The List: May 2026

5/14: BROMO ART WALK
Exhibitions. A century ago, Howard Street once bustled with department stores, showrooms, and specialty boutiques as the city’s commercial district. And while many of those stalwarts have come and gone, this downtown hub has been reborn with a new creative energy. Along the Light Rail tracks, throughout the Bromo Arts District, dozens of galleries, music venues, theaters, and collectives have revitalized vacant buildings and converted the neighborhood into a safe haven for lovers of the arts. And twice a year, the best way to experience its resurgence is by roaming this remarkable row during the free Bromo Art Walk.

On May 14 from 5 to 9 p.m., stroll the neighborhood for an evening of exhibits and events at the likes of Current Space, the Eubie Blake Cultural Center, Le Mondo, the Lineup Room. Every door you pass will be bursting with imagination and al walks of Baltimore. Last year was a perfect spring night—fingers crossed for the same weather.

5/1: FRIDA FEST
Festivals. Celebrate Frida Kahlon, the iconic Mexican painter, with a day of artistry, food, and family-friendly fun with local nonprofit Nuestras Raices. Casa de la Cultura, 3403 Gough St. 5-9 p.m. Free 

5/1-2: FLOWER MART
Festivals. Founded in 1911 with the goal of beautifying the city, Flower Mart continues to pack a fragrant, petal-packed punch with flower-themed crafts and workshops, plenty of plants for sale, and favorite foods like the event’s signature lemon stick. Mount Vernon Place, 699 Washington Pl. 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Free. 

5/1-3: JANE AUSTEN FEST
Festivals. Calling all Jane Austen fans. For one full weekend, get transported to the author’s cult-followed worlds with themed carriage rides, crafts, and food at Manor Mill in Monkton, including a Manor Mill Playhouse performance of “The Complete Jane Austen: Abridged.” Locations & times vary. $35-565.

5/1-31: ASIA NORTH
Festivals. Back for its seventh year, this collaborative community celebration of Asian arts and culture takes place throughout the month of May in Station North. An array of programming will take place across multiple venues throughout the neighborhood, examining its evolving identies as a Koreatown, arts district, and creative hub. Locations & times vary. Free. 

5/2: KINETIC SCULPTURE RACE
Exhibitions. The American Visionary Art Museum presents Baltimore’s most wacky, wonderful, DIY race that puts hand-made, human-powered contraptions to the test during a 15-mile sprint over land, water, sand, and mud, including AVAM’s own 15-foot-tall “poodle,” Fifi. American Visionary Art Museum, 800 Key Hwy. 9:30 a.m. Free.

5/2: MARYLAND AT 250: THE VALUES THAT SHAPE US
Classes & Lectures. The Dred Scott Decision of 1857 lit fire to an already growing national crisis. In this afternoon lecture, local historian and Johns Hopkins University professor Martha Jones explores the conversation surrounding birthright citizenship and the 14th Amendment. Maryland Center for History & Culture, 610 Park Ave. 2 p.m. Free.

5/2: MARQEE BALL
Galas & Fundraisers. Whether you’re a hardcore comic fan or an everyday hero, come sporting your most heroic (or villainous) costumes to Creative Alliance’s annual fundraiser, fit with a cocktail hour, seated dinner, dancing, and awards ceremony honoring Roz Cauthen and Tom Hall for their contributions to Baltimore Arts. The Patterson at Creative Alliance, 3134 Eastern Ave. 8 p.m. $110. 

5/2-7/11: BEYOND THE SURFACE
Exhibitions. In contrast to today’s constant flood of imagery, printmaking is a slower medium that requires thoughtful assembly to highlight voices and stories. In this collection of works by 12 artists, examine the concept of visibility through this medium. IGalerie Myrtis, 2224 N. Charles St. Tues.-Sat. 2-6 p.m. Free.

5/5: REDEFINING INDUSTRY
Galas & Fundraisers. Every year, the Baltimore Museum of Industry recognizes five extraordinary innovators working to uplift Baltimore’s economy and social connection. This year’s celebration includes hors d’oeuvres, cocktails, live music, and a Stoop Storytelling performance by the honorees. Baltimore Museum of Industry, 1415 Key Hwy. 5:30-8 p.m. $75-100. 

5/6: STATE OF THE WATERSHED
Classes & Lectures. Baltimore Harbor Waterkeeper Alice Volpitta discusses 15 years of water -quality data from across the Baltimore Harbor watershed. Learn from Blue Water Baltimore and partners about the harbor’s health and how we can restore it to vitality for safe recreation. Institute for Marine and Environmental Technology, 701 E. Pratt St. 5-7:30 p.m. $30. 

5/8: I WANNA DANCE WITH SOMEBODY…BEFORE 9 P.M.
Music. Stoop Productions presents this early-bird dance party at Remington’s fan-favorite rock venue. Downstairs, bust a move to ’90s hits with DJ Amsies, or head upstairs for ’80s jams with DJ King Cole. Ottobar, 2549 N. Howard St. 5 p.m. $23.23. 

5/8-9: VINYLCON
Festivals. This annual celebration of all things vinyl creates a crate-digging mecca for music lovers and collectors, featuring a colossal selection of records, memorabilia, and other recorded media, plus a full bar and DJ tunes at this Hampden brewery. Union Craft Brewing, 1700 W. 41st St. Fri. 3-10 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. $9-30. 

5/8-9: CYLBURN MARKET DAY
Festivals. For one day only, get a behind-the-scenes sale at Cylburn Arboretum, with plants for purchase from their on-site nursery on Saturday, as well as food trucks and family-friendly activities like face painting. Just in time for Mother’s Day, start the celebrations early with “Party on the Porch,” an adults-only fundraiser that includes drinks and live music. Cylburn Arboretum, 4915 Greenspring Ave. Fri. 5-8 p.m., Sat. 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Free-$65.87. 

5/8-6/12: CONFLUENCE: REIMAGINING BALTIMORE’S WATERWAYS
Exhibitions. In retrospective exhibition of The Future of Here: A Glimpse of a River Culture to Come, exhibited at the Peale museum in 2025, a collective of artists and researchers at Johns Hopkins University expands our imagination of the future of Jones Falls. Area 405, 405 E. Oliver St. Thurs.-Sat. 1-4 p.m. Free.

5/9: REMFEST
Festivals. It’s been a few years since Remington became the most happening neighborhood  in Baltimore. Join small business, local artists, and nonprofits for a day of multi-stage live music performances, local food trucks, and fun for the whole family. Remington Ave. 12-9 p.m. Free.

5/9: BLACK PANTHER FAMILY AFTERNOON
Exhibitions. In celebration of The Walters’ Douriean Fletcher: Jewelry of the Afrofuture exhibition, enjoy a community screening of Marvel Studios’ Black Panther to see featured pieces on the big screen. The Walters Art Museum, 600 N. Charles St. 1-4 p.m. Free. 

5/13: ORCHKIDS SPRING CELEBRATION CONCERT
Music. This is a Baltimore Symphony Orchestra concert not to miss. For one night only, kindergarten students through high-school seniors from over 70 Baltimore schools perform in a variety of ensembles including brass, string, and wind instruments, with light snacks and refreshments. Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, 1212 Cathedral St. 6 p.m. Pay-what-you-wish. 

5/15-16: PREAKNESS
Sports. While the iconic Pimlico Race Course undergoes renovations, the 151st Preakness will be held at Laurel Park. On Friday, horses compete in the traditional Black-Eyed Susan race, followed by the main event on Saturday, featuring the country’s finest Thoroughbred horses and some of the year’s best people watching. Laurel Park, 98 Laurel Race Track Rd., Laurel. Times & prices vary.

5/16-17: DAVID BYRNE
Music. This one-time Maryland resident and multi-faceted Talking Heads frontman performs both new and old hits on his solo stop in downtown Baltimore, only a few miles from where he was raised in Arbutus. Hippodrome Theatre, 12 N. Eutaw St. 8 p.m. $339-1,094. 

5/17: BALTIMORE VINTAGE EXPO
Markets. The region’s most coveted vintage and antique dealers come together in celebration of the expo’s 10-year anniversary. Shop a curated lineup of timeless, collectible retro finds, quality clothing for all genders, jewelry, decor, furniture, and more. Union Collective, 1700 W. 41st St. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Free.

5/17-6/14: EMMA
Theater. Kate Hamill’s modern adaptation brings mischief, humor, and a few surprising twists to the classic Jane Austen love story. Self-proclaimed matchmaker Emma Woodhouse has a knack for meddling, ultimately leading her to face her pride and come to terms with her own feelings. Everyman Theatre, 315 W. Fayette St. Times vary. $5-101.

5/21-24: MARYLAND DEATH FEST XXI
Music. For 21 years, this hard-rocking music festival has moshpitted its week across Memorial Day Weekend, featuring the region’s most potent metal artists like Putridity, Melting Rot, and Slimelord. Baltimore Soundstage, 124 Market Pl. Times vary. $43-373. 

5/23: FANTASY MACHINE
Exhibitions. Now in its seventh year, this experimental fashion and eclectic pop-up shop returns to the Bromo Arts District, featuring looks from multiple talented designers across two shows, followed by an-after party. Current Space, 421 N. Howard St. 5:30 p.m. Free.

5/23-24: ARTSCAPE
Festivals. For the second year in its new downtown location, join thousands of Baltimoreans during two days of the city’s biggest arts festival. Swing by the Devin Allen-curated Scout Art Fair, dive into immersive art pieces, snack on local food trucks, and listen to live music from artists including The Roots and Stephanie Mills. And when the sun sets, Artscape After Dark comes to life with illuminated installations and DJ sets. 100 Holliday St. 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Free.

5/23-24: BREW AT THE ZOO
Food & Drink. Unleash your wild side this Memorial Day weekend during the zoo’s annual beer festival. Snag some craft suds (as well as cider, wine, and seltzers) and amble amidst the animals, with food, live music, and Charm City Trivia to boot. Maryland Zoo, 1 Safari Pl. 1-7 p.m. $40-86. 

5/24: SOWEBO FEST
Festivals. If you know, you know about this beloved Memorial Day weekend tradition celebrating Southwest Baltimore. Explore more than 80 vendors, bring the kids for activities and crafts, and catch live music performances across four stages. Historic Hollins Market, 1100 Hollins St. 12-8 p.m. Free.

5/27: COMMUTER CHAOS
Theater. Getting from point A to point B isn’t always so easy in Baltimore. During this Stoop Storytelling show in Ridgley’s Delight, in partnership with Bikemore, hear about our daily commutes, in all their humor, surprise, and mayhem. Checkerspot Brewing Company, 1421 Ridgely St. 7 p.m. $25. 

5/28: FUTURE ISLANDS
Music. This trailblazing indie rock band celebrates 20 years together in a hometown show along the Baltimore waterfront, featuring guest appearances by other local gets, Dan Deacon and Ed Schraeder’s Music Beat. Pier Six Pavilion, 731 Eastern Ave. 8 p.m. Prices vary. 

5/29-6/20: AMERICAN VAMP
Theater. The Baltimore Rock Opera Society is back, baby. In their latest production filled with ’80s-inspired rock ballads, Laura van Helsing finds herself in a trio of cutthroat vampires competing to reach the top of the corporate ladder at PlasmaCorp, leaving her to decide between success and survival. Zion Church of the City of Baltimore, 400 E. Lexington St. Times vary. $10-100.

5/30: BIRDS, BOURBON, & BACON
Food & Drink. Baltimore City Recreation and Parks presents a morning meet-up to revel in a boozy breakfast as well as the natural beauty of Gwynn Falls/Leakin Park. Gwynn Falls/Leakin Park, 4921 Windsor Mill Rd. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. $106.60.