EAT
Sept. 22: Charm City Night Market
200 Park Ave. 4-11 p.m. Free.
Baltimore’s once-booming Chinatown on the 200 block of Park Ave in Bolton Hill will come alive on Saturday with this first-ever night market dedicated to celebrating the city’s Asian-American communities. Starting at Lexington Market, the outdoor block party will feature wares by area makers, a performance by hip-hop group Baltimore Dance Crews Project, and festive drinks at the soju/sake/beer garden. Don’t miss out on the chance to chow down on authentic eats from local vendors like steamed buns from Ekiben, pad thai from Thai Street, and Hawaiian-style poké at Ono Poké.
DRINK
Sept. 21-23: German Fest
Max’s Taphouse, 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Free.
Don your dirndls and lederhosen and raise a giant stein of beer to the official start of Oktoberfest. All weekend long, this Fells Point beer mecca will be serving up more than 60 authentic German drafts, bottles, and cans, including pours from local favorites like Heavy Seas Beer, Diamondback Brewing, and Monument City. Snack on eats from a German-inspired menu and celebrate one of the world’s biggest beer holidays with plenty of Kolsch and Hefeweizen beers to go around.
SEE
Sept. 22: Ray Lewis Day Hall of Fame Parade
Key Hwy. and Light St. 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Free.
Baltimore has commemorated Baltimore Raven Ray Lewis’ dedication to his adopted city with his own statue at M&T Bank Stadium and a street on North Avenue, and on Saturday, the city will rally together for a parade to honor the former linebacker’s induction into the NFL Hall of Fame. Join thousands of purple-clad fans along the parade route that starts at Key Highway and Light Street and winds around to the War Memorial Plaza, and then stick around for an all-out fan fest and the chance to hear from Lewis before he accepts his Hall of Fame ring during Sunday’s game against the Denver Broncos.
HEAR
Sept. 22: Trillectro Music Festival
Merriweather Post Pavilion, 10475 Little Patuxent Pkwy. 1-11 p.m. $60-199.
Before you hit up our Music Festival on Saturday, make the quick trip to Columbia for this can’t-miss lineup of hip-hop and electronic acts, including big-name artists like R&B star SZA, rapper 2 Chainz, and internationally renowned DJ Carnage. In between performances by these famous players, show some hometown love to local performers, including the inimitable Abdu Ali, rising rappers Lor Choc and Butch Dawson, and locally-loved DJ Trillnatured during a set curated by Lawrence Burney of Baltimore arts publication True Laurels.
DO
Sept. 22: Pigtown Festival
700-900 blocks of Washington Blvd. 12-7 p.m. Free.
One of Baltimore’s most anticipated races of the year is finally here—no, not the Preakness Stakes—it’s “Squeakness,” aka Pigtown’s annual contest that sends piglets running around a ring on Washington Boulevard. Aside from this crowd-favorite tradition, the Southwest Baltimore festival boasts plenty of family-friendly fun, including live music by regional acts The Players Band and Terry ‘Big T’ Williams, local food trucks, and an arts and crafts zone.