Events & Festivals - Baltimore

Events and Festivals showcase the diverse and lively arts and cultural scene. From the exciting Kinetic Sculpture Race to the popular monthly Bike Party, there's a lot more to discover than you might think.

The Hon Cafe, on the Avenue in Hampden closed in Spring 2022 (photo by Jeff Cutler)

The city is home to numerous iconic venues, such as the Inner Harbor Amphitheater and the Royal Farms Arena, which host some of the biggest names in music and entertainment. The Baltimore Convention Center, on the other hand, is a hub for conferences and trade shows.

The city also boasts a thriving arts and culture scene, with numerous museums, galleries, and theaters hosting exhibitions and performances throughout the year. Baltimore is well-known for its annual events, including the Baltimore Book Festival, Artscape, and the Baltimore Farmers’ Market & Bazaar, which attract locals and tourists alike.

Local Event Calendars

Navigating local event calendars can be a daunting task, with so many options to choose from. Taking a chance and attending events lead to meeting new and interesting people while getting out of your comfort zone. Action is the antidote to anxiety.

Baltimore Meetups showcases mostly community run social and hobby groups.
Things to Do by Baltimore Magazine includes a regular updated list of user submitted events and allows you to submit your event.
Events by Visit Baltimore, the city's official tourism organization
Baltimore Style Calendar includes more local events
The Baltimore Sun's calendar, run by our hometown newspaper that is owned by Alden Global, a New York City venture capital firm

Annual Events & Festivals (organized by month)

AFRAM (week in summer months) is a week-long celebration of African-American culture and heritage in Baltimore that takes place in the summer months.
MLK Day Parade (3rd Monday in January) is a celebration of the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. that takes place on the 3rd Monday of January.
Kinetic Sculpture Race (1st Saturday in May) is a unique and quirky competition in which participants race their sculptures through the streets, sand, and water of Baltimore.
Flower Mart (beginning of May) is a spring festival that showcases Baltimore’s best flowers, plants and gardening products, as well as food and entertainment.
Honfest (2nd weekend in June) is a celebration of Baltimore’s iconic “hons” (working-class women) that features music, food, shopping, and entertainment.
Artscape (middle of July) is a three-day festival that showcases the best in visual, performing and musical arts and entertainment.
Baltimore Book Festival (last weekend in September) is a celebration of books, reading, and literacy that features author readings, workshops, exhibitors, and entertainment.
Free Fall Baltimore (October) s a city-wide celebration of the arts that features free events, performances, and exhibitions throughout Baltimore.
Lighting of the Washington Monument (1st Thursday in December) is a holiday celebration that marks the start of the holiday season in Baltimore by lighting the Washington Monument in Mt. Vernon
Parade of Lighted Boats (1st Saturday in December) is a holiday celebration that features a procession of decorated boats lit up for the holiday season.
Miracle on 34th Street (December) is a holiday display of lights in Hampden that transforms the street into a winter wonderland with festive lights and holiday cheer.