The busiest Saturday of spring so far. Choose wisely or just say yes to everything.

🌻 Sunflower Festival 📅 Saturday, Apr 25 | 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM 📍 Shops at Waldorf Center, Waldorf, MD 💲 Free 🔗 Get tickets

A free community festival built around inclusion, spring energy, and activities for the whole family crafts, sensory-friendly fun, music, and sunflower planting for the kids. The kind of event that puts you in a genuinely good mood just by showing up. Easy to combine with the Shops if you're already in that area Saturday afternoon.

🚜 Linden's Spring Farm Fest 📅 Saturday, Apr 25 | 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM 📍 8530 Mitchell Rd, La Plata, MD 💲 $10–$20 🔗 Get tickets

Pony rides, hayrides, a petting zoo, and crafts for the kids while the adults enjoy a genuinely peaceful outdoor morning. If your family has been in "we need to actually do something outside" mode, this is the Saturday plan. Get there early it ends at 2.

🎉 Celebrate La Plata 2026 📅 Saturday, Apr 25 | 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM 📍 La Plata Town Hall, La Plata, MD 💲 Free 🔗 Details here

Live music from Liquid A, local vendors, a dance-a-thon, games, inflatables, crafts for kids, and yes, a mechanical bull for the adults who think their back can handle it. Free all afternoon, right in the heart of La Plata. Maryland's 250th anniversary celebrations are woven in too, so it's a little more than your average street festival this year.

🏎️ Jude House 3rd Annual Car Show 📅 Saturday, Apr 25 | 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM 📍 9400 Irving Rd, Bel Alton, MD 💲 Spectators free | $20 per vehicle to enter 🔗 Get tickets

Chrome, classics, and bragging rights, Best in Show, Old & New School, Participants' Choice, and a Jude House Award up for grabs. Food trucks on site. Spectators get in free, which makes this an easy 9 AM first stop before the rest of your Saturday takes off.

🎊 Omega Psi Phi Spring Fling Day Party 📅 Saturday, Apr 25 | 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM 📍 Martinis Lounge, Waldorf, MD 💲 $12 🔗 Get tickets

The Brothers of Tau Lambda Lambda are hosting a full afternoon day party, good friends, great food, refreshing drinks, and a dress code that encourages sundresses and linen short sets. For twelve dollars, this might be the best deal of the whole weekend. Come in your brightest colors and act accordingly.

🎶 21st Annual CSM JazzFest 📅 Friday, Apr 24 | 7:30 PM – Midnight (+ Saturday events) 📍 College of Southern Maryland, La Plata Campus, FA Building 💲 $6 🔗 Get tickets

Twenty-one years in and still one of the most underrated events in this county. Friday night features The Randy Runyon Project a funk and fusion powerhouse with special guest Greg Boyer, who spent 19 years as a trombonist with Parliament/Funkadelic and has toured with Prince, Bootsy Collins, Buddy Guy, and Lynyrd Skynyrd. Saturday brings CSM's Big Band, Solid Brass, and the All-County Jazz Band. All of it for six dollars. Go.

🎭 "It's a Family Affair" Interactive Stage Play 📅 Sunday, Apr 26 | 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM 📍 Port Tobacco Players Inc, La Plata, MD 💲 $23 🔗 Get tickets

An interactive stage play where the audience becomes part of the story surprises, laughs, and heartwarming moments built in. The line between performer and audience blurs on purpose here. A fun Sunday evening option for the whole family or a group of friends.

🦬 Waldorf Lions Bull & Oyster Roast 📅 Sunday, Apr 26 | 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM 📍 Waldorf Elks Lodge, 2210 Old Washington Rd, Waldorf, MD 💲 $50 (kids 11 and under free) 🔗 Details here

Oysters on the half shell, fried oysters, roast beef, ribs, chicken, shrimp, hot dogs, fries, draft beer, soft drinks, live music, and games of chance all included in the $50 ticket. Every dollar goes back to the community through the Waldorf Lions Club. This is exactly the kind of Sunday afternoon that gets remembered. Bring your appetite.

🏃 General Smallwood Triathlon Festival 📅 Saturday, Apr 25 | All Day 📍 Smallwood State Park, Marbury, MD 💲 $163–$229 to race 🔗 Details here

The swim is in Mattawoman Bay, the bike course runs Charles County's freshly paved back roads, and the finish line crosses back over the water into the park with a post-race BBQ waiting. If you're registered, go earn it. If you're not, it's still worth going to cheer Smallwood on a spring morning is hard to beat.

From jazz to glow paintball, the weekend has layers.

🎤 Jazz & Soul: Zyona featuring Michael Muse 📅 Saturday, Apr 25 | 3:00 PM – 8:00 PM 📍 Shark Bar & Seafood House, Waldorf, MD 💲 $33 🔗 Get tickets

Live jazz and soul in the afternoon at Shark Bar, good food, good music, and an easy way to ease into your Saturday evening. A natural next step after the Spring Fling or before the late-night crowd rolls in.

🎸 Wes Ryce at Apehangers 📅 Monday, Apr 21 | Time varies 📍 Apehangers Bar & Grill, 9100 Crain Hwy, Bel Alton, MD 💲 Free 🔗 Details here

Live music at Apehangers on a Monday, which is honestly one of the better ways to start a week. Low-key, local, no cover.

🎵 Stuck Jonez Single Release Party 📅 Saturday – Sunday, Apr 25–26 | 9:00 PM – 2:00 AM 📍 Burner's Bar & Grill, Indian Head, MD 💲 $17 🔗 Get tickets

Down Da Road Entertainment presents the "Serious Bizness" single release party for Stuck Jonez and Tito Starr. Two nights of late-night energy in Indian Head for $17. Support local artists and close the weekend loud.

🌙 KIM Spring Takeover 📅 Saturday – Sunday, Apr 25–26 | 9:00 PM – 2:00 AM 📍 Shark Bar & Seafood House, 2056 Crain Hwy, Waldorf, MD 💲 $33 🔗 Get tickets

The Kim Michelle Experience is back at Shark Bar with DJ RichBoy. Two nights, 21+, advance tickets recommended. If you were at the last one, you already know. If you weren't, now you know.

🎨 Paint Nite: Bad Bunny Canvas 📅 Friday, Apr 24 | 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM 📍 Martinis White Plains, White Plains, MD 💲 $42 🔗 Get tickets

Instructor-led paint night with a pre-sketched Bad Bunny canvas. All supplies included, adults only. Paint starts at 7:30. Make it your own, take it home. A solid Friday night option before the weekend really gets going.

🌈 Glow Paintball Night 📅 Saturday, Apr 25 | 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM 📍 11272 Edge Hill Rd, Newburg, MD 💲 $41+ 🔗 Book here

Blacklight paintball after dark, real-life video game energy, and yes it's exactly as chaotic as it sounds. Grab your crew and go. One of the more genuinely fun group activity options in the county.

Good for the soul. Easy on the schedule.

🧢 Wine & Design: Custom Cap Experience 📅 Sunday, Apr 19 | 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM (check-in 1:45 PM) 📍 Joyful Studios, La Plata, MD 💲 $60 general / VIP available 🔗 Get tickets

CustomsByDonyelle is hosting a wine and design session where you build your own custom cap using patches, chains, and embellishments. General admission includes the cap, three patches, one embellishment, wine, and a snack. VIP gets premium seating, a charcuterie board, and first pick of everything. Not your typical sip and paint you actually leave with something wearable.

🎵 Sound & Stillness: Restorative Sound Healing 📅 Sunday, Apr 26 📍 The Green Coterie, Waldorf, MD 💲 $35 🔗 Get tickets

Crystal singing bowls, zero-gravity chairs, mats, pillows, and eye masks held on the last Sunday of each month and designed for anyone who needs a gentle reset before the week starts again. If the past few weeks have been a lot, this Sunday afternoon is the antidote.

🤝 Network, Chew & Line Dance Experience 📅 Thursday, Apr 23 | 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM 📍 11750 Business Park Dr, Suite 203, Waldorf, MD 💲 $12 🔗 Get tickets

Networking for local entrepreneurs with food and line dancing built in so it doesn't feel like networking. The goal is genuine connections, shared stories, and maybe a few new business partnerships. Twelve dollars and a Thursday evening well spent.

🎪 The Clarity Creative Lounge 📅 Saturday, Apr 25 | 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM 📍 St. Charles Towne Center, Waldorf, MD 💲 $44 🔗 Get tickets

An in-person gathering for creatives light refreshments, non-alcoholic beverages, DJ PrxncessDanni on the decks, and an open atmosphere for brainstorming, connecting, and getting inspired. A nice Saturday evening wind-down after the afternoon's events.

😂 Welcome 2 Brunch Comedy Show 📅 Sunday, Apr 26 | 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM 📍 The Ritz Lounge, Bryans Road, MD 💲 $44 🔗 Get tickets

Brunch, comedy, and a room full of people who came to laugh. Multiple comedians, good food, and a solid Sunday afternoon that doesn't require you to do anything but show up and enjoy it.

🍽️ Taste of Southern Maryland 📅 Sunday, Apr 26 | 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM 📍 11000 Crain Hwy N., Newburg, MD 💲 $10 (kids 12 and under free) 🔗 Get tickets

Local food vendors, wineries, distilleries, artisans, BBQ, seafood, sweet treats, inflatables, face painting, and live music all day: It's About Time (11–1), Joe Matthews Band (1–3), and Run Catch Rain (3–5). Ten dollars. All proceeds support the Maryland Veterans Museum. Come hungry and stay for the whole thing.

Local theater deserves a spot on your calendar.

These shows are happening right now and over the next few weeks, buy your tickets soon:

Go support the kids. They've been rehearsing for months.

🍄 Kids Night Out: Super Mario Bros 📅 Saturday, Apr 25 | 6:00 PM – 9:30 PM 📍 My Gym of Waldorf, Waldorf, MD 💲 $49 🔗 Book here

Mario-themed games, races, multiple obstacle courses, pizza, and a screening of the latest Super Mario Bros movie. Drop off the kids, enjoy your Saturday evening. They'll be busy, fed, and happy. Win-win.

Tuesday, April 22 the county is marking it.

🌎 Spring Cleaning: Sorting It All Out 📅 Tuesday, Apr 21 | 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM 📍 Potomac Branch Library 💲 Free 🔗 Register here

A practical recycling workshop that actually answers the questions nobody agrees on yes, the pizza box debate will finally be settled. You'll leave knowing exactly what goes where, and possibly with a free tree. One of the more useful free hours on this week's list.

🦸 Super Recyclers! (Kids Program) 📅 Wednesday, Apr 22 | 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM 📍 Waldorf West Branch Library 💲 Free 🔗 Register here

Kids become recycling superheroes through hands-on activities and crafts. A fun Earth Day midweek activity that teaches something real while keeping it age-appropriate and entertaining.

Free, smart, and worth your time.

🎬 The Librarians — Documentary Screening 📅 Monday, Apr 20 | 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM 📍 P.D. Brown Memorial Branch 💲 Free 🔗 Register here

A documentary about book bans and the role libraries play in protecting access to information. Timely, thought-provoking, and the kind of thing that leads to a good conversation afterward. Free, and worth the Monday evening.

🌿 Mallows Bay BioBlitz 2026 📅 Sunday, Apr 26 | 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM 📍 Mallows Bay Park, Nanjemoy, MD 💲 Free 🔗 Details here

Use your phone to help document local wildlife at one of Southern Maryland's most unique parks. Mallows Bay is home to the largest fleet of shipwrecks in the Western Hemisphere and it's a beautiful place to spend a Sunday morning even if you don't spot a single species. Families, nature lovers, and curious people of all ages welcome.

Spring produce season is here. Get into it.

You can nominate one for a future issue → Here

Where your neighborhood gets shaped.

🏗️ Planning Commission — Public Hearing 📅 Monday, Apr 20 | 6:00 PM 📍 Charles County Government Building 🔗 Details

Zoning updates and land use changes on the agenda. If you care about what gets built where in the county, this is one to follow.

🏛️ County Commissioners Meeting & Public Hearings 📅 Tuesday, Apr 21 | 9:00 AM & 5:00 PM 📍 Charles County Government Building 🔗 Details

Affordable housing proposals and legislative topics are on this week's agenda and public input is encouraged. If you've been wanting to weigh in on housing in the county, this is the room where it counts.

🏠 Public Hearing: 2026 Affordable Housing PILOT Projects 📅 Tuesday, Apr 21 | 5:00 PM 📍 Charles County Government Building (Hybrid) 🔗 Details

Three specific affordable housing projects are up for consideration this week: Eagle Point I at 2970 Old Washington Road in Waldorf, Lenville Crossing at 11885 Patchwork Place, and Pine Way Village, also in Waldorf. The PILOT program provides tax incentives to encourage affordable housing development. If you live near any of these locations or care about housing in the county, this is the hearing to attend or submit written comments for

📋 Public Hearing: Local Legislative Proposals 📅 Tuesday, Apr 21 | 6:00 PM 📍 Charles County Government Building (Hybrid) 🔗 Details

Public input is welcome on a range of local legislative proposals. Full list available at the county website before the hearing.

🐾 Animal Matters Hearing Board 📅 Tuesday, Apr 21 | 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM 📍 Commissioners Meeting Room 🔗 Details

🏛️ County Commissioners Midweek Meeting 📅 Wednesday, Apr 22 | 1:15 PM 🔗 Details

🏛️ Commissioners Attendance Agenda — Waldorf 📅 Wednesday, Apr 22 | 6:00 PM 📍 Waldorf Senior Center & Recreation Facility 🔗 Details

The commissioners are coming to Waldorf Wednesday evening. This is a good opportunity to show up and be seen if you have something you want them to hear.

⚖️ Police Accountability Board Meeting 📅 Thursday, Apr 23 | 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM 📍 Charles County Government Building 🔗 Details

Oversight and accountability for local law enforcement open to any resident who wants to stay informed or get involved.

Many county meetings are streamed live or recorded on CCGTV.
Agendas, links, and recordings are posted here:
👉Here

Saturday is going to move fast, make a plan, then let it go sideways in the best possible way. If you go to something fun, useful, or unexpectedly great, reply and tell me. That’s how this keeps getting better.

Your neighbor, who is already figuring out how to hit the car show, the farm fest and still make the Jazz Fest 🚗🌻🎷