What to do in Baltimore this weekend, including spring dances and a record store rave

Despite the forecast, spring finally arrives this weekend — and Baltimore’s events calendar is packed with options, including free events and family-friendly fun.

There’s also a record store rave and a spring fling dance. And that’s just the start.

Thursday, March 19

‘Sabbath Queen’

This documentary, which premiered at the 2024 Tribeca Film Festival, follows the life of Rabbi Amichai Lau-Lavie on a 21-year journey, where he becomes a drag queen and establishes the inclusive, God-optional congregation Lab/Shul. Director Sandi DuBowski and Lau-Lavie will be on hand at the Charles Theatre for a discussion.

Time: 7 p.m.

Price: $20

Location: The Charles Theatre (1711 N. Charles St.)

Family friendly? The movie is rated PG-13.

Lords of the Sound

Ukrainian symphony orchestra Lords of the Sound makes its U.S. debut this month, including a stop at Lyric Baltimore to perform the music of Oscar winner Hans Zimmer (“Dune,” “The Lion King”).

Time: 7 p.m.

Price: $38.15-$139.15

Location: Lyric Baltimore (140 W. Mount Royal Ave.)

Family friendly? Yes

Retro Game Night

Meet some fellow gamers upstairs at the Ottobar, where attendees will play 2000s Nintendo GameCube classics like “Mario Kart: Double Dash!!” and “Super Smash Bros. Melee.” Feel free to bring some board games and cards, too.

Time: 6-9 p.m.

Price: Free

Location: The Ottobar (2549 N. Howard St.)

Family friendly? 21-plus

Friday, March 20

Test Press

A rave in a record store … why not? Baltimore’s Offstage Sessions transforms Fells Point’s legendary record shop The Sound Garden into a frenetic indoor dance party for its Test Press series. Brazilian Tech House DJ PEDROZ will have the floor jumping.

Time: 10 p.m.-1 a.m.

Price: $34.89

Location: Sound Garden (1616 Thames St.)

Family friendly? 21-plus

Combat

Get to the Joyce Manor show at Nevermore Hall early to see openers Combat, the rising Baltimore emo band behind 2024’s ambitious full-length “Stay Golden.” Plus, Joyce Manor rocks. Militarie Gun and Teen Mortgage will also perform.

Time: 7 p.m.

Price: $41.50

Location: Nevermore Hall (20 Market Place)

Family friendly? All ages

Chanel Ali

New York City stand-up comedian Chanel Ali (MTV’s “Girl Code”) will deliver a headlining set at Federal Hill bar Delia Foley’s. Get a taste of the Philadelphia native’s jokes from Comedy Central YouTube videos about disconcerting roommate searches and Black Twitter.

Time: 8:30 p.m.

Price: $23.18. There’s a 2-for-1 deal through Friday.

Location: Delia Foley’s (1439 S. Charles St.)

Family friendly? Not especially, it’s stand-up comedy.

Saturday, March 21

B-360 Family Fun Day

B-360, the Baltimore nonprofit organization that uses the city’s dirt bike culture to promote math and science education, will celebrate its ninth anniversary at Lot O near M&T Bank Stadium. Expect a spirited day filled with dirt bikes, hands-on STEM activities, educational resources, DJs, food and more.

Time: 1-5 p.m.

Price: Free. Food and drink will be available for purchase.

Location: 701 W. Ostend St. (Lot O)

Family friendly? Yes

Danny Joe’s Tree House

Inspired by Mister Rogers, Baltimore’s Danny “Danny Joe” LaBrecque and his wife, Stefani LaBrecque, have racked up millions of YouTube views with their uber-positive kids show, “Danny Joe’s Tree House.” The stage version — with Teddy Bear, Kingsley, Pixie Bell and the full puppet crew — comes to Creative Alliance in Highlandtown on Saturday.

Time: 11:30 a.m.

Price: $12 for kids; $18 for adults

Location: Creative Alliance (3134 Eastern Ave.)

Family friendly? All ages

Spring Fling: Queer Dance

Celebrate the season’s much-needed arrival at this inclusive dance — think school dance vibes — at Mobtown Ballroom. Expect crafts, tarot readings and a drag show.

Another dance option: The Spring Faerie Ball at 2640 Space welcomes costumed elves, goblins, faeries and other partygoers looking to dress up and let loose with live bands, craft vendors and more.

Time: 7-11:30 p.m.

Price: $10 online. $20 at the door.

Location: Mobtown Ballroom (30 W. North Ave.)

Family friendly? No

Sunday, March 22

‘Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike’

Before his upcoming retirement, Everyman Theatre founder and artistic director Vincent M. Lancisi is calling the shots on one last production: the Tony Award-winning, Chekhov-inspired comedy “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike” about family strain and mundane life in rural Pennsylvania. The play premieres Sunday and runs through April 19.

Time: 7 p.m.

Price: Pay what you choose on Sunday

Location: Everyman Theatre (315 W. Fayette St.)

Family friendly? More for teens and older

Golda Schultz

South African soprano Golda Schultz sings with “lustrous delicacy” according to The New York Times. The Metropolitan Opera alum makes her Baltimore debut alongside pianist Jonathan Ware for a Shriver Hall Concert Series performance.

Time: 4:30 p.m.

Price: $50

Location: Shriver Hall Auditorium (3400 N. Charles St., Suite 14)

Family friendly? Yes

Baltimore Record Bazaar

Physical media is back! Really, it never left — just check out the smorgasbord of collectibles like vinyl, CDs, tapes, comics and more at Peabody Heights Brewery’s bimonthly market, which is soundtracked by DJs with good taste.

Time: Noon-6 p.m.

Price: Free

Location: Peabody Heights Brewery (401 E. 30th St.)

Family friendly? Yes

Just announced

Led by Kim Deal, alt-rockers the Breeders perform at Nevermore Hall on June 23. Tickets go on sale 10 a.m. Friday.