Festivals in Baltimore

Baltimore African American Festival was founded in 1996 by Adrienne Jones, who is the current speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates. This free annual family-friendly event is a large cultural celebration boasting educational exhibitions, as well as family entertainment of Baltimore County’s African American heritage. Attracting thousands of visitors each year, the festival has seen the biggest icons like Billie Holiday and Fredrick Douglass, among other big personalities.

The event features local, national, and international entertainers and artists, vendors, crafts, and arts, food, etc.

When: September 19, 2021

Address: Baltimore County Courts Building, 401 Bosley Ave, Towson, MD 21204

Where: Online

Located in a neighborhood called Crownsville, Maryland, the Maryland Renaissance Festival is an annual Renaissance Fair held usually in August, September, and October. The fair is set on a 27-acre land called Revel Grove - a fictional English village from the 16th century. Visitors can explore the land while experiencing fun activities, dance performances, live music, knights, and more.

The event is renowned as the second-largest Renaissance festival in the country, as it sees nearly 300,000 visitors in each season.

When: August 2021: 28 & 29; September 2021: 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 18, 19, 25, 26; October 2021: 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, 24

Address: 1821 Crownsville Rd, Annapolis, MD 21401

An American extreme music festival - Maryland Deathfest is an annual event that takes place either in Baltimore or near Baltimore. Each year, the event is held towards the weekend of Memorial Day. This festival is considered the biggest festival in North America. And due to its popularity, the organizers of the event have produced the same event all over the country and around the world. Some of them are California Deathfest, Netherlands Deathfest, and Scandinavia Deathfest, to name a few.

Over the years, the event has seen extreme metal bands like a Circle of Dead Children, Odious Mortem, Sourvein, and Dark Angel, among 600+ bands from over 30 countries.

Where: May 27 to 30, 2021

Location: Baltimore, Maryland, United States

The country’s largest free arts festival, Artscape, is home to over 200 artists, performers, and more to demonstrate and showcase their work along the Baltimore’s neighborhoods. The event witnesses participants from both big establishments like Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and local artists. It also features outdoor installations, sculptures, exhibitions, arts, and more. Attendees of the event can enjoy an array of activities like dance, opera, live concerts, and other demonstrations.

Along with this, the Artscape also serves local food and beer.

When: To be announced

Since its inception on June 6, 2006, Baltimore Fashion Week launched its first fashion event in August 2008, in the heart of the city, called the War Memorial. And since then, it has assisted and helped new and renowned designers launch their designs and promote their collections in the fashion industry.

Every edition of the event features a new theme, along with up-and-coming designers and professionals with their new collections showcasing to the buyers, clients, boutique owners, and trendsetters.

When: To be announced

Recognized as the famous, favorite barbecue festival in Maryland, Beer Bourbon & BBQ Festival is a true Southerner event. This annual festival sees a lot of beers, bourbons, and barbecues, along with bacon, bluegrass, boots, and smoked beasts. It’s a two-day event, and it sees thousands of visitors at each event. Visitors attending the event can taste bourbon, sip beers, listen to music, eat barbecued items, and smoke cigars.

The admission ticket will offer a sampling glass so visitors can taste all the beer and bourbon present at the event.

When: October 29 & 30, 2021

Held in May, Baltimore Wine Fest is an annual event that hosts local and internationally-acclaimed chefs, culinary masters, and artisan craftsmen under one roof. Each year the event witnesses thousands of foodies from Baltimore and all around the world. Attendees at the event can enjoy over 100 wines from all across the globe, along with the local brands. Plus, attendees can find an array of a new collection of beers and other spirits.

They can also get a VIP experience where attendees can enjoy an hour of sampling sessions and can take home the bag of souvenir glass.

When: May 15, 2021

Location: Harbor Point Central Plaza

Baltimore Caribbean Carnival is an annual parade festival in Baltimore, Maryland. This festival is organized to celebrate the culture, traditions, and heritage of the Caribbean. To celebrate, it offers music, dance, food, vibrant ensembles, and more.

The event starts with a parade, post which, the family-friendly festival features various performances and other children’s activities. The groups participating at Baltimore Caribbean Carnival represent Diaspora, Latin America, and the Caribbean in vibrant ensembles, who dance to the music of Reggae, Latin, Steelband music, and more.

When: July 13, 2021

Latinofest is an annual event held in Baltimore, Maryland to celebrate the Hispanic/Latin culture. The culture is celebrated with Latin music, including duranguense, salsa, bachata, reggae, and much more. The dancers hail from their native lands and dress up in loud and colorful costumes.

Along with this, attendees can also check out the arts and crafts display, enjoy Latin cuisine, and performances by the Latin DJs. Some of the fun activities during the event include rock climbing and face-painting.

When: June 2021

Greek Food and Cultural Festival has over 48 editions of the event. Each year, the Annunciation Greek festival organizes several family-friendly activities. Some of the activities include jewelry shopping, cultural exhibits, live music, cathedral tours, Greek dance lessons, and so much more. Along with these fun elements, there’s also lots of food and wine to taste.

Some of the main Greek dishes featured here are yigantes, yiahni, dolmathes, and various dessert options such as baklava, coconut revani, and rice pudding, among so many more.

When: October 2021

Organized since 1928, the Feast of St. Gabriel is an annual festival held for two days, either in August or June at Little Italy, to celebrate the beginning of summer. The event is sponsored by the Great parish - St. Leo, and visitors at the event can expect loads of Italian food, Italian music, dance, games, and heaps of fun. The celebration features a special Sunday mass that’s followed by a street procession.

This procession comprises a parade, marchers, parishioners, knights, and more that follow Saint Gabriel’s statue.

When: August 2021

Federal Hill Jazz & Blue Festival is an annual event held in Baltimore, Maryland featuring some of the best melodies of blues and jazz by the best national and international artists. The event is free to the public to attend, and it is also kid-friendly. The festival sees visitors of all ages enjoying mouthwatering cuisine, drinks, and other activities that take place throughout the day.

Visitors can take their kids to a popular spot called the Little Lane, or shop for antique and homemade goodies during the event.

When: June 2021

Charm City Comedy Festival has been taking place since 2014 and is run by the Charm City Comedy Project. This two-weekend festival features stand-up shows, sketch groups, improv, and more, from the city, and across the nation. Visitors interested in taking part in workshops can learn and understand everything about comedy that is taught by renowned teachers and performers from the industry.

These workshops help the up-and-coming and budding artists to hone their skills and talents furthermore.

When: To be announced

Saint Antony Italian Festival in Baltimore, Maryland, is a two-day event where visitors/attendees come together to celebrate Saint Anthony. This outdoor festival is a family-friendly event that includes varieties of Italian food such as fried dough, pasta, calzone, meatballs, cannoli, chicken parmesan, Italian wine and beers, and so much more. Multiple booths and stalls feature fun games, contests, and many other activities.

The festival usually sees a mass on Sunday and a parade where people carry the idol of Saint Anthony.

When: June 2021

Hampden Christmas Street Holiday Show is an annual event that’s also called Miracle on 34th Street, which is a display of holiday lights on the 34th Street in Baltimore’s community of Hampden - between Keswick Road and Chestnut Ave. This event started in 1947, and it features residents’ houses on the street decorated grandly, either with a show of lights or themes. Some of the decorations may include different styles of Christmas trees, Hanukkah menorahs, animated figures, and more.

These decorations symbolize the significance of the holiday season.

When: To be announced

Address: 700 W 34th St, Baltimore, MD 21211

A unique festival held in Baltimore, Maryland, Light City Festival was launched in 2016 by the Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts. This international light festival welcomed over 400,000 people from around the world during the launch, over seven nights. The event features light installations, music, performances, and more. Along with it, the festival also sees over 50 attractions, including lit-up sculptures, a children’s play area, concerts, various food vendors, etc.

During the day, visitors can learn about the ecosystem of ideas, while at night, they can enjoy the light performances and live music. The city will be decorated with beautiful light displays.

When: Postponed until 2022

Address: 401 E Baltimore St, Baltimore, MD 21202

A five-day annual event, Maryland Film Festival was first launched in 1999. The event showcases various video works and films from all genres and lengths. It was named under “25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World” by MovieMaker Magazine.

Till date, some of the international filmmakers who have presented their work at the event include Melvin Van Peebles, Lisandro Alonso, Amy Seimetz, and Jonathan Demme, to name a few. Each year, the event organizers present or choose around 30 feature films to be showcased, along with 80 short films.

When: January 28, 2021 - February 8, 2021

Situated in Timonium, United States, Maryland State Fair is an annual event held in the state of Maryland. This 11-day event first started in 1878 and was formerly known as Lutherville Fair. The grounds where the event is held, Timonium, is considered as one of the most renowned venues in the States.

The event, each year, hosts a variety of industries. Thousands of visitors and exhibitors attend each year, making this event a famous center for hosting multiple open-house programs and exhibitions.

When: August 26, 2021, to September 6th, 2021

Address: 200 York Rd, Lutherville-Timonium, MD 21093

Considered as one of the oldest and the largest Pride celebrations in the state of Maryland and the United States of America, Baltimore Pride is electric, vibrant, and a fun festival. It is organized by the LGBTQIA+ community of Baltimore, called GLCCB - Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Community Center of Baltimore. The celebration begins on Pride weekend with a large parade that is followed by a late-night block party.

Also, the Pride event organizes various activities including music and entertainment stages, and family-friendly events, among other fun activities. The entire celebratory event is run by the volunteers and the donations offered by the community and sponsors.

When: To be announced

Address: 2530 North Charles Street Third Floor, Baltimore, MD 21218

Baltimore is a renowned center for the crab industry, and that is because of its location. The city is situated on the shores of Chesapeake. And that is why this festival, Chesapeake Crab & Beer Festival, is popular in Baltimore, where nearly 30,000 people each year attend the event.

This family-friendly festival features over 60,000 crabs and 50 kinds of beers to be tasted, along with experiencing live music, fun family activities, and art & crafts. At the event, each visitor will be offered 6 crabs at a time and they vary in size. Also, the festival offers other tasty food, including a lot of vegetarian options.

When: May 15, 2021

Location: Harbor Point Central Plaza

Fells Point Historic Festival started as a fundraiser event in 1967. Since the fundraiser event, and all its ups and downs, the Fells Point Historic Festival became an annual event that covers around 6 blocks in the city, right in the heart of Baltimore. The festival features a Pet Parade and a Festive Family Zone, among other fun activities.

Along with this, it also sees two stages with over 15 bands playing, which includes all the local favorite bands. Some of the previous year’s lineup included Wide Eyed Lounge Cats, Shelby Blondell, The Blatant 80s, and Skyla Burrell, to name a few. Visitors can explore over 100 stalls featuring clothing, photography, arts, crafts, and more.

When: To be announced

A fun festival organized by the Baltimore Improv Group, Baltimore Improv Fest features several comedians from places like New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and across the country. This seven-day event sees seven-nights of improv acts, along with improv workshops for four days. The event is held at Stations North Arts District in the heart of the city.

So far, this improv event has seen over 400 comedy performers, and visitors who have come from across the country and the world. Along with this, the event also showcases several locals, regional, national, and internationally-renowned improv groups, both in workshops and shows.

When: June 29, 2020

A notable festival of Baltimore, Maryland, the Baltimore Book Festival takes place in November, every year, at Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. Earlier it used to be held at Mount Vernon Place. The events host over 100 booksellers and authors from all over the country and worldwide. It is attended by nation-renowned authors. The visitors can indulge in activities including getting the author’s signature on their books, attending a poetry reading, exploring several workshops, and enjoying live music, and more.

There are fun hands-on projects for kids to participate in. And in 2019, this event - Baltimore Book Festival banded together with the Light City festival and it was known to become Brilliant Baltimore.

When: Postponed until 2021

Coined as the celebration of culture and veganism in Baltimore, Vegan Soulfest is present by A Well Fed World. The event solely focuses on the vegan culture and the lifestyle of people. It showcases a variety of guest speakers, as well as an array of delicious foods, drinks, live music, and cooking demonstrations. Vegan Soulfest is created as a way to boost the benefits of veganism.

Attendees of the events also get to see non-profit exhibitors who give out information regarding animal rights, social justice, and health.

When: To be announced

Address: 2701 St Lo Dr, Baltimore, MD 21213

HonFest is an annual festival that was first held in 1994, in Baltimore, Maryland. It is held in the neighborhood of Hampden. HonFest is inspired by the word ‘hon’ey, that 'Baltimorese' often use the term to greet each other. It is a celebration of the lifestyle and stereotype of the people of Baltimore, which has now become one of the most-visited festivals in the city.

It used to be a one-day event, but because of its popularity, the event has grown to be a two-day event since 2007. The event sees various contests, one of which is a contest where people dress up as a “hon”. This means people are seen in the 1960s sunglasses, large hairdo, oversized clothing, loud makeup, etc. And the winner of the contest will be titled/crowned “Miss Hon”.

When: To be announced