:00 PM, including a brief presentation for families.

The cost of the class is $110. Partial scholarships are available. A 10% discount is offered to families who register more than one child. For more information or to register for the class, interested parents can go to the Church Hill Theatre website: www.churchhilltheatre.org/education, or call the theater office at (410) 556-6003 between 11:00 AM and 4:00 PM Monday through Friday. Registration for BASS closes January 23, 2026.

When was the last time you unplugged?

Disconnect, slow down, and rediscover what it means to be present inside the BMA’s historic Spring House, where acclaimed American conceptual artist Rachel Lee Hovnanian presents the Nature Deficit Disorder immersion room this spring. The powerful installation challenges our digital dependence and rekindles our connection to the natural world.

Inspired by journalist Richard Louv’s term “nature deficit disorder,” described as a growing disconnection from nature, often linked to diminished focus and negative moods, Hovnanian transforms the Spring House into a simulated nighttime forest.

“My work has long explored how technology shapes attention, mental health, and human connection. This installation emerged from my observations of society’s growing digital dependence, alongside my own experience of it.” –Rachel Lee Hovnanian
Away from the constant ping of notifications and endless scrolling, surrender your phone, surround yourself with fir trees, and let lantern light guide you. Hear the crunch of leaves beneath your feet and watch the flicker of a campfire casting shadows across the room.

In a world where we check our phones every other minute, Hovnanian invites you to linger for at least five minutes in the immersion room and consider what is lost when we give our attention to apps and devices rather than real-life experiences.

“What do we lose when our lives are constantly mediated by screens? I hope to offer a pause—an invitation to rediscover how it feels to be fully present.” –Rachel Lee Hovnanian

Arthur and Friends Make a Musical!
Book and Lyrics by John Maclay
Music and Lyrics by Brett Ryback
Based on the Arthur book series by Marc Brown

Directed by Zack Callis
Choreographed by Kiersten Gasemy

Run time: Around one (1) hour and fifteen (15) minutes with no intermission.
This show is appropriate for audiences of all ages.

About: Mr. Ratburn's class is putting on a show – but Arthur's not so sure he's ready! With help from his family and friends, Arthur learns that being yourself is the best part of any performance. A fun, feel-good musical for the whole family!

Arthur and Friends Make a Musical!
Book and Lyrics by John Maclay
Music and Lyrics by Brett Ryback
Based on the Arthur book series by Marc Brown

Directed by Zack Callis
Choreographed by Kiersten Gasemy

Run time: Around one (1) hour and fifteen (15) minutes with no intermission.
This show is appropriate for audiences of all ages.

About: Mr. Ratburn's class is putting on a show – but Arthur's not so sure he's ready! With help from his family and friends, Arthur learns that being yourself is the best part of any performance. A fun, feel-good musical for the whole family!

St. Vincent de Paul of Baltimore (SVDP), the nonprofit dedicated to ensuring those impacted by poverty have the skills, resources, and opportunity to achieve their full potential, will host the 20th annual Empty Bowls event, to raise critical funds for services that help members of the community impacted by hunger, homelessness and poverty.

On Saturday, April 18, SVDP will host the Annual Family Event, featuring savory soups and food from local restaurants, auction items, entertainment, and activities for the whole family.