From America’s largest literary conference to an early evening, Gen X-friendly dance party, this weekend in Baltimore promises to keep you busy and thoroughly entertained. Let’s make some plans.

Thursday, March 5

AWP Conference & Bookfair

After more than two decades, the country’s biggest literary conference returns to Baltimore, a city known for producing knockout writers. The four-day event, which began Wednesday, brings together thousands of book fans to hear from writers, publishers, editors and other industry professionals.

Check out the full schedule through Saturday here, including Thursday night’s keynote address from Baltimore luminary (and “American Horror Story” cast member) John Waters.

Another perk of AWP weekend: the creative, nonaffiliated off-site events happening throughout the city. Examples include the queer reading series Fruitcake at the Belvedere Hotel on Thursday and the American Visionary Art Museum’s “Believable Fictions” Saturday afternoon readings.

Time: AWP programming begins 7:30 a.m. Thursday-Saturday

Price: $155-$540 based on age and AWP membership status. A $25 one-day pass for Saturday is also available. Register here.

Location: Baltimore Convention Center (1 W. Pratt St.)

Family friendly? Yes

‘No Mean City: Baltimore 1966’

Former Baltimore Sun columnist Dan Rodricks narrates his new multimedia play, set in the year the Orioles won their first World Series, about racial tensions in the city and the era’s rising calls for equality. The production, which runs through March 15, uses music and archival footage to bring its stories to life inside the Baltimore Museum of Art’s Meyerhoff Auditorium.

Time: 7:30 p.m. Thursday; 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday

Price: $35

Location: The Baltimore Museum of Art (10 Art Museum Drive)

Family friendly? The play has “references to racial segregation, civil rights protests, hate groups and actions of law enforcement,” per its website.

Friday, March 6

New Creative Alliance art exhibits

It’s a busy Friday at Highlandtown’s Creative Alliance. “Time’s Breath: An Odyssey in Words and Pictures,” an exhibit based on Baltimore author Deborah Brown English’s mythical graphic novel of the same name, opens in the downstairs gallery. English will talk about the works with Boston author Leah De Forest at 7 p.m.

Meanwhile, “Monsters and Moons” — a solo exhibition of sculpted characters by former Creative Alliance resident artist Tiffany Lange — debuts upstairs in the venue’s Amalie Rothschild Gallery.

Time: 6 p.m.

Price: Free. Register for “Time’s Breath” here and “Monsters and Moons” here.

Location: Creative Alliance (3134 Eastern Ave.)

Family friendly? Yes

Break a Leg x Dolla Sto

Baltimore’s underground dance scene is alive and well, so get a glimpse of where local DJs and producers are pushing its sounds next at this 18-plus event hosted by two of the city’s most trusted party-throwers. Expect frenetic fun on the Baltimore Soundstage floor thanks to DJ sets from Dolla, Tromac, Flotussin, Cash.Liss and DJ-Sun.

Time: 8 p.m.

Price: $19.60

Location: Baltimore Soundstage (124 Market Place)

Family friendly? 18 and older

Cyrus Chestnut & Affirmation

Baltimore-native jazz pianist Cyrus Chestnut will bring that swing to Keystone Korner in Harbor East for two evening performances alongside saxophonist Tim Green, bassist Obasi Akoto and drummer Eric Kennedy.

Time: 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday

Price: $38.46-$49.16

Location: Keystone Korner Baltimore (1350 Lancaster St.)

Family friendly? Yes. Must be 21-plus to sit at the bar.

‘Next to Normal’

This production of the Tony Award-winning rock musical “Next to Normal” kicks off Iron Crow Theatre’s 25th season. The drama addresses mental illness, grief and modern psychiatry head-on through the lens of a suburban family that’s falling apart. Runs through March 15.

Time: 7 p.m. Friday-Saturday; 1 p.m. Sunday

Price: $50-$100

Location: M&T Bank Exchange (401 W. Fayette St.)

Family friendly? No. Viewer discretion is advised due to strong language, sexual content and depictions of suicide. There are also strobe lights and loud sound effects.

Saturday, March 7

D.C. United vs. Inter Miami

How strong is Baltimore’s appetite for professional outdoor soccer? An early test arrives on Saturday, just weeks after D.C. United’s CEO was backing pro soccer clubs in Charm City. Inter Miami and Lionel Messi, one of the game’s greatest players, take on D.C. United at M&T Bank Stadium in this MLS regular-season matchup.

Time: 4:30 p.m.

Price: Tickets start at $78 on SeatGeek

Location: M&T Bank Stadium (1101 Russell St.)

Family friendly? Yes

I Wanna Dance With Somebody … Before 9 p.m.

Not all of us are still cut out for raging parties that last into the wee hours of the morning. On Saturday, this ’80s and ’90s “early bird dance party” takes over both floors of the Ottobar in Remington.

The best part (besides the dancing)? You’ll be in bed when the younger crowd is just heading out. Ah, weekend bliss.

Time: 5-9 p.m.

Price: $23.23

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

Family friendly? 21-plus

Author Talk: ‘A Solider’s Life’

In her upcoming memoir, “A Soldier’s Life: A Black Woman’s Rise from Army Brat to Six Triple Eight Champion,” Edna W. Cummings tells her remarkable story, from her time as a young military brat to her extraordinary journey to become an Army colonel. The retired veteran will discuss her career journey and sign books during this afternoon conversation at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum.

Time: 1-3 p.m.

Price: Free with museum admission

Location: The Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture (830 E. Pratt St.)

Family friendly? Yes

Sunday, March 8

Happy Day Matinee

Family fun in Station North! This kid-friendly event at Metro Baltimore will feature crafts, magic and performances by Baltimore musician Krime Slugs and author/puppeteer Kevin Sherry.

Time: Noon

Price: $10.30 for kids; $20.60 for general admission

Location: Metro Baltimore (1700 N. Charles St.)

Family friendly? Very much so

Just announced

WWE Monday Night Raw comes to CFG Bank Arena on June 15. Tickets go on sale 10 a.m. Friday.

Grammy-winning band Los Tigres del Norte, one of regional Mexican music’s most storied acts, headlines CFG Bank Arena on Nov. 27. Tickets are on sale now.

Lena Waithe’s debut play, “trinity,” has been extended to March 15 at Baltimore Center Stage.