March 29, 2024
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Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County highlights April’s major events

Annapolis Cup (Croquet 2014)Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County (VAAAC) wants to make it easy for individuals to enjoy the many exciting events and activities that will be taking place in Annapolis and Anne Arundel County, Maryland in April 2016. To assist individuals who are making advance plans for business or vacation travel, VAAAC has put together an April 2016 Major Events Calendar. For a more comprehensive overview of events large and small, visit VisitAnnapolis.org.

Spring Organ Concert by Monte Maxwell
Friday, April 1

7:30 p.m.

Admission: $16

U.S. Naval Academy Chapel, Annapolis

www.usna.edu/Music/  

410-293-8497

Enjoy an extraordinary performance by U.S.N.A. Chapel organist Monte Maxwell on an organ originally built by the Hutchins Organ Company of Boston, MA in 1908. In 1940, the Moeller Organ Company of Hagerstown, MD was contracted to build a larger instrument to support music in the newly enlarged chapel. Over the years, the organ has undergone several enhancements and renovations. The current instrument, comprised of both pipe and digital voices, totals 268 ranks and is controlled by two consoles.

UNANSWERED QUESTIONS       

Friday-Saturday, April 1-2

8:00 p.m.

Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts, 801 Chase Street, Annapolis

Tickets: $38-$58; students $13

http://www.annapolissymphony.org/
410-263-0907

Beethoven, Schumann and Schubert spent the greater part of their musical careers looking for answers to existential questions – oftentimes finding inspiration from literary sources, but American composer Charles Ives made the boldest and most successful attempt at putting what Ives calls “The Perennial Question of Existence” into musical sounds. The eminent English pianist Michael Roll returns to Annapolis to perform Robert Schumann’s Concerto for Piano in A Minor with the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra under the direction of conductor Jose-Luis Novo.

Fourth Annual Annapolis Film Festival
Friday-Sunday, April 1-3

Citywide – St. John’s College, Maryland Hall, St. Anne’s Parish Hall, among others

Admission: Visit website

www.annapolisfilmfestival.net  

410-263-3444

The excitement of the Annapolis Film Festival returns for a fourth year with more than 65 narrative and documentary films in all genres; Q&A sessions with filmmakers and visiting industry guests; special panels and showcases; and great parties! Local arts and business leaders are teaming up with the City of Annapolis to present the nationally competitive event featuring internationally acclaimed filmmakers and celebrity guests.

AnnapolisBeerWeek4th Annual Annapolis Beer Week
Friday, April 1 to Friday, April 8 and Saturday, April 16

Various times throughout the week

Various Locations in and around Annapolis

Admission: Visit website

http://www.annapolisbeerwk.com   

410-353-9237

Join us for a fun week of beer-related events and support area charities, local businesses and the Annapolis and Anne Arundel County community at the same time. Dozens of unique brands of beer will be available – including some beers offered exclusively during Beer Week. Highlights of the week include: 4th Annual Beer Run (4/2), 4th annual Beer and Bands (4/3), beer dinners, craft beer pub crawl and more. On Saturday, April 16th, the 3rd annual Maryland Chicken Wing & Beer Festival takes place at the Anne Arundel County Fairgrounds in Crownsville from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Taste some of the area’s best chicken wings at this family-friendly event.

Diary of Anne Frank
Friday, April 1 to Sunday, April 17

Thursday, 7:00 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 8:00 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 2:00 p.m.

Compass Rose Theater, 49 Spa Road, Annapolis

Admission: Adults, $38; Seniors (65 and older) and Military, $33; Students (with ID), $23

www.compassrosetheater.org   

410-980-6662

A simple diary discovered after World War II reveals the inmost thoughts and wishes written by the young girl Anne Frank while she was penned in an attic hiding from the Nazis. The Pulitzer Prize and Tony award-winning play shares not only a young girl’s life during wartime, but the longings and dreams of all young girls. Innocence and youthful spirit are unquenched by circumstance, as Anne discovers the world by looking at the sky through a crack in the roof.

American Impressionism: The Lure of the Artists’ Colony
Friday, April 1 to Sunday, April 24

St. John’s College, Elizabeth Myers Mitchell Gallery, 60 College Avenue, Annapolis

Admission: Free

www.sjc.edu  

410-626-2556

For the first time, the comprehensive exhibition features one of the Reading Public Museum’s greatest strengths—its collection of works by American Impressionists. The exhibition includes 50 oil paintings and nearly 20 works on paper dating from the 1880s through the 1940s. Outstanding landscapes, seascapes, penetrating portraits, and remarkable still lifes reveal the artists’ desire to capture the effects of light and atmosphere in their work.

The exhibition is arranged according to the artists’ colonies that played a key role in the development of American Impressionism, including colonies at Cos Cob and Old Lyme in Connecticut; Cape Cod, Cape Ann, and Rockport in Massachusetts; New Hope and Philadelphia in Pennsylvania; Taos, New Mexico; and California.

Art on Paper Exhibition
Friday, April 1 to Saturday, April 30

11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily

Maryland Federation of Art’s Circle Gallery, 18 State Circle, Annapolis

Admission: Free

www.Mdfedart.org   

410-268-4566

National juried exhibition of artwork made on or of paper. The 39th annual Art on Paper competition invited all interested artists residing in the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada and Mexico to submit original 2-D or 3-D work created on or of paper, including collage, artist book, origami, printmaking, painting, sculpture, and more. Reception: April 10.

Women’s Glee Club Spring Concert
Friday, April 8

7:30 p.m.

Admission: $19

U.S. Naval Academy Chapel, Annapolis

www.usna.edu/Music/ 

410-293-8497

The U.S. Naval Academy’s WOMEN’S GLEE CLUB was founded in l976 when women first entered the Naval Academy. Under the direction of Dr. Cindy Bauchspies, the ensemble has received international acclaim through its diverse repertoire and elegant sound. The group has performed extensively nationally and internationally. Recent performances include a nationally broadcast performance for the JFK 50th anniversary commemoration at the Presidential Library in Boston, where the group had the privilege of collaborating with recording artist James Taylor.

U.S.N.A. Pipes and Drums Spring Concert
Friday, April 8

7:30 p.m.

Admission: $19

Mahan Hall, U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis

www.usna.edu/Music/ 

410-293-8497

The U.S. Naval Academy’s Pipes and Drums band was formed in 1996 through an endowment by the U.S.N.A. Class of 1961. An approved Brigade Support Activity at the Naval Academy, it is the only active duty pipe band in the Department of the Navy. It is one of only two active duty pipe bands in the United States Armed Forces, the other being the Pipes and Drums of the Corps of Cadets at West Point. Consisting of bagpipers, highland drummers and highland dancers, Pipes and Drums is comprised entirely of current midshipmen.

Beethoven Symphony #9

Saturday, April 9

8:00 p.m.

Admission: Section A: Non-member, $45; Member, $40; Student, $17; Section B: Non-member, $40; Member, $35; Student, $17

Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts, 801 Chase Street, Annapolis

http://liveartsmaryland.org/
410-263-1906

Beethoven’s Ode to Joy is one of the most spectacular works ever written for orchestra and chorus. A stunning text celebrating the shared brotherhood of all humanity comes together with exciting and moving music to make the piece a one of a kind work. The Annapolis Chorale, Annapolis Chamber Orchestra and guest soloists plan to fill the stage and the hall with JOY! Presented by Live Arts Maryland.

Maryland Avenue/State Circle Spring Festival
Sunday, April 10

10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Maryland Avenue and State Circle, Annapolis

Admission: Free

http://www.shopmarylandavenue.com/   

Enjoy an old-fashioned street festival with merchants and vendors offering art, antiques, jewelry, fashion, home décor, crafts, food and activities for the entire family. Galway Bay and Harry Browne’s offer bistro dining, and Galway Bay provides outdoor live music from noon until 5:00 p.m. Take advantage of free parking at the state garage located at Calvert and St. John’s Streets.

LUMA Theater

Tuesday, April 12

7:30 p.m.

Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts, 801 Chase Street, Annapolis

Admission: Non-members, $29; Members, $24

www.marylandhall.org
410- 263-5544

LUMA plunges the audience into a darkened space where a tapestry of illuminated illusions fills the stage. Combining rhythmic gymnastics, dance, magic, puppetry, physics and experimental methods, LUMA is a singular experience that mesmerizes, mystifies and fills its audiences with wonder.

RamsHeadAverage White Band
Thursday, April 14

8:00 p.m.

Rams Head on Stage, 33 West Street, Annapolis

Admission: $41.50

www.ramsheadonstage.com  

410-268-4545

AWB is widely regarded as one of the best soul and funk bands in the history of music. Perhaps best known for its timeless instrumental mega-hit, “Pick Up the Pieces”, the band’s strength is its consistently accomplished song-writing, stretching across several gold-selling albums and multi-Grammy nominations for Atlantic Records. The six-piece group took the influences of its R&B heroes – people like Marvin Gaye, James Brown, Donny Hathaway and others – and developed its own ‘authentic’ sound. 

Men’s Glee Club Spring Concert
Friday, April 15

7:30 p.m.

Admission: $19

U.S. Naval Academy Chapel, Annapolis

www.usna.edu/Music/  

410-293-8497

The Men’s Glee Club is the most highly acclaimed of the Naval Academy’s musical organizations and has achieved national recognition as one of America’s premier men’s choral ensembles. Recent appearances on network television include The Kennedy Center Honors (CBS), The Today Show (NBC), The Early Show (CBS), Christmas in Washington (NBC and TNT), and Good Morning, America (ABC).  The ensemble has performed in New York’s Carnegie and Avery Fisher Halls, San Diego’s Copley Symphony Hall, and Washington, D.C.’s Kennedy Center.

Innovations
Friday-Sunday, April 15-17

Friday, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, 7:00 p.m.; Sunday, 2:00 p.m., with free season grand finale party following performance

Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts, 801 Chase Street, Annapolis

Admission: Non-member adult, $52; Member adult, $47; Senior, $43; Student, $32; Child, $27

http://www.balletmaryland.org/Home/tabid/146/Default.aspx
410-224-5644

Explore the edges of classical and contemporary dance with original choreographic works and music compositions as Ballet Theatre of Maryland presents a potpourri of innovative pieces designed to transport audiences from the classical, to the cultural, to the contemporary – exploring emotions and themes relevant to all.

Bay Bridge Boat Show
Friday-Sunday, April 15-17

Friday-Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Bay Bridge Marina, Stevensville

Admission: Adults, $12-$19; Children 12 and under, free

www.annapolisboatshows.com  

410-268-8828

All of the leading powerboat manufacturers will be exhibiting at the 2016 Bay Bridge Boat Show. There are dozens of affordable brokerage boats. Most boats are available for immediate sale. Buy your new or used boat today and power it into the Chesapeake Bay tomorrow.

34th Annual St. John’s / USNA Croquet Match
Saturday, April 16; rain date, Sunday, April 17

St. John’s College Campus Front Lawn, 60 College Avenue, Annapolis

Admission: Free

www.sjc.edu  

410-626-2539

The “Johnnies” and the “Mids” vie for the coveted Annapolis Cup during this annual rite of spring. The croquet match brings together two starkly different institutions for an event Sports Illustrated says has “no parallel in intercollegiate sports.” Attendees dress “Great Gatsby”-style while enjoying a lavish lawn party that includes serenades by the St. John’s Freshman Chorus and swing music provided by the Naval Academy’s Trident Brass Band. The “Johnnies” play in different “uniforms” each year – ranging from camouflage khakis, to U.S. Naval Academy imitation Crackerjack, to Vikings’ attire, to bare feet. The “Mids” follow the United States Croquet Association dress code.

15th Annual Boatyard Bar & Grill Opening Day Catch & Release Rockfish Tournament
Saturday, April 16

4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Boatyard Bar & Grill, 400 Fourth Street, Annapolis

Admission:  Captains & Boat Registration, $200; After Party (open to public) General Admission: $25 for drinks; $10 for food; $5 for kids

www.BoatyardBarandGrill.com/events/annapolis-fishing-tournament
410-216-6206

Chesapeake anglers excited about the start of the rockfish season can enjoy their favorite sport and support three local causes: Chesapeake Bay Foundation, CCA-Maryland and the Annapolis Police Department’s Youth Fishing Camp. Friday evening the skippers pick up their bags, slurp oysters and talk fish to the other captains. After a competitive day of fishing on Saturday, awards and prizes are handed out at the after-party which is open to the public in the Boatyard parking lots. It’s a huge, fun event with live music, cold beverages and grilled food.

14th Annual Annapolis Book Festival
Saturday, April 16

The Key School, 534 Hillsmere Drive, Annapolis

10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Admission: Free

www.keyschool.org/annapolisbookfestival  

410-263-9231

Recognized as one of the premier community events in the region, the free festival celebrates the beauty, power, passion and excitement of the written word. It includes a full day of discussions with prominent authors, a family-friendly comic-con for children and teens, children’s activities, book signings, live music and new and used book sales. The event attracts more than 3,000 attendees annually. 

The Big Read
Saturday, April 16 to Saturday, May 21

Chesapeake Children’s Museum, 25 Silopanna Road, Annapolis and other Anne Arundel County locations 

Various times

Admission: Free and fee events

http://www.theccm.org/ 

410-990-1993

The Chesapeake Children’s Museum kicks off Annapolis and Anne Arundel County’s month-long Big Read program on April 16 at 11:00 a.m. with “Meet Mark Twain,” featuring timeless games, paper dolls, Mark Twain storytelling, Tall Tales tournament tryouts (ages 8 to 18), and Twain on Twain for an admission fee of $4. A program of the National Endowment for the Arts, The Big Read broadens our understanding of our world, our communities, and ourselves through the joy of sharing a good book. The Big Read supports organizations across the country in developing community-wide reading programs which encourage reading and participation by diverse audiences.

Robin Trower
Tuesday, April 19

8:00 p.m.; doors open at 7:00 p.m.

Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts, 801 Chase Street, Annapolis

Admission: $60.00 – $75.00

www.ramsheadonstage.com  

410-268-4545

Legendary solo artist and Procol Harum guitarist Robin Trower helped define an era of guitar-riff rock with the first four notes of 1974’s “Bridge of Sighs”. Trower has garnered the same esteem and prestige as the great players of the time: Page, Townsend, May, Beck and the lot. He’s been a Fender Stratocaster endorsee ever since Jethro Tull’s Martin Barre let him try one before a gig in the early seventies. He now has his own signature model – an honor accorded to few.

The Time Jumpers
Friday, April 22

8:00 p.m.; doors open at 7:00 p.m.

Rams Head On Stage, 33 West Street, Annapolis

Admission: $85.00

www.ramsheadonstage.com    

410-268-4545

The Time Jumpers was established in Nashville in 1998 by an assemblage of high-dollar studio musicians who wanted to spend some spare time drinking beer and jamming with their sonically gifted buddies. The notion of building a rabidly devoted following was the last thing on their minds – but that’s what happened. Learning that Monday evenings were the slowest in the week for the Station Inn bluegrass club, the super-pickers set up shop at the fabled venue at the start of each week. Pretty soon Monday nights were sounding a lot like Saturday nights – and drawing correspondingly large and lively crowds.

Juanito Pascual New Flamenco Trio

Friday, April 22

7:30 p.m.

Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts, 801 Chase Street, Annapolis

Admission: Non-members, $20; Members, $15

www.marylandhall.org  

410- 263-5544

The trio features top flamenco guitarist Juanito Pascual, world class percussionist Tupac Mantilla and stunning bassist Brad Barrett. The group creates a sound that seamlessly merges flamenco with elements of jazz, world-music and even rock and soul influences.

5th Annual Annapolis Spring Sailboat Show
Friday-Sunday, April 22-24

City Dock, Annapolis

Admission: $12-$19

www.usboat.com  

410-268-8828

Set in the charming and historic seaport of Annapolis, the Spring Sailboat Show is the first opportunity of the year for experienced and novice sailors to shop for the latest in equipment, electronics, clothing and boating accessories at the show’s 100+ on-land nautical exhibits and on-site pro surf shops. The fifth annual in-water springtime show will feature Cruisers University (April 21-24) and more than 80 new and previously-owned sailboats of all types and sizes – including catamarans, mono hulls, racing boats, inflatables and day sailors

3rd Annual Arts in the Park Festival
Saturday, April 23

11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. 

Chesapeake Arts Center, 194 Hammonds Lane, Brooklyn Park

Admission: Free

www.Chesapeakearts.org    

410-636-6597

Join in this family-friendly festival of art, music, dance, theatre and food that includes activities for kids of all ages. Be the first to hear about our 2016/2017 season! 

Annapolis Opera Company’s 28th Annual Vocal Competition
Saturday, April 23 – Semi Finals; Sunday, April 24 – Finals

Time: TBA

Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts, 801 Chase Street, Annapolis

Admission: Free

http://annapolisopera.org/operas-events/
410-267-8135

The Annapolis Opera’s Vocal Competition gives opera students and young professionals in the Mid-Atlantic region the opportunity to hone their craft by performing before a blue-ribbon panel of judges comprised of respected music educators and opera performers. It also gives Music Director Ronald Gretz a chance to discover new talent for upcoming Annapolis Opera productions. Prizes total more than $10,000, with each finalist receiving from $500 to $3,500.

Distinguished Artists Series Spring Oratorio:

Voltaire’s Candide

Sunday, April 24

7:30 p.m.

Admission: $30

Alumni Hall, 675 Decatur Road, Annapolis

www.usna.edu/Music/  

410-293-8497

The 23-year-old Distinguished Artists Series is part of a comprehensive program developed by the Naval Academy’s senior leadership to enrich the education of Midshipmen through exposure and involvement with fine arts. The series has presented the world’s finest classical and cultural performers to the Academy with an annual mix of opera, ballet, orchestra and diverse international ensembles.

Wednesday Night Sailboat Races
Wednesday evenings, April 27 through August 31

First Gun: Approximately 6:10 p.m.

Annapolis Harbor

www.annapolisyc.com  

410-263-9279

Grab your favorite dockside seat in America’s Sailing Capital to watch some 130 crews compete in midweek races that involve sailing around several marks in the Chesapeake Bay before heading back to Spa Creek for a finish in front of the Annapolis Yacht Club. For many, the post-race party is the official beginning of the weekend.

Romeo and Juliet
Friday, April 29 to Sunday, May 29

Friday-Saturday, 8:00 p.m.; Sunday, 3:00 p.m.; Friday, May 27, 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.

Annapolis Shakespeare Company, 111 Chinquapin Round Road, Suite 114 Annapolis Admission: $25-$55

www.AnnapolisShakespeare.org    

410-415-3513

The Annapolis Shakespeare Company gives a command performance of Shakespeare’s classic play about two star-struck lovers determined to be together in life and death.

Footworks

Saturday, April 30

7:30 p.m.

Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts, 801 Chase Street, Annapolis

Admission: Non-members, $20; Members, $15

www.marylandhall.org  

410- 263-5544

Fiery fancy footwork sets the stage ablaze when the aptly named company, Footworks, returns to Maryland Hall for another spectacular performance. Known for its energetic and imaginative choreography, Footworks combines the elements of clog, step, and tap into a fast-paced, exuberant dance production that leaves the entertainers and audience breathless.

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