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. 

The City Fair launched in 1970 on a shoestring budget, run out of a vacant furniture building at Charles and Franklin streets. Office equipment included desks cast off from the school system. Naysayers, including the mayor, thought the whole idea naïve. Who would attend a three-day, county-style fair in downtown Baltimore two years after the ’68 riots? It turned out, 350,000 people that inaugural year. Nearly double the following September. Soon a million visitors.

“Bob Embry [then-Housing and Community Development director] invited Hope Quackenbush and me, who worked for him, to lunch to brainstorm something to bring people downtown,” PR maven Sandy Hillman remembers. “We came up with a civic celebration that would get city neighborhoods together in the same space at the same time. Tommy D’Alesandro, the mayor, was not convinced this was a good idea on the heels of the riots. Don Schaefer was the City Council president then and so we went to him. He loved it.”

Ultimately, the City Fair withered after being displaced by Harborplace. But it served as proof of concept for the Farmers Market, which Hillman got going in 1977, and Artscape, five years later. The 1970 fair also brought fireworks back to the Inner Harbor for the first time, reportedly, since 1781, when 50,000 Baltimoreans climbed Federal Hill to celebrate Maryland joining the United States.

The 1970s was a gritty, challenging time, of course. The fair’s opening acts often reflected, one might say, the era’s “nothing to lose” attitude. In 1972, The Great Zacchini, known as the Human Cannonball, was shot 200 feet over the Inner Harbor. In 1973, 68-year-old Karl Wallenda, pictured above, walked—and did a headstand—on a six-story, high-wire strung from the mast of the USS Constellation. In 1979, Doug Jones, a 26-year-old “Culligan Man” from Carroll County, climbed a 165-foot ladder and dove into 25 feet of water.

The true spirit of the fair, however, was its sense of togetherness. On its very first Saturday night, a late storm whipped through, toppling numerous booths.

“The next morning, people from different neighborhoods, across racial and demographic lines, helped each other,” remembers Bob Hillman, Sandy’s husband, and the City Fair’s first chair. “That rebuilding had a tremendous psychological effect, not only among the mix-and-match participants involved in the clean-up, but with everyone. It was an incredible statement about what a city can be.”

The annual fair didn’t include just carnival rides, local food, and off-the-wall stunts, but top-notch entertainment like Baltimore’s first lady of jazz, Ethel Ennis, and a certain Douglass High alum named Cab Calloway.

Rolling with unexpected weather issues, as well as scheduling snafus, is inevitably part of such event planning. The Glenn Miller Orchestra, booked as the closing act in 1971, for example, got lost on their way to perform. That prompted quick-thinking Sandy Hillman to divert the Orioles’ team bus, which was headed back to Baltimore from then-Friendship International Airport (now BWI) to the fair. The team had clinched the AL East title with a weekend sweep in Cleveland.

“They arrived as the band finally got there and had begun playing,” Bob Hillman recounts with a wry laugh. “The Orioles come out on the stage, and the place goes wild. Afterward, Jim Palmer, who had no idea that there was even thing called the City Fair, comes up to Sandy and says, ‘It’s amazing you got this all together for us in a couple of hours.’”

5/2-31: ASIA NORTH
Festivals. Artscape might have left Station North—it moved downtown, with new dates on May 24-25—but another festival in Baltimore’s first arts-and-culture district is getting bigger and better every year. This entire month, head toward Penn Station for the fifth annual Asia North. Taking place from May 2-31, in honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, this sprawling celebration of Asian culture highlights the neighborhood’s rich history as an unofficial Koreatown, as well as the city’s ever-growing melting pot of Eastern identities.

Presented by Towson University’s Asian Arts & Cultural Center and the Central Baltimore Partnership, and located across multiple venues, the festivities include art exhibitions, dance performances, live music, and lots of authentic fare. Snag a coveted seat at a traditional Filipino kamayan feast. See the imaginative movements of a Chinese dragon parade. Swing through various North Avenue galleries to view the vibrant artworks of “Exceeds Expectations,” curated by local painter Phaan Howng. Attend a walking tour of Koreatown landmarks, a panel on Asian-American history, and a late-night karaoke party while you’re at it, too, with opening and closing events not to miss.

5/1: ELDA ROTOR: WHAT MAKES A CLASSIC
Lectures & Classes. The Penguin Classics publisher speaks about the works she has brought to readers, including new editions of Jane Austen. Goucher College, Merrick Lecture Hall, 1021 Dulaney Valley Rd., Towson. 4 p.m. Free. 

5/1: SIP AND STEMS: FLOWER ARRANGING WORKSHOP
Lectures & Classes. With blooms from Dancing Dox Farms, create your own miniature bouquets while sipping on free wine and refreshments. Maryland Center for History & Culture, 610 Park Ave. 6 p.m. $10. 

5/1: CHRISTOPHER CHESTER & MICAH E. WOOD
Lectures & Classes. Local artists Christopher Chester and Micah E. Wood discuss their collaboration on the book “Scene Seen: Baltimore Band Portraits 2016–2024.⁠” Enoch Pratt Free Library, 400 Cathedral St. 6-7:30 p.m. Free.

5/1: DAPHNE ECKMAN
Music. This Annapolis-based indie folk singer-songwriter performs with special guests Eyas and JOBIE. Ottobar, 2549 N. Howard St. 7 p.m. $26.31. 

5/1: A CONVERSATION WITH TA-NEHISI COATES
Lectures & Classes. This bestselling author and Baltimore native speaks with local historians on myths of politics, history, and social change. Morgan State University, Carl J. Murphy Fine Arts Center, 2201 Argonne Dr. 7 p.m. Free.

5/1-3: MS. LISA FISCHER & GRAND BATON
Music. This legendary backup vocalist for icons like Tina Turner and the Rolling Stones, performs her own version of classic songs with a jazzy flare. Keystone Korner, 1350 Lancaster St. Thurs. 7 p.m., Fri.-Sat. 6 & 9 p.m. $50-60.

5/1-4: BALTIMORE STORY FEST
Theater. Join some of the region’s best storytellers for four days of tales about different daily themes. Theatre Project, 45 W Preston St. Thurs-Sat. 8 p.m., Sun. 4 p.m. $25. 

TO 5/2: WELCOME TO THE MILK FACTORY
Exhibitions. This group show examines themes of fertility, motherhood, the societal value of women’s labor, and the objectification of the female body. Gallery CA, 440 E. Oliver St. Mon.-Fri. 12-4 p.m. galleryca.org. Free.

TO 5/2: ENAMELING REIMAGINED
Exhibitions. Browse the artwork of Rachel Kedinger, whose cabinet-esque display showcases many forms of vintage enamelware that have been given a new life. Baltimore Jewelry Center, 10 E. North Ave. Mon.-Tues. 1-10 p.m., Wed.-Thurs. 10 a.m.-10 p.m., Fri. 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Sat.-Sun. 12-6 p.m. Free.

5/2: ADULT PROM: DISCO RODEO
Dance. Get a second chance at prom at this western-themed evening of dancing with an open bar, appetizers, zoo animal appearances, and more. The Maryland Zoo, 1 Safari Pl. 7-11 p.m. $30-100.

5/2-3: FLOWER MART
Festivals. Shop for flowers, plants, handmade crafts, and delicious foods like the event’s signature lemon stick treat. Mount Vernon Place, 699 Washington Pl. 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Free.

5/2 & 5/4: ALBERT HERRING
Theater. Benjamin Britten’s hilarious opera follows Albert, a shy grocer’s son, who is crowned the King of the May. The Engineers Club, 11 W. Mount Vernon Pl. Fri. 7:30-10 p.m., Sat. 3-6 p.m. $32-82. 

TO 5/3: FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY MADE
Exhibitions. This new collection of work by Jerrell Gibbs centers on Black dancers to uproot persistent body shaming and prejudice in ballet. Galerie Myrtis, 2224 N. Charles St. Thurs.-Sat. 2-6 p.m. Free.

5/3: LADEW GARDEN FESTIVAL
Festivals. Shop from 40 exclusive vendors for specialty plants, garden ornaments, antiques, and more. Ladew Gardens, 3535 Jarrettsville Pke., Monkton. 8 a.m.-4 p.m. $15-75. 

5/3: KINETIC SCULPTURE RACE
Exhibitions. Watch as wacky human-powered contraptions careen across a 15-mile race through land, harbor waters, sand, and mud. American Visionary Art Museum, 800 Key Hwy. 9:30 a.m. Participants pay $10-75. Free.

5/3: IRVINE SPRINGFEST
Festivals. Welcome the spring season with a day full of family-friendly outdoor activities like scavenger hunts, flower planting, spring-themed games, and more. Irvine Nature Center, 11201 Garrison Forest Rd., Owings Mills. 10 a.m.-12 p.m. $10-15.

5/3: LINOCUT BLOCK PRINTING WORKSHOP
Lectures & Classes. Artist and printmaker Nikita Yogaraj teaches the basic techniques of linocut block printing, with participants making up to four prints. Homewood Museum, 3400 N. Charles St. 12-2:30 p.m. $55-60. 

5/3: CLAYWORKS GARDEN PARTY GALA
Fundraisers & Galas. Commemorate 45 years of Baltimore Clayworks with lunch, ceramics exhibitions, live music, and a special presentation. Baltimore Clayworks, 5707 Smith Ave. 12-2 p.m. $45-1800. 

5/3: EARTHENWORKS COMMUNITY DAY
Festivals. Celebrate the new Sacred Place Garden with a groundbreaking and dedication ceremony at Baltimore Clayworks, followed by the chance to make your own garden globe from natural clay and seeds. Baltimore Clayworks, 5707 Smith Ave. 2-4 p.m. Free.

5/3: OLD PRO OPEN
Festivals. For the eighth year, Union Craft Brewing teams up with Old Pro Golf for a mini-golf tournament with all-you-can-drink Union beer. Old Pro Golf, 6801 Coastal Hwy., Ocean City. 3-6 p.m. $28.25.

5/3: SPRING ATP
Music. At this mini music festival, local cover bands play “ten-minute-one-time-only-band productions.” Current Space, 421 N. Howard St. 6 p.m. $15-17. 

5/3: GRATEFUL SHRED
Music. Jam out to live music from this Los Angeles-based Grateful Dead cover band. Union Craft Brewing, 1700 W. 41st St. 7-11 p.m. $30.69. 

5/3: POSITIVELY 84TH STREET
Music. In honor of Bob Dylan’s 84th birthday, tribute band The Complete Unknowns leads a night of live music featuring several other artists. Creative Alliance, 3134 Eastern Ave. 7:30 p.m. $35. 

5/3-4: BE A HERO: GALAXY REBELS
Exhibitions. A weekend of intergalactic fun with activities ranging from building a laser sword to hero training. Port Discovery, 35 Market Pl. Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Free-$25.95.

5/3-4: BRAHMS SYMPHONY NO.1 WITH HEYWARD
Music. Music director Jonathan Heyward presents his own version of Brahms First Symphony featuring a new Cello Concerto by Joshua Roman. Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, 1212 Cathedral St. Sat. 7 p.m., Sun. 3 p.m. $27-99. 

TO 5/4: KEEPERS
Exhibitions. Explore a visual dialogue between two iconic African Modernism artists, Gabriel Tenabe and James Phillips. New Door Creative, 1601 St. Paul St. Hours by appointment. Free.

TO 5/4: MICA GRAD SHOW III
Exhibitions. Several events and showcases highlight MFA and MA student works across various mediums, including events, film screenings, installations. MICA, 1300 W. Mount Royal Ave. Times vary. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free.

5/6-11: SOME LIKE IT HOT
Theater. Set in Chicago during the prohibition, this Tony Award-winning musical follows the story of two musicians on the run from a mob of gangsters. Hippodrome Theatre, 12 N. Eutaw St. Times vary. $58-148. 

5/8: SHADOWS OF THE SOUL
Lectures & Classes. Transdisciplinary artist Hope McCorkle offers a workshop on self-love, collage, and reflective journaling, inspired by her recent solo exhibition. Creative Alliance, 3134 Eastern Ave. 6 p.m. $25-30. 

5/8: ARTIST PHAAN HOWNG
Lectures & Classes. Hear from accomplished local artist, whose work explores what she calls an “optimistic post-apocalypse.” Towson University Center for the Arts, 7700 Osler Dr., Towson. 6:30 p.m. Free,

5/8: REGINALD F. LEWIS MUSEUM 20TH ANNIVERSARY GALA
Fundraisers & Galas. Celebrate 20 years of highlighting Maryland’s Black art, history, and culture, featuring a special performance by “The Voice” finalist and Maryland native Davon Fleming. M&T Bank Exchange, 401 W. Fayette St. 7-11 p.m. $350.

5/8: STOOP STORIES: LOOK FOR THE HELPERS
Theater. Join Stoop Storytelling to hear tales about local first responders, caregivers, and unexpected heroes. Creative Alliance, 3134 Eastern Ave. 7 p.m. $35.

5/8: SENIOR SHOW
Exhibitions. Towson University seniors showcase their work across multiple tracks, including painting, sculpture, graphic design, illustration, and more disciplines. Towson University Center for the Arts, 7700 Osler Dr., Towson.  7:30-9 p.m. Free.

5/8: SHE DID THAT
Dance. Join Full Circle Dance Company for a workshop exploring ancestry, courage, and capacity through movement, music, storytelling, and more. Morton Street Dance Center, 3600 Clipper Mill Rd. 7:30 p.m. Registration required. Free.

5/9: BEYOND THE STAGE
Music. Join the Baltimore Choral Arts Society for their yearly gala with dinner, a live auction, pop-up performances, and immersive exhibits. M&T Bank Exchange, 401 W. Fayette St. 6 p.m. $300. 

5/9-11: BIRDING WEEKEND
Festivals. Embark on an entire weekend of birdwatching to scope out native birds in sanctuaries, parks, and the Maryland Zoo. Locations vary. Fri. & Sun. 8-11 a.m., Sat. 7-11 a.m. $30-50. 

5/9-6/6: SUPERHEROES REIMAGINED
Exhibitions. This show invites artists to design original superhero characters who challenge traditional notions of heroism. Waller Gallery, 2420 N. Calvert St. Sat. 1-5 p.m. by appt. Free.

5/9-31: LEMPIRA
Theater. Baltimore Rock Opera Society’s first bilingual production follows the fight against western imperialism by the Lenca people of modern Honduras and El Salvador. Zion Church of the City of Baltimore, 400 E. Lexington St. Times vary. $32.

5/10: CYLBURN MARKET DAY
Festivals. Upgrade your garden and check out local artisans at this beloved annual event featuring plant and gift vendors, kid activities, food, and more. Cylburn Arboretum, 4915 Greenspring Ave. 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Free.

5/10: REMFEST
Festivals. This beloved local street fair hosts 80 local vendors and non-profits, local food, and live music performances in Remington. Remington Ave. 12-9 p.m. Free.

5/10: LAWRENCE P. JACKSON
Lectures & Classes. This lauded local writer and professor discusses his memoir ,“Shelter,” which explores the complexities of returning to the area and navigating a life that is different from his childhood in West Baltimore. Enoch Pratt Free Library, 5108 Roland Ave. 3-4 p.m. Registration required. Free.

5/10: BE A HERO
Fundraisers & Galas. In support of LifeBridge Health’s Center for Hope, enjoy a rock-and-roll themed night of cocktails, dinner, a live auction, and a performance from Grammy-nominated alternative rock band Gin Blossoms. M&T Bank Stadium, 1101 Russell St. 5-10 p.m. $350. 

5/10: LET ALL THE WORLD SING
Music. The Deer Creek Chorale, Patterson Park Chamber Choir, and Goucher Choral Society come together for this concert. Goucher College, Kraushaar Auditorium, 1021 Dulaney Valley Rd., Towson. 7 p.m. $10-25.

5/10: YOUNG PLAYWRIGHTS FESTIVAL
Theater. Every year, aspiring playwrights across the state submit their short plays, up to six of which are selected to be transformed into professional productions. Baltimore Center Stage, 700 N. Calvert St. Times & prices vary. 

5/10-11: THE PREAKNESS SHOWCASE
Exhibitions. With Preakness right around the corner, get in the spirit with a weekend of ponies, Maryland-inspired art projects, local music, and interactive activities. Port Discovery, 35 Market Pl. Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Free-$25.95.

5/10-11: BALTIMORE LITHUANIAN FESTIVAL
Festivals. Celebrate Baltic heritage with arts and crafts, authentic food and drink, historical exhibits, and traditional folk-dance performances. Lithuanian Hall, 851 Hollins St. Sat. 11 a.m.-11 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Free-$10.

5/14: ORCHKIDS SPRING CELEBRATION
Music. Students of the BSO’s community youth program perform in a variety of large ensembles from string to brass band. Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, 1212 Cathedral St. 5:30 p.m. Pay-what-you-wish. 

5/15: BROMO ART WALK
Exhibitions. Experience the Bromo Arts District during this biannual evening tradition featuring open galleries, live performances, imaginative projects, and more. Locations vary. 5-9 p.m. Free.

5/15: AN EVENING OF FLAMENCO
Exhibitions/Dance. Enjoy musical performances by The Flamenco Workshop with percussionist Bruno Lucini and Furia Flamenca dancers inspired by museum works on display. Evergreen Museum and Library, 4545 N. Charles St. 6-8 p.m. $20-25. 

5/15-6/15: JOHN WILKES BOOTH: ONE NIGHT ONLY!
Theater. This performance takes a closer look at Maryland native and presidential assassin who is buried in an unmarked grave less than a mile from the theater. Baltimore Center Stage, 700 N. Calvert St. Times vary. $10-54. 

5/15-6/21: PREAKNESS EXHIBITION
Exhibitions. As part of Preakness’ 150th anniversary, this event will showcase artwork that highlights all aspects of horse culture in Maryland. Maryland Art Place, 218 W. Saratoga St. Tues.-Sat. 12-4 p.m. Free.

5/16-17: PREAKNESS STAKES
Sports. Now in its 150th year, the Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown features the nation’s top thoroughbred horse racing with outdoor spectating and live music. Pimlico Race Course, 5201 Park Heights Ave. Times TBA. $97-3,078. 

5/16-6/8: 10X10X10 PLAY FESTIVAL
Theater. This aptly named short play showcase features 10 short plays written by 10 local playwrights, performed by 10 actors. Fells Point Corner Theatre, 251 S. Ann St. Fri.-Sat. 8 p.m., Sun 2 p.m. $24.

5/16-6/21: CLIMAS MALSANOS
Exhibitions. A collection of pieces from Baltimore-based queer Latinx artist Hoesy Corona’s “Climate Immigrants” series that explores the relationship between humans and the environment. Creative Alliance, 3134 Eastern Ave. Tues.-Sat. 12-5 p.m. Free.

TO 5/17: HAUNTED KOREAS
Exhibitions. View the most extensive collection of paintings from global activist artist Mina Cheon’s series of “Unification Dream,” about a unified Korea that serve as peaceful protest. Towson University Center for the Arts, Asian Arts Gallery, 1 Fine Arts Dr., Towson. Mon.-Sat. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. .Free

5/17: BEETHOVEN MISSA SOLEMNIS
Music. For the first time in 30 years, see Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis performed by an impressive gathering of orchestra musicians. Baltimore Basilica, 409 Cathedral St. 3 p.m. $10-65. Free.

5/17: SUSAN MUADDI DARRAJ
Classes & Lectures. Journalist Baynard Woods speaks with this local author about her recent book, “Behind You is the Sea,” which follows multiple families through the Palestinian-American experience in Baltimore. Enoch Pratt Free Library, 5910 Harford Rd. 3-4 p.m. Registration required. Free.

5/17: BLACK CHERRY PUPPET SLAMWICH
Theater. Enjoy an evening of short form puppetry acts for adults featuring a musical guest. Current Space, 421 N. Howard St. 5 & 8 p.m. $12-15. 

TO 5/17: VESTIGES OF TIME: TRACES IN LIGHT AND MATERIALS
Exhibitions. View installations by metal sculpturist and artist John Ruppert. C. Grimaldis Gallery, 523 N. Charles St. Wed-Sat. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. 

5/17-8/17: COLAB: ART AND MUSIC FROM BALTIMORE AND BEYOND
Exhibitions. View a collection of works on loan from important collections of African-American art and artists that will be paired with musical compositions selected by the Peabody Institute. Eubie Blake Cultural Center, 847 N. Howard St. Tues.-Sat. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Free.

5/17-ONGOING: LATIN AMERICAN ART/ARTE LATINOAMERICANO
Exhibitions. For the first time, see over 200 artworks from the museum’s collection from South, Central, and North America and the Caribbean in one space. The Walters Art Museum, 600 N. Charles St. Wed.-Sun. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Thurs. 1-8 p.m. Free.

TO 5/18: MARY STUART
Theater. This new translation of Friedrich Schiller’s original depicts the rivalry between Mary Queen of Scots and Elizabeth I. Chesapeake Shakespeare Company, 7 S. Calvert St. Times vary. $25-69.

5/18: SING FOR JOY!
Music. The Baltimore Choral Arts Society presents Felix Mendelssohn’s “Lobgesang,” Reena Esmail’s “See Me,” and the choral finale from Beethoven’s 9th symphony. Cathedral of Mary Our Queen, 5200 N. Charles St. 3 p.m. Free-$50. 

5/18: GISELLE, ACT II
Dance. The Baltimore Ballet performs this 1841 work ased on a legend about ghosts of unmarried girls who emerge at night to seek revenge on the living. Goucher College, Kraushaar Auditorium, 1021 Dulaney Valley Rd., Towson. 4 p.m. $25-35. 

5/18: BSYO CONCERT
Music. The Baltimore Symphony Youth Orchestra performs two shows, featuring string, philharmonic, and concert groups. Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, 1212 Cathedral St. 6:30 & 8 p.m. $5-20.

5/18-6/22: THE MYSTERY OF IRMA VEP
Theater. This comedy follows two actors playing over eight roles each with more than 30 costume changes. Everyman Theatre, 315 W. Fayette St. Times vary. $5-86. 

5/18-9/21: BLACK EARTH RISING
Exhibitions. This showcase contains paintings, sculptures, films, and other creative works by artists of color and Native identity that explore our complex connection to nature. Baltimore Museum of Art, 10 Art Museum Dr. Wed.-Sun. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Thurs. 10 a.m.-9 p.m. $5-10. 

5/19-30: SCREEN PAINTING EXHIBIT
Exhibitions. The Painted Screen Society’s pop-up exhibit features authentic screen paintings true to Baltimorean tradition, as well as demos, an evening sip & paint, and a children’s workshop. B&O Railroad Museum, 901 W. Pratt St. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. $12-20. 

TO 5/22: SOLEDAD SALAMÉ: CAMOUFLAGE
Exhibitions. This artist teams up scientists and ecologists to create informed reflections of fast fashion and pollution through mixed medium works. Goya Contemporary, 3000 Chestnut Ave. Tues.-Fri. 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Sat. 12-4 p.m. Free.

5/22-25: DELFEST
Festivals. Baltimore bluegrass fans love to flock to Western Maryland on Memorial Day Weekend to hear dozens of bands like Sierra Ferrell and the festival’s namesake Del McCoury Band. Allegany County Fairgrounds, 11490 Moss Ave., Cumberland. Thurs. 3:30 p.m., Fri.-Sun. 10 a.m. $25-499.50.

5/23: FOR THE LOVE OF IT ALL ALBUM RELEASE PARTY
Music. Celebrate local trumpet sensation Brandon Woody’s new album, “For the Love of it All.” Current Space, 421 N. Howard St. 7-11 p.m. $20-25. 

TO 5/24: 2025 BAKER ARTIST AWARD SHOWCASE
Exhibitions. Enjoy an exhibition of works by finalists in the visual and interdisciplinary arts disciplines of this prestigious annual awards. Current Space, 421 N. Howard St. Sat. 1-5 p.m. Free.

TO 5/24: COMMUNITY ARTS SPRING SHOWCASE
Exhibitions. Celebrate the talented Baltimore Clayworks’ Community Arts students with a collection of their artwork on display. Baltimore Clayworks, 5707 Smith Ave. Tues.-Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Mon.-Wed. 12-5 p.m. Free.

5/24: ANNUAL SHERWOOD TULIP DIG
Outdoors. Come with a shovel to dig up your very own tulip bulbs to take home. Sherwood Gardens, 4310 Underwood Rd. 7 a.m.-11 p.m. Free. 

5/24: STURGILL SIMPSON
Music. This Grammy Award-winning Americana musician performs in Columbia. Merriweather Post Pavilion, 10475 Little Patuxent Pkwy., Columbia. 8 p.m. $59.50-149.50.

5/24-25: BREW AT THE ZOO
Food & Drink. Choose from unlimited drinks samples as you encounter zoo animals, play games, listen to live music, and munch on food-truck food. The Maryland Zoo, 1 Safari Pl. 1-7 p.m. $40-235.

5/24-25: ARTSCAPE
Festivals. The city’s annual free arts festival moves downtown and to a new date with hundreds of vendors and artists, local food, immersive installations, and live music performances from artists including Robin Thicke and Little Brother. Locations & prices vary. Free.

5/25: SOWEBOFEST
Festivals. This beloved annual Southwest Baltimore street festival features over 80 vendors, kids’ activities, live music performances, and more in Hollins Market. Historic Hollins Market, 1100 Hollins St. 12-8 p.m. Free.

5/29: BALTIMORE’S CULINARY HISTORY
Lectures & Classes. Kara Mae Harris, the author of the Maryland-centric food blog “Old Line Plate,” discusses Baltimore’s food traditions. Homewood Museum, 3400 N. Charles St. 5:30-6:30 p.m. $5-7.

5/30: MUSIC UNDER THE DOME: DAVID BOWIE
Music. Blast off into outer space with Ziggy Stardust as you embark on an immersive planetarium journey set to David Bowie’s greatest hits. Maryland Science Center, 601 Light St. 7-10 p.m. $35. 

5/30-6/1: THE LOST WEEKEND
Festivals. This three-day literary festival features new titles for your reading list and appearances by authors like Susan Choi, Yrsa Daley-Ward, and more. Greedy Reads, 320 W. 29th St. Times vary. Free.

5/30-6/1: FEAST OF ST. ANTHONY ITALIAN FESTIVAL
Festivals. Bring the family to this street festival celebrating Italian culture with wine, food, games, and a traditional street procession on Sunday. Little Italy, Stiles & Exeter Sts. Fri. 6-9 p.m., Sat.-Sun. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Free-$5. 

5/30-6/15: BROWN SUGAR BAKE-OFF
Theater. Watch eight original 10-minute plays by Black women and nonbinary playwrights, centered around this year’s mental health theme. Strand Theater, 5426 Harford Rd. Showtimes vary. $12-20. 

5/30-6/22: PICASSO AT THE LAPIN AGILE
Theater. This hilarious show was written by comedy icon Steve Martin, placing Albert Einstein and Pablo Picasso in a Parisian cafe in 1904. Vagabond Players, 806 S. Broadway St. Fri-Sat. 8 p.m. Sun. 2 p.m. $21. 

5/31-7/12: EMERGENCE: STORIES IN THE MAKING
Exhibitions. Explore this collection of artworks from emerging artists who explore storytelling within their artistic practices to reflect solidarity, heritage, and social change. Galerie Myrtis, 2224 N. Charles St. Thurs.-Sat. 2-6 p.m. Free.

TO 6/1: TO SAY I WAS HERE
Exhibitions. This multimedia showcase honors the legacies of Jewish immigrant musicians from the early to mid-20th century. Jewish Museum of Maryland, 15 Lloyd St. Sun. 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Mon.-Wed. 12-4 p.m. Free-$10.

TO 6/8: LEAVE NO TRACE
Exhibitions. Examine the impact that the great outdoors had on B&O Railroad head John Work Garrett II through archival photographs, diary entries, artifacts, and more. Evergreen Museum & Library, 4545 N. Charles St. Tues.-Sun. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Free-$12. 

TO 6/29: TOXIC OVERBURDEN
Exhibitions. This youth-designed collection aims to shed light on Curtis Bay, a South Baltimore community that has faced over 100 years of environmental harm due to the dumping of toxic industrial waste. The Peale, 225 Holliday St. Thurs.-Fri. 3-7 p.m., Sat.-Sun. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free.

TO 6/30: SPRING ILLUMINATIONS
Family. Visit the zoo after dark and stroll through dazzling nature-themed lanterns, with Asian-inspired snacks and drinks available for purchase. The Maryland Zoo, 1 Safari Pl. 6-10 p.m. $20-28. Free.

TO 7/20: THE JANET & WALTER SONDHEIM ART PRIZE FINALISTS EXHIBITION
Exhibitions. Artworks from five finalists from this prestigious annual competition will be on view. The Walters Art Museum, 600 N. Charles St. Wed.-Sun. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Thurs. 1-8 p.m. Free.

TO 7/27: WATERSHED
Exhibitions. A curated selection of 40 works from the BMA’s collection explores water and landscape and how they impacted the early modern Dutch Republic. Baltimore Museum of Art, 10 Art Museum Dr., Wed.-Sun. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Thurs. 10 a.m-9 p.m. Free. 

TO 7/27: BAKER ARTIST AWARDS
Exhibitions. View the work of five Baker award winners—Selin Balci, Oletha DeVane, Jordan Tierney, Stephen Towns, and Kelley Bell—all showcasing work rooted in a deep connection to Baltimore’s identity. Baltimore Museum of Art, 10 Art Museum Dr. Wed.-Sun. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Thurs. 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Free. 

TO 8/5: IF BOOKS COULD KILL
Exhibitions. Discover the dangerous materials and techniques used to illustrate ancient manuscripts within the Walters’ vast collection. The Walters Art Museum, 600 N. Charles St. Wed.-Sun. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Thurs. 1-8 p.m. Free.

TO 8/17: EARTH AS MEDIUM: EXTRACTING ART FROM NATURE
Exhibitions. This exhibition’s artworks all have a connection to nature, whether they were made out of natural elements or with sustainable practices. Baltimore Museum of Art, 10 Art Museum Dr. Wed.-Sun. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Thurs. 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Free.

TO 8/31: GOOD SPORTS
Exhibitions. In this new “mega” exhibit, get to the heart of our universal enjoyment of play and celebrate wellness of mind, body, and spirit through works from both local and global visionary artists. American Visionary Art Museum, 800 Key Hwy. Wed.-Sun. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

TO 8/31: HISTORY THROUGH POETRY
Exhibitions. New original poems inspired by the Homewood Museum’s period rooms bring the collection’s artifacts to life to honor the lives of the enslaved people who once lived and worked there. Homewood Museum, 3400 N. Charles St. Tues.-Sun. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Free.

TO 9/1: iWITNESS
Exhibitions. Through artifacts, photographs, and history, this exhibit explores how media impacted the modern American Civil Rights Movement. Reginald F. Lewis Museum, 830 E. Pratt St. Mon., Thurs.-Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sun. 12-5 p.m. Free-$12. 

TO 9/29: HIGH SCHOOL JURIED ART SHOW: LABOR, LEADERSHIP, AND LEGACY
Exhibitions. This collection honors the legacies of local leaders and entrepreneurs by student artists from all 25 school districts across the state. Reginald F. Lewis Museum, 830 E. Pratt St. Mon. & Thurs.-Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sun. 12-5 p.m. Free-$12.

TO 10/10: LINDA DAY CLARK
Exhibitions. View the work of Baltimore-born photographer Linda Day Clark, known for artfully capturing the everyday life of African Americans. Morgan State University, James E. Lewis Museum of Art, 2201 Argonne Dr. Tues.-Fri. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Free.

TO 10/25: STUDIO COMPANION
Exhibitions. See how a simple object became a cherished pet for painter Raoul Middleman in this new exhibit. Raoul Middleman Studio Museum, 943 N. Calvert St. Sat. 2-4 p.m. By appt. Free. 

TO 12/22: BALTIMORE FARMERS MARKET
Festivals. Maryland’s largest farmers market brings the community together with local farms, food vendors, and live performances. Saratoga & Holliday St. Sun. 7 a.m.-12 p.m. Free. 

TO 12/31: COLLECTIVE ACTION
Explore the effort to improve organized labor throughout the 21st century through the stories and experiences of working Baltimoreans. Baltimore Museum of Industry, 1415 Key Hwy. Wed.- Sun., 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Free.

TO 12/31: CROSSCURRENTS
Exhibitions. Spanning various mediums, this year’s Contemporary Wing galleries contain works reflecting everything from environment and ecology to social protest, recuperation, and migration. Baltimore Museum of Art, 10 Art Museum Dr. Wed.-Sun. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Thurs. 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Free.

TO 4/27/26: TITAN
Exhibitions. Through rare photos and artifacts, take an in-depth look into the life of Maryland native Reginald F. Lewis, the first African American to lead a billion-dollar company. Reginald F. Lewis Museum, 830 E. Pratt St. Mon., Thurs.-Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sun. 12-5 p.m. Free.

8/2-4: ARTSCAPE
It’s been a long, strange trip for Artscape over the last few years. On the eve of its 40th anniversary, the city’s beloved free arts festival was dealt a number of blows—being canceled on more than one occasion due to COVID and weather conditions, being rescheduled to September after a time-honored tradition of taking place in late July (hot weather be damned), losing its headlining acts in the eleventh hour (you’re on our list, Anderson .Paak), and even having its entire existence come into question after headline-making drama within its parent organization, the Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts (BOPA).

Now, for the fourth decade, hopefully all will right itself when Artscape returns to the summer, on August 2 through 4. Across one jam-packed weekend, the biggest cultural event in town promises to take over Station North and the surrounding neighborhoods once again with three full days of live music, local performances, visual art, and much more. Swing through to see art cars, peruse paintings, purchase prints, catch comedy shows, watch films, and, of course, hear a wide range of hometown and national artists, with The Wailers taking over the Main Stage on Sunday night. Meanwhile, we’re looking forward to attending the inaugural Subscape, showcasing concerts by the city’s underground music scene each night at the Ottobar and Metro.

8/1: MISSY ELLIOTT
This Grammy Award-winning rapper is coming to Baltimore on her first-ever headline tour with special guests Busta Rhymes, Ciara, and Timbaland. CFG Bank Arena, 201 W. Baltimore St. 7 p.m. $73-323.

8/1: FLICKS FROM THE HILL
Flock to Federal Hill for an outdoor screening of Raiders of the Lost Ark, with local food trucks and free after-hours museum admission. American Visionary Art Museum, 800 Key Hwy. Thurs. 5-9 p.m. 

8/2: SARAH SQUIRM
Get ready to laugh as the Saturday Night Live cast member brings her new com- edy special to life on stage. Rams Head Live, 20 Market Pl. 7 p.m. $30-73. 

8/2-4: SUBSCAPE
During Artscape, rock out to this free music festival showcasing the city’s diverse musical underground of punk, alternative, heavy metal, and more at The Crown and Metro in Station North. Locations vary. Fri. 6 p.m.-2 a.m., Sat. 12 a.m.-2 a.m., Sun. 12-5 p.m. 

8/2-4: THE BODYGUARD
This musical tells the story of pop star Rachel Marron, who, when she becomes the target of a stalker, hires an ex-Secret Service agent to guard her. But they form more than a professional relationship. ArtsCentric, 2600 N. Howard St. Times vary. $35-60. arts-people.com.

8/3: BALTIMORE FROCKTAILS
In this celebration of handmade fashion, dress the part and sip on delicious cock- tails as you mingle with fellow fashionistas to the theme of “BE MORE.” Guilford Hall Brewery, 1611 Guilford Ave. 6 p.m. $97.88-124.56.

8/3-4: FLUID MOVEMENT
Baltimore’s beloved water-ballet troupe presents its annual outdoor synchronized swim- ming performance, this year called “Splash Games: A Water Ballet of Imaginary Sports,” featuring a series of hilariously made-up sports, from rodeo jousting to competitive sleeping. Clifton Park Pool, 2801 Harford Rd. 5 & 7 p.m. Prices vary. 

TO 8/4: BEARING WITNESS
This retrospective exhibit takes a historic look at the prints of local artist Joyce J. Scott. Goya Contemporary, 3000 Chestnut Ave. Tues.-Fri. 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Sat. 12-4 p.m. 

8/4: MARYLAND LATINO FESTIVAL
Celebrate Latinx and Hispanic heritage with a full day of music, food, and fun activities at the state fairgrounds in Timonium. Maryland State Fairgrounds, 2200 York Rd., Lutherville-Timonium. 11 a.m. Prices vary. 

8/4-1/5/2025: DANA CLAXTON: SPARK
As part of the BMA’s new Preoccupied: Indigenizing the Museum initiative, see this Lakota artist’s “firebox” photography that high- light objects from Native American culture. The Baltimore Museum of Art, 10 Art Museum Dr. Wed. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Thurs. 10 a.m.-9 p.m., Fri.-Sun. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 

8/6: BLACK FLAG
This legendary California punk-rock band comes to Baltimore in celebration of their early music. Ottobar, 2549 N. Howard St. 8 p.m. $35. 

8/8: LET’S SCIENCE HAPPY HOUR
Explore exhibits after-hours as you sip on craft wines from Baltimore’s own the Wine Collective. Maryland Science Center, 601 Light St. 7-9 p.m. $29.95. 

8/9: BEARING WITNESS: PHOTOGRAPHING BLACK FAMILY LIFE IN BALTIMORE
View the powerful works of six local photographers who feature Black families from the 1950s to present. Eubie Blake Cultural Center, 847 N. Howard St. Wed-Fri. 1-6 p.m., Sat. 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

8/10: HOT AUGUST MUSIC FESTIVAL
Enjoy a day of festival fun for everyone in the family with live performances, family- friendly activities, and vendors of all kinds. Headliners are Grace Potter and Snarky Puppy. Oregon Ridge Park, 13401 Beaver Dam Rd., Cockeysville. 11 a.m. $89-249. 

8/10: THE MUSIC OF JOHN WILLIAMS
The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra celebrates the music of legendary American composer John Williams, whose famous scores include Raiders of the Lost Ark and Star Wars. Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, 1212 Cathedral St. 7:30 p.m. $15-104. 

8/10-11: MESS FEST
This annual family-friendly celebration lets kids get messy and explore slimy science on the Inner Harbor. Maryland Science Center, 601 Light St. 12-4 p.m. Free-$31.95.

8/11: MARIACHI VARGAS
Music. Join this Mexican folk ensemble for an unforgettable performance on the BSO stage. Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, 1212 Cathedral St. 7 p.m. $32-87.

8/12-17: BALTIMORE FASHION WEEK
For the 17th year, this weeklong celebration brings the best in fashion to Bal- timore. Baltimore Center Stage, 700 N. Calvert St. Times vary. $30-45.

8/14-9/18: FILMS ON THE PIER
Every Wednesday, enjoy outdoor screenings overlooking Baltimore’s harbor in Fells Point. Broadway Pier, 920 S. Broadway. Times vary.

8/16: NOAH PIERRE BAND
This talented collective performs its soulful sound in Federal Hill. The 8×10, 10 E. Cross St. 7 p.m. $19.06 

8/16: MUSIC UNDER THE DOME: QUEEN
Listen to the hits of legendary rock group Queen in this immersive planetarium experience under the stars with happy hour and museum access. Maryland Science Center, 601 Light St. 7-10 p.m. $35. 

8/16: BALTIMORE HONKY TONK
Join local country group Rusty Sal for a night of dancing accompanied by local fiddle master Patrick McAvinue. Creative Alliance, 3134 Eastern Ave. 7:30 p.m. $10-20. 

8/16-18: COLLIS/DONADIO RESIDENCY
This multi-sensory installation uses projections and surround sound to explore the local connection between land, water, industry, and people. The Voxel. 9 W. 25th Street. Times vary. 

8/17: PEALE’S 210TH BIRTHDAY BASH
Celebrate The Peale’s two-century- old history with birthday cake, family-friendly fun, and more in this community event. The Peale Museum, 225 Holliday St. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 

8/17: JOHN LAMKIN FAVORITES
Enjoy the velvety melodies of award- winning artist Dr. John Lamkin II and his talented band members at the BMI. Baltimore Museum of Industry, 1415 Key Hwy. 11:30-1 p.m.

8/17: WHISKEY ON THE WATERFRONT 
Listen to live music, sip craft cocktails, and snack on food truck treats at Sagamore’s waterfront distillery. Sagamore Spirit Distillery, 301 E. Cromwell St. 12 p.m.

TO 8/17: MY SHADOWS
In this new exhibit, view works that showcase local artist HOPE’s journey to self-discovery and self-love. Creative Alliance, 3134 Eastern Ave. Fri.-Sat. 12-6 p.m. 

8/17: RAUL MIDÓN
This world-famous jazz musician performs his eclectic sound in Highlandtown. Creative Alliance, 3134 Eastern Ave. 8 p.m. $15-30. 

8/17-9/21: EXTENSIONS: A JOURNEY BEYOND THE GLANCE
View the latest work of local artist Monica Ikegwu, known for her hyper-realistic portraiture of Black subjects. Galerie Myrtis, 2224 N. Charles St. Thurs.-Sat. 2-6 p.m. 

8/20: LITTLE PATUXENT POETRY CONTEST FINALISTS
Columbia’s Little Patuxent Review hosts readings from three poetry-award finalists, Marc A. Drexler, Kate Powell Shine, and Preet Bhela. Enoch Pratt Free Library, 400 Cathedral St. 6:30-8 p.m. 

8/21: TEDESCHI TRUCKS BAND
This Grammy Award-winning 12-piece rock-and-soul band performs their acclaimed live music with special guest Margo Price. Merriweather Post Pavilion, 10475 Little Patuxent Pkwy., Columbia. 7 p.m. $49.50-$179.50.

8/22-9/8: MARYLAND STATE FAIR
For three weekends, the Timonium fairgrounds transform into the state’s annual country fair, featuring midway rides, live animals, fair food, and much more. Maryland State Fairgrounds, 2200 York Rd., Lutherville-Timonium. Times vary. Free-$15. 

8/23-24: USHER
The Grammy-winning R&B artist visits Baltimore on his countrywide tour featuring songs from his entire music career. CFG Bank Arena, 201 W. Baltimore St. 8 p.m. $250-314. 

8/23-25: CURRENT SPACE 20TH ANNIVERSARY FESTIVAL
This three-day event features performances from local DIY artists Ami Dang, Kotic Couture, Pearl, and more. Current Space, 421 N. Howard Street. Times & prices vary. 

8/24: ALL TIME LOW
This Towson pop-punk band performs their angsty indie-rock in Howard County. Merriweather Post Pavilion. 10475 Little Patuxent Pkwy., Columbia. 7 p.m. $45-75. 

8/24: MISS MISTRESS OF SMUT PAGEANT
Baltimore’s reigning Mistress of Smut, Jocelyn Loverling, will crown this year’s winner in the third annual randy and retro beauty pageant. Creative Alliance, 3134 Eastern Ave. 7 p.m. $12-35.

8/24-10/20: MARYLAND RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL
Come dressed in your medieval best for a trip back in time, complete with turkey legs, arts and crafts, and shows of all kinds during this one-of-a-kind festival in Anne Arundel County. 1821 Crownsville Rd., Annapolis. Times vary. $13-285. 

8/30: GOOD LUCK CLUB
This LGBTQ-friendly dance party invites attendees to come show off their moves with local drag queens and music by national queer artists. Metro Gallery, 1700 N. Charles St. 9 p.m. $15.

TO 8/31: THE BIG SHOW
This much-loved annual art exhibition showcases a variety of original works by members of the Creative Alliance. Creative Alliance, 3134 Eastern Ave. Fri.-Sat. 12-6 p.m.

TO 9/5: WTMD’S FIRST THURSDAY FESTIVAL
This popular summer concert series from local radio station 89.7 FM features live music from local and national bands on the Canton waterfront on the first Thursday of every month, with Pigeons Playing Ping Pong and Bartees Strange co-headlining his month. Canton Waterfront Park, 3001 Boston St. Thurs. 5-10:30 p.m. 

TO 9/8: THE JANET & WALTER SONDHEIM ART PRIZE FINALISTS EXHIBITION
Explore works by the three finalists of this coveted annual award, with the winner to be named on August 22. The Walters Art Museum, 600 N. Charles St. Wed.-Sun. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Thurs. 1-8 p.m. 

TO 9/8: REFLECT AND REMIX
Explore visual and material resonances from The Walters’ 90-year-old collection, including works by both historic and contemporary artists. The Walters Art Museum, 600 N. Charles St. Wed. & Fri.-Sun. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Thurs. 1-8 p.m. 

TO 9/15: BEYOND VAN GOGH AND BEYOND MONET
Famed works of painters Monet and van Gogh come to life with projected virtual reality visuals and curated musical soundtracks. The Baltimore Convention Center, 1 W. Pratt St. 10 a.m.-8 p.m. $19.99-79.99.

TO 9/30: BLACK WOMAN GENIUS
As part of the citywide No Stone Left Unturned: The Elizabeth Talford Scott Initiative, this new exhibition presents work by the late mixed-media fiber artist. Reginald F. Lewis Museum, 830 E. Pratt St. Thurs.-Sat. 10-5 p.m., Sun. 12-5 p.m. Free-$12.

When Baltimore artist LaToya M. Hobbs was a little girl, her grandmother Johnetta would wake her and her cousins early in the morning to recite a prayer in the living room. It was something she dreaded as a child, but now inspires a piece in her latest exhibition titled, “How Johnetta Taught Us to Pray.”

The piece is a part of Hobbs’ Salt of the Earth series inspired by biblical scripture Mathew 5:13, in which she personifies Black women as preservers of their families, cultures, and communities. It consists of two portraits of Hobbs and her mother in a position of prayer.

“For me it pays homage to the women in my family,” Hobbs says. “I’ve been really thinking about the legacies that have been passed down from generation to generation. I feel like prayer is one of those things.”

This exhibition helped win Hobbs the 2020 Janet & Walter Sondheim Artscape Prize, a $25,000 fellowship that the yearly festival—which took place online due to COVID-19—presents to a Baltimore artist to support their work.

At first glance of one of her pieces, it might seem that she’s been painting all her life, but the Little Rock, Arkansas native actually spent her early college years studying biology.

While Hobbs was always involved in the arts—whether it was dancing in junior high or singing in the school choir—growing up, she didn’t see much representation of people of color with successful careers in fine arts.

“Even though I loved art and I did it all the time, when it was time for me to go to college I was like ‘Okay, well I got to get a real job,’” Hobbs says.

However, halfway through undergrad at the University of Arkansas, she realized that she was unhappy. She found her true passion in creating art and, much to her parents’ dismay, decided to transfer to UA Little Rock to pursue it.

“I told my mom that I wanted to change [schools] and of course she said, ‘You’re just not trying hard enough, you’re giving up too easy,’” Hobbs recalls. “But I think you really have to be honest and know yourself.”

Now, as a teacher at the Maryland Institute College of Art, she encourages her students to pursue careers in whatever form of art they’re interested in.

We spoke with Hobbs about her craft, working and teaching in the age of COVID-19, and her plans for the $25,000 prize.

What inspired you to become an artist?
I think art has just always been something that I’ve been interested in since I was a child. I’ve always enjoyed, not always visual art, but bands and music so those things have always been a part of my life. But it wasn’t until 2007 that I really decided I wanted to be an artist, like to pursue it in my career. I had done dance and choir and art classes all throughout high school and I danced and sang through college, as well, but I think a lot of times with visual art, I know in the [Black community] in particular and in my family, there aren’t a lot of examples of people who have a career as an artist.

When people aren’t familiar with something, there tends to not be a lot of encouragement in that area. If I can walk up to an average person they can name five singers, they can name five actors, they can name five dancers, but most of the time you can’t really get people to name five visual artists unless you’re in a situation where people are avidly studying artists or something like that.

How did your family take you changing your focus from biology to art?
I just had to be honest with myself and say, “This is my life. You guys don’t have to go to these classes every week, you guys don’t have to work in this field. This is something that I’m going to have to do every day and I want to be happy with what I want to do.” So that’s advice that I always give students, particularly art students who want to paint or sculpt or draw but end up doing graphic design because their parents are like, “Okay, we’ll let you be an artist, but you need to do something that’s going to make money.”

I think we are starting to see more and more examples of different ways that people can sustain themselves as an artist. It’s not always limited to the route of being signed by major galleries now.

All of your portraits have a similar look. What techniques do you use in your work?
Earlier in my undergraduate studies, I was focusing primarily on painting as my major. But in my undergrad program at the [University of Arkansas, Little Rock] we had to take a class in every discipline. So, regardless of what your major was as a fine arts person you had to take sculpture, photography, printmaking, you had to take a survey of everything. When I got to printmaking, I really didn’t see the value in it at first, I had no intention of being a printmaker [laughs]. But after I started to learn more about the process and learned more about artists like Elizabeth Catlett, who was a really big influence on my work, I saw the possibilities that were available with that medium.

Your art features Black people and Black women especially. How has the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement, especially its focus on the inequality of the Black female experience, affected you and your art?
If anything, it’s made people more passionate about what they do. I wouldn’t say it’s changed my work because I’ve always created images to reflect my community and how I feel about us, the beauty and the power that we possess, and just giving a more balanced perception and interpretation of who we are. I think I’ve always done that and artists in our community have always done that. Now there’s just more of a spotlight on us.

What are some of the challenges and some of the rewards that you didn’t anticipate about teaching?
For me teaching is a part of who I am. As I look back in every type of situation, I’ve been in, whether it was a job or on my drill team in high school, I always functioned in some kind of teaching or leadership position. In high school, I usually was the one who would teach the routines to everybody. In choir sometimes I was the section leader who would make sure everybody knew their part.

In terms of being an art educator, I find it to be a really rewarding and privileged position to hold, particularly being at an institution like MICA, because there are so many wonderfully creative students from all over the world. I learn from them just as much as they learn from me. It does have its challenges…but I think the things that I enjoy kind of overshadow the things that I don’t necessarily enjoy.

How have you shifted your approach to teaching since COVID-19?
A lot of that interaction and community with students is not going to be there. So, we’re trying to figure out a way to keep it there as best as possible. We had the first taste of that after spring break. At that point I had already had well over a half a semester with my students, so it wasn’t as much of a challenge because I had already built the relationships. But in the fall, it’s a whole new group and I am electing to do my classes online this semester just because I think that’s the best thing for my family. All across the country professors are having to think about creative ways to keep things afloat and keep that sense of engagement. It’s going to be challenging, but I think it’s definitely doable.

What are some of your plans for the Artscape Prize money?
We have a family goal to be debt free in the next five-to-six years. We’ve been really thinking about statistics of Black wealth in America and closing the wealth gap. So part of our financial plan is to focus a lot on debt elimination. But aside from that, some of the funds are going to be used to restock materials. I always say you have to invest in yourself to give back in your own practice.

Since its inception in 1982, Baltimore has never seen a summer without Artscape, the city’s annual free arts festival and the largest of its kind in the country. But this year, in the wake of Mayor Bernard C. “Jack” Young’s decision to cancel all public events of more than 250 people in an attempt to limit the spread of COVID-19, there will be no stages or vendors or massive crowds along Mount Royal Avenue on what is always, inevitably, the hottest weekend of the year.

The same goes for so many other events that have become synonymous with the sweltering season in Baltimore. Most residents can’t remember a time when locals didn’t gather to watch the Inner Harbor fireworks on the Fourth of July, or to celebrate the cultural contributions of African Americans at AFRAM in Druid Hill Park, or to take to the streets for the Baltimore Pride Parade or Baltimore/Washington One Caribbean Carnival.

“I always tell people who don’t live in Baltimore that summers in Baltimore are the best,” says Alysha January, local blogger and founder of Discover Charm City. “The city just comes alive.”

These time-honored events have become so ingrained in who we are as a city—not to mention the immense economic impact that they have on local artists, businesses, restaurants, and hotels. Artscape alone is estimated to bring in just over $28 million. (In an effort to support those who would have participated this year, organizers with the Baltimore Office of Promotion & the Arts will host a virtual Artscape Artists’ Market August 21-30. Applications are open until July 24.)

Although social distancing measures are essential in flattening the coronavirus’s curve, it’s hard not to lament the loss of these neighborhood celebrations that bring our communities together.

“This summer will, for sure, look different without our beloved summer festivals and other gatherings,” January says. “But you know what? Baltimore always finds a way to pull through.”

As the summer reaches its peak, we turn to local artists, musicians, and business owners to hear about what they miss most:

Amanda Mack
Owner, Crust by Mack
As a kid I grew up a few blocks over from the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. As the summer grew hotter, I got more and more excited because I knew Artscape was coming! It was my all-time favorite Baltimore festival because it was the first time I saw so many people of color celebrated and supported for their gifts—for producing a tangible product with their bare hands that hundreds of people flocked to buy. To me, it was a true hustler’s marketplace. And I took pride in that…As a family business, I was looking forward to the opportunity to be an official vendor at Artscape this year. My entire family was going to be part of the experience. I thought about the vendors whose businesses depend on festival season and asked myself, “What is the long-term plan for small business recovery?” I remain patient and do my best to stay positive. We are all navigating the best we know how.

DDm
Musician
What I will miss most is the music community. I love seeing other artists and catching up with them. Our local festivals are where everyone usually puts on their best shows. Since Artscape is literally in my backyard every year, this summer is sure to feel strange without it

Jason Bass
Co-founder, The Night Brunch
I have the highest form of belief and love for this city. This is a time to respect health over wealth, but we also need leadership that can provide a brighter vision for the future. So we cancel city events until August 31—well, why didn’t they explore how to execute these events virtually or as a hybrid? Why can’t we have the fireworks show and lift spirits? [Did they consider] how many people would be happy to watch them on local news or online? Why didn’t they work with festival planners and content creators to develop a new experience, therefore allowing the opportunity for small businesses to sell art, clothing, and food virtually? We need to reopen, function with some bits of normalcy, and operate our businesses with innovation and trust.

Hunter Hooligan
Musician
I’d like to see the city follow up these appropriately precautionary cancellations with transparency on how they plan to get the money from the budgets of those festivals back in the pockets of its local, working-class artists and creators who would have been providing the content. Grants seem like a great opportunity for that. We are “out of sight” right now, by no choice of our own, but we cannot be “out of mind”…There are many working-class artists here who plan their year around the income from Artscape, Pride, and other summer festivals—which are a huge part of the arts economy. Professionally, it’s difficult knowing that we can no longer count on that income. Personally, I always look forward to these celebrations. They are built into my internal calendar, like any holiday. It’s going to be like a year without Halloween, Thanksgiving, or Christmas.

Eze Jackson
Musician
What I will miss most is Artscape weekend. I’ve thrown an Artscape after-party every year for the past six years, the last three being at Metro Gallery. My party is a chance for me to bring together a mix of artists I enjoy personally, so the crowd is mixed and always fun. The whole weekend is a chance for me to see my friends perform and get exposed to artists I haven’t seen before. I rarely make it to see any of the big mainstage acts because I’m always moving around. I love it—even the heat. Last year, D. Watkins and I got to do back-to-back DJ sets and we literally turned Charles Street into one of the biggest outdoor dance parties that night. It felt like the best representation of a Baltimore night that I could think of.

Aaron Jones
Owner, Bushelers of Baltimore
Born and raised in Baltimore, I always looked forward to events [like Artscape, AFRAM, and the Fourth of July]. These are traditions that keep our city together. Without them, something will be missing. Despite everything, I think we will all find innovative ways to connect intimately with our loved ones—and maybe even create new traditions.

Liz Vayda
Owner, B. Willow
The loss of these traditions is surreal. We’re programmed to seek predictability and routine, and this pandemic has been anything but. To me, having a summer without Remfest, Artscape, etc. feels off, for sure, but humans are incredibly adaptable beings. We will adjust, we will innovate, we will come together, and we will create beauty and joy out of this. Baltimore has a knack for that—working together, supporting each other, and seeing the larger picture. I think all of us have a new appreciation for being able to experience closeness, whether it’s with people we love, in a crowd listening to live music, or at a theater watching a production. When we’re finally able to experience this feeling on a regular basis again, we will all appreciate it on an entirely new level. There’s a lot of good in that.

Editor’s Note: Some of these responses have been edited for length and clarity.

You may have heard that Baltimore has been disparaged recently. Here at Baltimore, we’ve spent 112 years celebrating this city—and we’re not about to back down now. Take a look back as we revisit some of the many reasons why Charm City lives up to its name. Here are some highlights from our archives:

We’ve got Otterbein’s.

The sacred sugar cookies of Bawlmer.

And the best crab houses in the country.

From Captain James, Oprah’s favorite, to the James Beard Award-winning Schultz’s Crab House.

Photography by Scott Suchman

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Oprah Winfrey got her start here on WJZ.

Recently, she made a local news appearance on WBAL to defend Baltimore’s honor. “This charming city is anything but full of rats,” she said.

Illustration by Anita Kunz

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We have sports legends.

The Iron Man even beat The Iron Horse’s streak!

Photography by Mike Morgan

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Our chefs win James Beard Awards.

Woodberry Kitchen’s Spike Gjerde is a farm-to-fork pioneer. Even former First Lady Michelle Obama eats here.

Photography by Mike Morgan

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We have some of the best museums in the country.

Among them are the first-of-its-kind National Great Blacks in Wax Museum, the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African-American History & Culture, and the Baltimore Museum of Art—which is expected to unveil its upcoming Matisse center by 2021, making it the premier place to study the French artist and his works.

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Some of the most iconic artists hail from here.

John Waters, Blaze Starr, and Joyce Scott. (Need we say more?)

-Bryan Burris

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We have the largest free arts festival in the country.

Local legends (Ethel Ennis) to national names (TLC) have stepped up to the stage here.

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Our symphony is home to conductor Marin Alsop, the first woman to head a major American orchestra.

In an era when symphonies around the country are closing their doors permanently, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra is one of only 25 of the 800 or so U.S. orchestras to have been around for more than 100 years.

Photography by David Colwell

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We invented just about everything.

Hyperbole? We think not. Read on.

Sean McCabe

Artscape is known for many things: tasty street food, live music, local vendors, eye-catching installations, and, of course, outfits that are works of art themselves. Even this year’s heat wave couldn’t stop some from showing up in striking style from head to toe. We scoured Baltimore’s favorite arts festival for this year’s most standout looks, and we weren’t disappointed. Here are some of our favorites:

Alyssa Forsythe

“I have so many friends who make so much cool art and to be able to come to one place and see it displayed in so many different ways is one of my favorite things about this city.”

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Tyler Phillips, 29

“It’s very hot outside and kilts are a lot more breathable than jeans, which is what I usually wear. All I ever wear in my spare time are band shirts. TWRP is a fun band. They actually played here at Artscape in 2015, it was their first show in the States—they’re from Canada. But this is just the first shirt that I pulled out of my wardrobe this morning. I thought ‘It’s sleeveless, It’ll be great!'”

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Johnnie Johnson, 22

“I dress like this on a usual basis. I love colorful things! My favorite color used to be purple but it’s grown from there and now I just love rainbow.”

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Paige Davis and Michael Raso

“Penn Station and the shops along Charles Street have been the most fun areas to photograph at Artscape, but we actually just started, so we don’t know all of the great spots yet. We’re looking for the cars that are covered with art.”

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Brooks Kossover, 26

“These sunglasses are from Bottle of Bread and the shorts I got at Get Shredded Vintage.”

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The hottest concerts of the summer are once again upon us, and that’s not just because they always coincide with the season’s warmest temperatures. With the mercury climbing to the high nineties, the 38th annual Artscape festival returns to Mt. Vernon, Bolton Hill, and Station North this weekend with three full days of free art. Every year, we wait on the edge of our seats for the musical lineup, and this year’s headliners don’t disappoint. Each one offers a throwback to different decades—from the local James Brown Dance Party featuring Fred Thomas of the Godfather of Soul’s own 1970s band on Saturday night, to the 1980s British ska-punk of the English Beat on Sunday, to the groundbreaking 1990s R&B trio of SWV on Friday.

But for us, the main event really lies in the festival’s trove of Baltimore talent, with dozens of homegrown acts playing on various stages throughout the weekend. From promising up-and-comers to local scene veterans, we’ve rounded up eight sets not to miss.

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Astronaut Symphony
Afro House is one of the most inventive arts groups in the city these days, with their unlikely musical experiences breaking down any preconceived notions of what concerts can and should be. See for yourself with this futuristic fusion of beat box, opera, punk, and funk, led by AH co-founder, pianist, and composer Scott Patterson. Saturday, Lyric Opera House, 6 p.m.

Caleb Stine & Friends
There might be few better ways to spend a warm summer night than listening to the hearty folk sounds of the city’s Americana spirit guide, Caleb Stine. With more than 10 records under his belt and more than two decades on the local scene, the poetic songwriter draws a loyal crowd and puts on a powerful show, full of heartfelt ballads, toe-tapping ditties, and rolling-thunder road songs driven by acoustic instruments. Saturday, Johns Hopkins University Stage, 8 p.m.

Eze Jackson
From his role as frontman of alternative hip-hop collective Soul Cannon, to emceeing the recurring Bmore Beat Club, to regular solo and collaborative sets across all pockets of the city, Eze Jackson has undoubtedly been one of the most steadfast and hardworking musicians on the Baltimore scene over the last decade. And every third weekend of July, he has hosted an Artscape after-party in Station North, which he’s doing again this Saturday with a release party for his upcoming album, Fool. Tickets start at $8—a surefire steal for what will be a raw, red-blooded set. Saturday, Metro Gallery, 8 p.m.

Kotic Couture
With rapid-fire flows, honey-coated vocals, and a fierce stage presence as seen during the monthly Version queer dance party at The Crown, Kotic Couture has quickly become a rising star of the local rap scene. Escape the heat in the air-conditioned University of Baltimore Student Center for an infectious set as part of the Worlds In Collusion lineup by the High Zero Foundation. One verse in, and we promise: you’ll be hooked. Saturday, University of Baltimore Student Center, Wright Theater, 8 p.m.

MovaKween
This sultry soul singer’s songs are fit for the extreme heat and humidity expected to hit Baltimore this Sunday. Her earthy vocals flit and flutter, snaking around slow, smoldering melodies rooted in R&B, jazz, and soul. Just pay attention to her lyrics, which speak to the cosmos, creative freedom, and feminine energy and empowerment. Sunday, Johns Hopkins University Stage, 1:30 p.m.

Ratscape
Last summer, this DIY music festival returned to Station North after a three-year hiatus, and this weekend, it’s back for another three days of local bands at The Ynot Lot and The Crown. Among dozens of acts, be sure to check on punk quartet Baklavaa and rapper Toyomansi on Friday, hip-hop artists Josh Stokes and DYYO on Saturday, and soul singer Randi, R&B singer Bobbi Rush, and indie bands Shinji and Romantic States on Sunday. Times & locations vary.

Rufus Roundtree & Da B’More Brass Factory
Push off the Sunday scaries with an afternoon powerhouse performance by Baltimore institution Rufus Roundtree & Da B’More Brass Factory on the Main Stage. This high-energy music collective is one of the most fun, feel-good shows in town, fusing funk, hip-hop, soul, and jazz into a Charm City-meets-New Orleans get-down that should incite a second line. Also catch trumpeter Clarence Ward III’s skillful Sunday set on the Morgan State University stage at 6 p.m. Sunday, Main Stage, 1 p.m.

Super City
We regularly rave about the need to see this Baltimore indie-pop band live, and now is your chance, as the well-clad quintet finally takes to the festival’s Main Stage on Saturday afternoon. Stand in awe of their choreographed moves, but also bring your own dancing shoes and prepare to bop, if not outright mosh, along. They’re likely to bring both old favorites, like catchy slow-jam “Artificial Sin,” and new hits, like “High,” to this don’t-miss show. Saturday, Main Stage, 4:30 p.m.

Each year, Artscape, America’s largest free arts festival, is a reflection of Baltimore—where work from Charm City’s most imaginative artists is on hand to showcase to the masses. In 2019, Artscape—returning July 19-21—is doing things a little bit differently, placing an emphasis on ensuring that the featured work is seen in as far a radius as possible.

There is plenty of excitement around what is a slightly revamped Artscape this year. Here’s what you need to know before taking it all in.

A Changing Footprint

For starters, there are some changes pertaining to exactly where exhibits will be. This year, there is an increased focus on Charles Street and the Station North Arts and Entertainment District. The popular Artists’ Market, which features over 100 makers (organizers call it the “heart and soul of the festival”), will move from its previous location along Mount Royal Avenue over to Charles Street.

“Artscape is in the middle of Midtown,” says Kathy Hornig, director of festivals at the Baltimore Office of Promotion & the Arts. “So inevitably, every year there’s construction or changes that challenge us to think creatively about the footprint of the festival. More is jumping off in Station North. That’s really where we see the future of Artscape headed as a city-wide arts celebration.”

Also of note: there will not be physical traces of the festival above the light rail tracks on Mount Royal Avenue, which Hornig notes is another way to place focus on Charles Street and the Station North district. This also opens up car traffic along Mount Royal—something very different from previous years.

In addition, due to ongoing renovations at MICA, the annual Sondheim Artscape Prize Exhibition, a festival favorite, will be moved r to One Charles Center. “We’re bringing arts to an audience that might not otherwise think to pop into a gallery,” Hornig says.

Expanding and changing the location of the festival gives attendees a different look, and the ability to explore areas they might not have as much familiarity with. There are restaurants and businesses surrounding the installations that can benefit from new exposure, too.

“We’re hoping that [the new footprint] exposes a lot more people to all the really cool stuff that’s happening on Charles Street and Station North,” Hornig says. “We hope it pushes festival goers to patronize the restaurants, shops, bars, and clubs that are thriving in that neighborhood.”

An Out of This World Theme

The theme for Artscape this year is “Discover”—a play off of the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing mission that happens to occur on the Saturday of the festival.

“We’re always thinking of new ideas and coming together on how a theme will help us do a better job of curating the festival overall,” Hornig says.

With this in mind, the Artscape braintrust got to work to find exhibits that would match the motif. And with Sydmonauts from artists Amigo & Amigo, they’ve done just that. Getting its inspiration from “low poly art, a popular style of 3-D digital art,” the nine astronaut pieces originally appeared at the Sydney Festival in Australia, and they’ll be spread out at locations throughout the event this weekend. “They’re just so visually appealing,’ says Hornig, who encourages patrons to snap a selfie with the unique pieces.

On the non-space front, renowned performers Squonk Opera will premiere their new show, Hand to Hand, an Artscape exclusive on North Charles Street. The show features the largest puppet hands in the world and is supported by original music, design, and staging.

Flavors of Artscape

Artscape also provides local food vendors with a canvas to showcase their offerings. This year’s festival will feature merchants from the Baltimore Farmers’ Market & Bazaar. Expect to see favorites like Ekiben, Otterbein’s Cookies, Vagrant Coffee, Vegan Soul Bakery, and Black Dirt Farm.

There will also be new offerings like matcha and ube soft serve and brick oven pizza from an old-fashioned trolley. Perhaps the star of the show, though, is fried watermelon—an inventive summer treat from vendor That Sounds Fake. You’ll need something to wash it down, and Maryland’s Open Gate Guinness Brewery, will be slinging beers to sip as you walk the grounds.

“I’m excited for our festival goers to see what we have in store for them,” Hornig says. “There’s so much going on.”

Artscape: Spaced Out
July 19-21.Time varies. Location varies. Free. A few months ago, local artist Michael Bowman had the idea to create a giant version of the vintage View-Master toy. When the theme for this year’s Artscape festival, “Discover,” was announced, the Formstone Castle Collective member started adding space-inspired details to his original drawing, and with that the View-Scaper was born. During this year’s festival on July 19-21, attendees can look through the “eye” of this 8-foot-tall installation and see colorful images made by local artist Justin Duvall, left, of everything from the Apollo 11 mission to John Waters and The Dreamlanders faking the moon landing, all superimposed onto the real background of its Baltimore City surroundings. Bowman, right, hopes the interactive and nostalgic aspects of the piece will put a smile on viewers’ faces. “Everyone can interact with it and feel like they’re part of the art.”

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Baltimore Washington One Carnival
July 13-14. Time varies. Location varies. Free. Although its name has changed (it was formerly known as the Baltimore Caribbean Carnival), this colorful celebration of the region’s Caribbean communities remains as jam-packed and exciting as ever. Kick off the festivities at Lake Clifton Park with the much-anticipated masquerade parade, featuring tons of gem- and feather-embellished costumes, like those worn by Solitaire Carnival Band (pictured), who participated last year. Then spend the rest of the weekend watching live performances, sampling authentic cuisine such as jerk chicken and fry fish, and browsing wares by local vendors.

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The BIG Show
To Aug. 3. Time varies. 3134 Eastern Ave. Free. Baltimore art lovers, rejoice! Now in its 23rd year, this beloved art exhibition invited Creative Alliance members to contribute their works of art to this hodgepodge collection of more than 175 pieces. Whether you submitted your own masterpiece or just want to check out the artworks in this floor-to-ceiling, salon-style exhibit, expand (or begin) your art collection by taking home a few of these unique works.

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Cirque du Soleil: Corteo
July 3-7. 201 W Baltimore St. Time varies. $55-131. Cirque du Soleil has never failed to stun audiences of all ages with its elegant and breathtaking acrobatic performances. Now, the group returns to the Royal Farms Arena for five days of laughter, mischief, and bouncing on beds during Corteo, a high-flying show that celebrates the life of a clown with a grand celebration.

Flicks from the Hill
July 11. 9 p.m. onwards. On Federal Hill Park. Free. Pull out your aproned dress and practice your rendition of “My Favorite Things” in preparation for this special sing-along screening of The Sound of Music, which marks the return of the much-anticipated Flicks from the Hill summer movie series. Pack a picnic and watch this classic flick in Federal Hill Park among tons of Von Trapp fans and costumed onlookers.

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Highlandtown Crab Feast
July 20. 3 p.m. $20-45. We love Highlandtown for its blend of new businesses, such as Old Line Spirits and Urban Axes, with decades-old staples like Matthew’s Pizza and Hoehn’s Bakery. Whether you’ve lived in the neighborhood for decades or just moved in, celebrate the continued renaissance of the area with its first-ever crab feast to benefit the Highlandtown Community Association. Spend the day noshing on unlimited crabs from Captain Frank’s Seafood, Monument City brews, and tons of hearty sides, and be a part of the inaugural year of this sure-to-stick tradition.

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Blink-182 & Lil Wayne
July 21. 5:30 p.m. Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia. $37.50-127.50. This is the mash-up tour we never knew we needed. Don’t miss the chance to see veteran pop-punk rockers Blink-182 perform alongside notorious rapper Lil Wayne on the Merriweather Post Pavilion stage. Fans can expect to hear songs from the band’s 1999 record Enema of the State in celebration of the album’s 20th anniversary, along with chart-topping hits from Lil Weezy such as “Uproar” and “Mona Lisa.”

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Baltimore’s Birthday Bash
July 26. 7-10 p.m. 318-316 Guilford Ave. $45-125.No one throws a birthday party like the city of Baltimore. To celebrate the milestone 290th birthday of our weird and wonderful city, don your party hat and dancing shoes and head to The Assembly Room, where there will be an open bar with local brews and spirits, local eats, birthday treats from area bakers, and tunes by DJ Impulse. To earn good Samaritan points, purchase a “good neighbor” ticket that will sponsor the complimentary admission of another Baltimorean who is active in their community.

Union’s Seventh Anniversary Celebration
July 27. 6-11 p.m. 1700 W 41st St. $35-110. It’s been one hell of a year for Union Craft Brewing. From releasing an IPA dedicated to revered drag queen Divine to hosting sold-out concerts in its Medfield taproom, there’s plenty to celebrate at this all-out birthday bash. Start the night off with snacks from local favorites such as Ekiben, TigerStyle, and Clavel before heading to the bar to try an anniversary concoction or slug back a few classic Duckpins. Stick around to hear sets by DJ James Nasty, reggae group Yellow Dubmarine, and Brooklyn-based collective The Budos Band and raise a glass (or two) to many more years of rockin’ anniversary parties.

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Fluid Movement: The Water Ballet
July 27-28. Time varies. Location varies. $5-20.After reading through our feature “And So Are You” on page 136 about Fluid Movement’s 20th anniversary, we can almost guarantee you’ll be marking your calendar for this summer’s water ballet extravaganza. During this first weekend of performances at the Druid Hill Park Pool, watch in awe as passionate community performers use wacky comedy, colorful costumes, and synchronized swimming to bring this joyous anniversary spectacle to life. If you can’t make it this weekend, don’t worry, there are five chances to catch the show at the Patterson Park Pool in August.

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Visual Art

The Janet & Walter Sondheim Artscape Prize Finalists Exhibition
Don’t miss your chance to catch some of the art world’s brightest rising stars at this exhibition celebrating the seven finalists for the prestigious Janet & Walter Sondheim Artscape Prize. The winner of the $25,000 fellowship will be named in July, but works by Negar Ahkami, Akea Brionne Brown, Cheeny Celebrado-Royer, Schroeder Cherry, Phylicia Ghee, Jackie Milad, and Stephanie Williams will stay on display through August 11. June 15-Aug. 11. The Walters Art Museum, 600 N. Charles St.

RAW Baltimore Presents: Impact
This gathering of independent artists will bring beauty, fashion, music, digital art, and more to Baltimore Soundstage. Whether you’re looking to pick up something to hang on the wall or be inspired by creative new takes on genderqueer fashion and vegan beauty, there’s something to be found for everyone at this showcase of local talent. 7 p.m. June 28. Baltimore Soundstage, 124 Market Pl.

Music

Outer Spaces Record Release
Grab some friends and head to Current Space’s backyard for this outdoor show celebrating the release of dreamy indie-pop act Outer Spaces’ new record, Gazing Globe, featuring guests Smoke Bellow, Cigarette, and Wheatie Mattiasich with Steve Santilla. The sticky summer evening will fit perfectly with Cara Beth Stalino’s exploration of what it means to lose someone but find yourself all over again. 7-11 p.m. June 29. Current Space, 421 N. Howard St.

Theater

Mortified: PRIDE Edition
Some of us dread those childhood journal entries and notebooks full of poems coming back to haunt us. Mortified embraces them. This Pride-themed version of the Creative Alliance storytelling series will feature adolescent artifacts exploring sexual and gender identity, coming out, and other experiences from the LGBTQ+ community. 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. June 15. Creative Alliance, 3134 Eastern Ave.

A Midsummer Night’s Bash
Say a fitting farewell to Single Carrot Theatre’s Remington home with full night of Shakespearean shenanigans. Start the evening with the troupe’s raucous performance of Drunk Shakespeare [and other dead white guys], then stick around for bites, drinks, dancing, and more at the Howard Street theater. 7 p.m. June 22. Single Carrot Theatre, 2600 N. Howard St.

Literature

D. Watkins in Conversation with Lisa Snowden-McCray
Five years ago, D. Watkins found a national audience with his viral essay “Too Poor for Pop Culture.” Now a professor, Editor at Large for Salon, and founder of the BMORE Writers Project, Watkins has become an essential voice. In honor of the fifth anniversary of his first print publication, Watkins joins Baltimore Beat editor Lisa Snowden-McCray for a conversation about how things have and haven’t changed since that first essay and what his latest book, We Speak for Ourselves, can add to the story. 7 p.m. June 26. Red Emma’s, 1225 Cathedral St.

Barbara Bourland—Fake Like Me
Humor, mystery, and sharp observation abound in Barbara Bourland’s follow-up to 2017’s I’ll Eat When I’m Dead, Fake Like Me, in which she moves the focus from a Manhattan magazine to the dueling egos of the contemporary art world. Settle into Greedy Reads’ cozy Fells Point home for a conversation with Bourland and BMore Art’s Cara Ober to celebrate the new release. 7:30 June 21. Greedy Reads, 1744 Aliceanna St.

Film

First Look: Dark City: Beneath the Beat
This celebration of community and Baltimore Club comes from one of the genre’s greatest voices, TT The Artist. Head to the SNF Parkway and follow the red carpet in for a first look at Dark City: Beneath The Beat, TT’s documentary following some of the city’s best local musicians, DJs, poets, dancers, and producers as they build and perpetuate a close-knit creative community that rises above Baltimore’s less-than-sterling reputation. 6:30 p.m. Red Carpet Pre-show, 7:15 p.m. Film Presentation, 8:30 p.m. Director Interview and Q&A, June 26. SNF Parkway Theatre, 3 W. North Ave.

“I own my homosexuality. I feel like people tell me all the time you don’t look gay, so I try to be as gay as possible. Women’s clothing inspires me. I love Audrey Hepburn, Jackie Kennedy Onassis, and I am a huge Beyoncé fan.” —Dairis Bogues

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“I love Artscape because everyone who is different in Baltimore comes together to celebrate art and I love being a part of that. Despite our differences, it really brings Baltimore together.” —Justice Hartley

“I like going on Instagram for style inspiration. I feel like jumpsuits as well as stripes are really in this year and they are great for the summer.” —Chelsea Zou

“We were coming to the TLC concert, so I wanted throw it back to the ’90s. I am definitely a ’90s kid, so I love 90s inspired looks. I also love androgynous-inspired looks.” —Claire Walker

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I love the culture at Artscape. You see people you wouldn’t normally see cross paths here. I also love how the people here express themselves through art, clothes, and music. —Tracee

My dad is from from Senegal, so my style can be very Afrocentric. I love going outside of the box, and basically going left when everyone is going right. —Bryant

“I love that at Artscape all of the freaks are allowed to come out. I love that everyone is allowed to be here. I’ve been coming since I was 17 years old. I discovered it by accident, but I’ve been coming ever since.

Now that I’m older, I can go full out with my outfit—I can throw on some glitter and wear a bunny backpack if I want to.” —Mana Colter

“I like to dress for comfort. My shirt only has four buttons and is really lightweight so it’s really easy to wear. I am a fan of Kate Mara’s style and British menswear. I’m really into plain colors and stripes.” —Kiersten Patron

Five things to eat, drink, see, hear, and do with your Artscape weekend.

EAT

Local Food

Station North, Mt. Royal Ave. & Cathedral St. Fri.-Sat. 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Prices vary.

While the hundreds of visual art exhibits, outdoor installations, and performances are the stars of America’s largest free art festival, Artscape’s entirely Maryland-made menu is prepared to shine just as bright. During the weekend-long summer art-party, celebrate our city as you sample eats from local gems like Ekiben, The Local Oyster, and Connie’s Chicken & Waffles, order on-the-go hors d’oeuvres from food trucks including Wild Thyme, The Green Bowl, and B’more Greek Grill, and dig into desserts from sweet shops like Otterbein’s Cookies, Miss Twist ice cream, and Go Melvo Snoballs.

DRINK

Wet City’s Second Anniversary

Wet City, 223 W. Chase St. Fri. 4 p.m.-2 a.m., Sat. 3 p.m.-2 a.m., Sun. 3 p.m.-10 p.m. Free. 443-873-6699.

In two short years, this Mt. Vernon beer bar has transformed from a brew-centric newbie into a cornerstone cocktail spot for not only its neighborhood but the entire city. To celebrate two years of hand-crafted concoctions and custom suds, take a break from the heat of Artscape and cool off with specialty slushies, including a watermelon pisco sour and a rum-based Pain Killer. When you’re ready to once again embrace the throngs, fill one of Wet City’s plastic growlers with their brand-new double-IPA for easy sipping in the streets.

SEE

Films

Parkway Theater, 5 W. North Ave. Fri. 3-9 p.m., Sat.-Sun. 1-6 p.m. Free.

This weekend’s less-than-ideal weather is the perfect excuse to explore the century-old Parkway Theatre and see a wide variety of free films on its historic big screen. On Friday, settle in for the Baltimore Youth Media Showcase, which will present productions from local youth arts and film education programs, and stay longer for the event’s feature film presentation of Friday, starring Ice Cube and Chris Tucker (spot the original “Daaamn!” scene that led to the iconic meme). Throughout the rest of the weekend, experience a variety of shorts from this year’s Maryland Film Festival, complete with post-screening Q&A sessions with the filmmakers.

HEAR

Concerts

Locations vary, including Artscape Main Stage, Johns Hopkins University Station North Stage, and the Morgan State University Sound Off Live! Festival Stage. Fri.-Sat. 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Free.

Over the past few years, Artscape’s mix of local and national music acts have become as much of a crowd-pleaser as the festival’s art fairs and exhibitions. At the Johns Hopkins stage near Station North, hear acts like soul-punk trio F City, hip-hop emcee Eze Jackson, and singer-songwriter Grayson Moon. Over at the Morgan State stage on Mount Royal Avenue, catch New Orleans-style band The Crawdaddies, indie-rockers Super City, and a Sunday night performance by indie-pop duo Outcalls. Biggest of all, the main stage on Cathedral Street will host headliners like iconic ’90s R&B group TLC, reggae legends Toots & The Maytals, and rising blues rocker ZZ Ward, as well as local favorites like pop singer Ellen Cherry and The Voice finalist Davon Fleming.

DO

Artscape After Hours

Locations and prices vary. Fri.-Sat. 9-11 p.m.

If three days of all-you-can-experience art just isn’t enough, keep the good times going after sundown with after-hours activities all along Charles Street. Let the moonlight fuel your moves at Dance Camp, with its block of family-friendly workshops, impressive performances, and professional competitions; enjoy a pop-up comedy club, complete with stand-up sets, improv lessons, and endless laughs from BIG Baltimore Improv Group; or join Artscape’s grooviest festival-goers at the nightly Silent Discos, hosted by the city’s most celebrated DJs like Landis Expandis and Trillnatured.

With an event as massive as Artscape, stretching across more than a dozen city blocks and playing host to hundreds of artists, deciding what to see can be overwhelming and FOMO can run high.

Between catching your favorite musical acts and snacking on local eats and drinks, be sure not to miss these visual art masterpieces:

Trash-Scape
Part civic duty and part performance art, Thick Air Studios will grace the streets of Artscape as the Department of Beauty Maintenance, collecting litter, educating festival-goers, and ultimately constructing a sculpture of recyclable material in the shape of a mandala, which will evolve as materials are collected. Where to find: The Charles Street Bridge North of Penn Station, and watch it grow.

Circulation Newspaper Box Upcycling Exhibit
Kristy Knowles and Sophie Carey worked with Baltimore youth at a School 33 summer camp to convert 25 old newspaper boxes into miniature sidewalk libraries and pantries. Post-festival, the boxes will be placed throughout the community. Where to find: Along the median of the 1200 block of Mount Royal Avenue

Drinking Water
Build your own poem though an interactive project hosted by Stevie Dissinger. Objects act as prompts to guide participants to create a work of literature. Where to find: The Charles Street Theater Parking Lot at 1704 N. Charles Street

Screen-Print Station
Baltimore Youth Arts will host a free public screen-printing station where visitors can experiment with the art by printing messages about youth advocacy and justice onto fabric and paper. Traditionally, the art has been used as a medium to get the word out and effect change. Attendees are welcome (and encouraged) to bring their own materials to print on. Where to find: By The Metro Gallery at 1700 N. Charles Street

Each year, an artist in the Baltimore area is recognized for his or her outstanding work by way of the Janet & Walter Sondheim Artscape Prize, which awards a $25,000 fellowship.

Those curious to learn more about the artists and see their work can catch a group exhibit at the Baltimore Museum of Art, which has been on view since June, showcasing a sampling of work by each finalist.

Mediums and styles cross the spectrum—photography, painting, fiber art, video installation, and sculpture—but one thing is certain: Work by this year’s group of Sondheim finalists addressed hard-hitting issues faced by America, such as racial and gender inequality, immigration, and slavery.

Past winners of the prestigious award have included artistic duo Wickerham and Lomax (2015) and musical instrument creator and innovator Neil Feather (2014).

A crowd gathered for the awards ceremony last night at the BMA coinciding with Artscape next weekend. Among the finalists this year were Erick Antonio Benitez, Nakeya Brown, Sutton Demlong, Nate Larson, Eunice Park, and Stephen Towns.

Erick Antonio Benitez, a Salvadorean-American artist, whose work focuses on the refugee and migrant experience, won the 2018 Janet & Walter Sondheim Artscape Prize.

“This work is very timely and important to me,” Benitez said at the ceremony. “I wanted to create something that would highlight true realities.”

The 30-year-old MICA grad said that he plans to spend the $25,000 prize to help fund more trips to the U.S.-Mexico border to collect more objects for future installations. The remaining artists received $2,500 each.

The Sondheim Artscape Prize exhibition of work by all seven finalists will remain on view at the BMA through August 5.

Over the years, Baltimore’s DIY scene has birthed a number of dynamic music festivals. Whartscape. Scapescape. Fields Festival. Ladyfest. Most have petered out—some losing their venues and others with founders who have moved on to bigger projects—while a small few still remain, like the punk-forward U+N Fest.

Now, after a three-year hiatus, the Ratscape music festival has announced its return to Station North with three days of underground music during Artscape weekend on July 20-22. Named for the city’s prolific rodent but also as a celebration of the scene’s underdog status, the event will feature more than 40 acts across multiple genres, playing for free or small covers outside at the Ynot Lot and inside at The Windup Space.

After the festival’s last event at the Ottobar in 2015, “we decided to take a break for a couple years because we wanted to move things into our own venue and do things by our own rules,” says Joshua Schleupner, who co-founded the festival with Mike Franklin at the now-defunct Hour Haus on North Avenue in 2012. Lack of sufficient space has long been a point of conversation and contention in the city’s various arts communities. In the wake of 2016’s Ghost Ship warehouse fire in Oakland, CA, the DIY Bell Foundry was shut down on North Calvert Street, and while Mayor Pugh’s Safe Art Space Task Force released recommendations for the creation of new safe and affordable arts spaces in December, there is still no timetable for their implementation.

But while the Ratscape founders have yet to open their own venue—they’re currently looking at buildings in Station North, Remington, Mt. Vernon, and the Bromo Arts District—Schleupner, Franklin, and fellow artist Caroline Devereaux recently founded the Baltimore Music Preservation with the long-term goal of creating a new, inclusive music space to help nurture the city’s artists.

“The current political climate can really contribute to the breaking down and separating of arts scenes, even further than they already were—and never should have been in the first place,” says Schleupner. “We just want to bring people together and let them realize that they’re appreciated.”

This year, the organizers hope that the festival, located within walking distance of Artscape, will have a community block-party atmosphere. In the tradition of their past lineups, which have included such revered local artists as Arbouretum, Celebration, Eze Jackson, Wet Brain, and Wing Dam, the bill features a diverse mix of both up-and-coming and national news-making acts.

On Friday, be sure to catch experimental rappers JPEGMAFIA and 83 Cutlass, followed by late-night sets from synth-pop singer Pale Spring and Giddeon Gallows, the new solo project by producer Drew Scott of electronic duo Blacksage. On Saturday, check out hardcore punk band Joe Biden, pictured, rising rapper Butch Dawson, and the Champion Sound 4 showcase, featuring some of the city’s top beat makers and emcees. On Sunday, wrap things up with garage “un-pop” group HexGirlfriends, R&B singer Bobbi Rush, rapper Dyyo Faccina, and experimental duo Wume, followed by late-night sets from drummer-producer Josh Stokes and electro-pop singer Gurl Crush.

“There’s this constantly evolving idea of what music is,” says Schleupner. “These young artists will keep pushing us forward and innovating, paving the way for more.”

Visual Art

Young Blood
Art has the power to reflect the culture in which it was made, often expressing ideas that cannot be articulated as effectively through words alone. In the case of the exhibit Young Blood at Maryland Art Place, we see—through painting, sculpture, installation, photography, and animation—what inspires and stimulates the minds of our local creative youth culture. Each year, MAP celebrates recent Baltimore-area masters of fine art grads with an exhibit of their work.

This year’s Young Blood showcases pieces by graduates of Maryland Institute College of Art; University of Maryland, College Park; University of Maryland, Baltimore County; and Towson University, including Caroline Hatfield, Mollye Bendell, Mitchell Noah, Madeline Stratton, Ryan Lytle, and Sara Kaltwasser. Through Aug. 25, with an opening reception from 6-9 p.m. July 11 and an artist talk at 1 p.m. Aug. 18 at MAP, 218 W. Saratoga St.

Sondheim Artscape Prize exhibition
From sculpture to photography to painting, fiber art, and video installation, work by this year’s Janet & Walter Sondheim Artscape Prize finalists is visually spellbinding, and the artists don’t shy away from exploring such issues as spirituality, race, gender, and immigration. Baltimore-area visual artist finalists Erick Antonio Benitez, Nakeya Brown, Sutton Demlong, Nate Larson, Eunice Park, and Stephen Towns are each exhibiting selected works at the Baltimore Museum of Art through August 5. The winner will be announced during a ceremony at 7 p.m. July 14 and awarded a $25,000 fellowship. Exhibit runs through Aug. 5, awards ceremony at 7 p.m. July 14 at the BMA, 10 Art Museum Drive.

Summer ’18
The current show at C. Grimaldis Gallery in Mount Vernon revisits the exhibitions shown over the past year while giving a little preview of what’s to come. This survey exhibition features pieces by British sculptor Anthony Caro, abstract expressionist Grace Hartigan, and Korean light artist Chul Hyun Ahn. It also debuts work by 2018 Guggenheim Fellow Rania Matar, Colin Van Winkle, and 2017 Rome Prize recipient Beverly McIver. Through Aug. 18 at C. Grimaldis Gallery, 523 N. Charles St.

Intimate Women
Intimate Women, currently on view at Full Circle Gallery, explores the relationship between women’s minds and bodies through photography-based collage and sculpture by women artists. Their inner worlds are revealed through stories of culture, gender roles, and sexuality. As curator JiaJia Chen puts it in a statement about the show, “Every work in the exhibition is an adjective, presenting personal but universal subject matter from different perspectives.” Artists include Asha Holmes, Jianan Liu, Layla Choi, Michelle Cuevas, and Rachel Hartman. Through Aug. 4 at Full Circle Gallery, 33 E. 21st St.

Music

Jack Novotny Sextet
The Jack Novotny Sextet will bring their original music, composed in the spirit of the great jazz masters, to An die Musik. They’ve studied the nuances, style, and flavor of works by icons such as John Coltrane, McCoy Tyner, Wayne Shorter, Charles Mingus, and Ornette Coleman, and expand upon and integrate those ideas into their own pieces, rather than duplicate the originals or even replicate improvs.

“Performing new material that has never been heard is exhilarating for our group,” says Jack Novotny, saxist in the group. The sextet also includes bassist Juini Booth, pianist Benito Gonzalez, trumpeter Marlon Jordan, tenor saxophonist Edwin Bayard, and Baltimore drummer Nasar Abadey as a guest, filling in for regular drummer Mark Lomax II. Novotny will play tenor/soprano saxophone and flute. 8:30 and 10 p.m. July 12 at An die Musik, 409 N. Charles St,.

Literary Arts

John Lingan
Rockville-based John Lingan, who has written for the Oxford American, New York Times Magazine, and others, brings us his debut book, Homeplace: A Southern Town, a Country Legend, and the Last Days of a Mountaintop Honky-Tonk. Lignan spent four years researching the early-American town of Winchester, VA, in the Blue Ridge Mountains. He first went there to seek out Jim McCoy, a honky-tonk owner and the DJ who first gave Patsy Cline airtime. What he uncovered though was a story about a town facing an identity crisis. He’ll launch his book tour this month with a reading and signing at Bird in Hand. 7 p.m. July 17 at Bird in Hand, 11 E. 33rd St.

Miscellanea

Cirque du Soleil Crystal
Cirque du Soleil’s show Crystal explores the artistic limits of ice through jaw-dropping acrobatics on the ice and in the air—synchronized skating and adrenaline-pounding extreme skating will be performed alongside traditional circus arts like trapeze. This dreamlike world is brought to life with visual projections and an original score. July 5-8 at Royal Farms Arena, 201 W. Baltimore St.

Artscape
Our beloved Artscape returns this month, taking over 16 blocks of Baltimore and boasting three outdoor stages, 11 indoor venues, over 200 concerts, an artist market with more than 150 vendors and craftspeople, plus large-scale projects showcasing visual and performing arts, visual art exhibitions, film, street theater, and youth-focused entertainment. Performances include theater, dance, comedy, and more. And all of the above is free. It’s a great way to celebrate the city and all the arts in one fell swoop. 11 a.m.-9 p.m. July 20 and 21, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. July 22 at Mount Royal Avenue & Cathedral Street, Charles Street, Bolton Hill, and Station North Arts & Entertainment District neighborhoods.

Ratscape
After a two-year hiatus, the wonderfully bizarre Ratscape will return this year in conjunction with Artscape. A lineup of more than 40 local bands spanning rock, rap, punk, experimental, hardcore, and more will perform free shows at the Ynot Lot, an outdoors venue in Station North, throughout the weekend: JPEGMAFIA, Jeff Carey, and Bound by the Grave on Friday; Butch Dawson, Joe Bidan, and Homosuperior on Saturday; Wume, Sneaks, and HexGirlfriends Sunday. The grassroots festival is produced by Baltimore Music Preservation, aka Joshua Christy Schuelpner, Mike Franklin, and Caroline Devereaux. 2 to 10 p.m. July 20-22 at the Ynot Lot,1904 N. Charles St.

As the largest free outdoor arts festival in the country, Artscape will be once again painting the streets this July, with a color palette that’s overwhelmingly green.

In its 37th year, the free festival is making considerable sustainable efforts. Its agenda is threefold, according to Kathy Hornig, Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts’ (BOPA) festival director, as these environmentally friendly efforts will be seen in its food and drink operations, transportation options, and visual arts exhibits.

For the first time, attendees can sip drinks through paper straws, as all BOPA vendors will be stocked with them and the remaining food stalls will be highly encouraged to do the same.

The initiative complements the successful ban of Styrofoam products among vendors, which the festival started two years ago, Hornig said.

“We were ahead of the curve on that one,” she added. Since then, the independent nonprofit Trash Free Maryland has led a bill to ban polystyrene foam in Baltimore. The organization works to create legislative and policy-driven initiatives to combat trash pollution.

“Often times, there’s something you can do—not in addition to—but differently,” said Ashley Van Stone, executive director of Trash Free Maryland. “Like using a different material.”

Along with using eco-friendly material, BOPA is partnering with Monument City Brewing Company to streamline recycling efforts, piggybacking off their partnership from Light City. The brewery will provide about 50 clearly labeled recycling containers.

With an estimated volume of 350,000 attendees, preventing trash pollution was a priority. The receptacles will help outline how to separate materials and make it easier to sort trash out.

“I think the Artscape attendees want to support sustainability,” Hornig said. “They just need clear, visible units to make that happen. With the addition of these assets, we find the crowd is as into being sustainable as we are.”

In line with celebrating Baltimore’s own sustainability efforts, Artscape will also make use of the new permanent bike lanes up Mount Royal Avenue. Starting this year, BOPA will have free pedicab rides going up and down the hill.

“It’s completely human-powered, sustainable pedicabs—a free way to get up and down the hill,” Hornig said. “We’re hoping that festival goers will use those to maybe see something at Artscape they haven’t seen before.”

Up at the top of Mount Royal, the festival features local bands, food vendors, and indoor art venues. Its footprint is “symbolic” of the culture Baltimore has to offer, including local sustainability practices.

“Whatever the best practices are for our city in general, festivals should try to accommodate those,” Hornig said. “As a showcase and celebration of everything that makes our city great, sustainability efforts should certainly be a part of that.”

Looking at Artscape festivals to come in the years ahead, the team hopes to continuously add more environmentally conscious efforts.

“We would like to just keep doing a better job year after year,” Hornig said. “We’re interested in the possibilities of solar power for some of our temporary power moving forward. We just want to continue to do the good work.”

Foo Fighters
July 6. Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia. 7 p.m. $60-125. Over the past two decades, the Foo Fighters have done it all: toured the world, won 10 Grammys, and even soldiered on as lead singer Dave Grohl performed from a makeshift throne while resting his broken leg. In their first-ever show at Merriweather Post Pavilion, the guitar gods will rock the sold-out crowd with hits from their latest album, Concrete and Gold, as well as time-honored classics such as “Best of You” and “Everlong.”

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Cirque Du Soleil: Crystal
July 5-8. Royal Farms Arena, 201 W. Baltimore St. Times Vary. $45-165. Theater. Cirque du Soleil has long been revered for its world-class acrobatic performances, but now, in true awe-inspiring fashion, they’ve decided to up the ante by taking their show onto the ice. For the first time, ice skaters will join acrobats in challenging the laws of physics during this winter wonderland-themed show at the Royal Farms Arena. From the edge of your seat, follow the story of a young girl as she discovers herself in a world of her own imagination.

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The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
July 7. The Legendary Arch Social Club, 2426 Pennsylvania Ave. 8 p.m. $18-21. Music. Back in March, prominent Baltimore voices—Joy Postell, Christen B, J Pope, and more—paid tribute to this Fugees rapper’s monumental debut album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, with a sold-out performance at Creative Alliance that left attendees (and those with FOMO) begging for an encore show. This month, hear some of the same local artists celebrate the 20th anniversary of one of the greatest albums of all time with back-to-back performances, this time at the historic Arch Social Club in West Baltimore.

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Snail Mail
July 12. Parkway Theatre, 5 W. North Ave. 7 p.m. $15-18. To say that Snail Mail—aka 18-year-old Ellicott City native Lindsey Jordan—has achieved indie-
darling status is an understatement. Since releasing her debut EP, Habit, in 2016, the guitar-shredding singer’s emotionally charged music has garnered praise from The New York Times, Pitchfork, and Rolling Stone, and this month, her band will premiere its first full-length album, Lush, at the historic Parkway Theatre in Station North. Catch the wunderkind during this hometown stop on the band’s summer tour and revel in Jordan’s beyond-her-years talent.

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Baltimore Caribbean Carnival
July 14-15. Clifton Park 2803 St Lo Dr. Noon-10 p.m. $15. For one weekend, follow the sound of steel drums to Clifton Park for this lively weekend-long celebration of Baltimore’s Caribbean communities. After kicking off the festivities with one of the city’s best parades—featuring colorful costumes and masquerade bands—join hundreds of attendees for traditional eats, a pop-up marketplace, and live music in the East Baltimore greenspace.

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Artscape 2018
July 20-22. Multiple locations. 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Free. When Kailah Foreman learned that she won the prestigious Fred Lazarus IV Artscape Prize in May, one of the first people she told was her AP Art teacher, Matthew Adelberg, who encouraged her and his five other students to apply for the annual award. “I sent him a screenshot of the email, and he called me immediately,” says Foreman, a senior at Baltimore Polytechnic Institute on Cold Spring Lane. “He was screaming; that’s how excited he was.” The oil paintings and pencil drawings that she submitted for the fifth annual award, which grants one Baltimore City high school student $1,000 and a solo exhibition, will be on display at the 37th annual arts festival. Foreman, who will attend the Maryland Institute College of Art this fall, says the award will help jumpstart her fine arts career. “The fact that I won tells me that people are really looking at my art,” she says, “and that they see something special in me.”

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Union’s Sixth Anniversary Celebration
July 28. Union Collective, 1700 W. 41st St. 6-11:45 p.m. $35-100. Ever since bursting onto the local beer scene seven years ago, Union Craft Brewing has thrown can’t-miss anniversary parties to commemorate another year filled with Duckpin ales. This month, to celebrate both the brewery’s birthday and the grand opening of its new Union Collective complex, party the night away with an epic lineup of live music, including Baltimore rockers J. Roddy Walston & The Business, Cumberland indie-folksters Michael Nau & The Mighty Thread, and the talented DJ James Nasty, plus local eats and, of course, plenty of signature Union brews.

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Baltimore Summer Restaurant Week
July 27-Aug 5. Multiple locations. $12-35. Twice a year, dozens of Charm City restaurants—stalwarts, newcomers, and everything in-between—allow new and returning customers an affordable front-row seat to the region’s booming dining scene. With multi-course $12-20 brunches and lunches and dinners for only $20-35, this 10-day feast is sure to include at least one meal you won’t forget.

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Ronald Jackson
June 30-July 28. Galerie Myrtis, 2224 North Charles St., 2-6 p.m. Free. Exhibits. Virginia painter Ronald Jackson uses mixed-media collage techniques to reimagine African-American portraiture, layering vivid hues, geometric shapes, and rich fabrics into works filled with emotion and complexity. Get to know the emerging artist and his powerful paintings during Profiles of Color III: Fabric, Face, and Form at Galerie Myrtis in Station North.

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Janet & Walter Sondheim Artscape Exhibition
June 20-Aug 5. The Baltimore Museum of Art 10 Art Museum Drive. Wed-Sun 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. Exhibits. Each year, in conjunction with Artscape, The Baltimore Museum of Art celebrates local visual artists in one of the summer’s most anticipated exhibitions. Explore works by six of the city’s most prestigious artists, who are all in competition for the Sondheim’s grand prize, including multidisciplinary artist Erick Antonio Benitez, photographer Nakeya Brown, sculptor Sutton Demlong, photographer Nate Larson, painter Eunice Park, and mixed-media Baker Artist Award finalist Stephen Towns.

The sounds of R&B, reggae, and bluesy rock will permeate the air around Charles Street and Mount Royal Avenue at this summer’s Artscape.

Returning for its the 37th year on July 20-22, this year’s festival might be one of the best yet with a staggering number of performers catering to attendees of all ages. On the main Artscape stage, headliners include iconic R&B girl group TLC on Friday, reggae legends Toots and the Maytals on Saturday, both at 7:30 p.m., and rising blue rocker ZZ Ward at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday. Local openers for these acts include the inspirational Cardinal Shehan School Choir, soul singer Ama Chandra, The Voice contestant Davon Fleming, pop songwriter Ellen Cherry, and funk collective Rufus Roundtree & Da Bmore Brass Factory.

Breaking from recent tradition, this year’s event will have no specific theme, letting local artists unleash their creative talent without boundaries. When it comes to music, no genre has been unturned, with dozens of local acts performing at various venues and stages throughout the weekend. At the Morgan State University Festival Stage on Mt. Royal Avenue near Lafayette, hear the likes of blues singer Ursula Ricks, pop-rock group Super City, and indie pop duo Outcalls, while instrumental rockers To The Moon, soul punksters F City, energetic MC Eze Jackson, and soulful rocker Grayson Moon are set to perform on the Johns Hopkins University Station North Stage at Charles Street near North Avenue. Each night, Artscape After Hours events will also take place on North Charles, including dance parties and DJ sets by the likes of The Bmore Beat Club.

Looking for something more formal or even indoors? Classic and organ music enthusiasts can catch live performances at the Corpus Christie Church on West Lafayette on afternoons and evenings throughout the weekend, while jazz, opera, and world music will be on display at the MICA Brown Center. Students and teachers of the BSO Academy will also perform at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall. For outside-the-box and experimental genres, be sure to attend the High Zero Foundation’s Worlds In Collusion weekend, featuring unexpected performances by the likes of Symphony Number One and Wham City Comedy at the University of Baltimore Student Center.

While there is no overarching theme for this year’s fest, organizers have brought in several new elements, including a Youth Day on July 20 focused on performance and visual art created by young people, a silent disco on Mount Royal Avenue, The Squonk Opera’s Pneumatica show, and free pedicabs to help everyone get from one event to the next quickly and easily.

Eleven large-scale interactive projects will also be spread across the festival, including Baltimore-focused works such as Screen Station, where visitors can “try their hand at screen printing and print their own messages related to youth advocacy and justice.”

While the festival lasts only three days, attendees will have the opportunity to bring a piece of the experience home through works from the Artists’ Market, which will display piece for sale from more than 100 artists, artisans and crafters from the Baltimore and beyond. Some artists are still yet to be announced, so keep your eyes peeled for updates on the lookout for what is sure to be the best concert—and one of the best sweat-soaked parties—of the summer.

Additional reporting by senior editor Lydia Woolever.

Under a dramatic black light inside The Windup Space in Station North, MCs are called onto the small stage, two at a time. The packed crowd hoots and hollers as these novice and veteran rappers are given the task of rhyming over beats they’ve never heard before. However daunting, each rapper approaches the mic like a jazz artist, taking turns freestyling and testing new bars as if trading fours. “This is what it’s about!” shouts host Eze Jackson from the stage. “It’s about building the culture.”

This is the latest installment of the Bmore BeatClub, a hip-hop open-mic series, now in its third year. The event is a platform for emerging artists who want to step up their game, as well as for producers who are scoping out new talent and people like its founder, Brandon Lackey, who want to help the Baltimore hip-hop community grow.

“BeatClub is really a family,” says co-producer and EDM DJ Marat Buberman. “Everyone here is supportive. . . . We know what it’s like to be struggling artists.”

With the help of dedicated staff and friends, Lackey, a producer himself, and his Lineup Room Recording Studio have been producing BeatClub since it was a free, BYOB event at the now-defunct Shockwave Records store in Parkville. What began as a way for young producers to show off their beats has evolved into an open-mic with MCs rapping over tracks and drawing hordes of hip-hop fans from Baltimore and beyond.

BeatClub has grown out of its former venues, including, most recently, the basement of the Maryland Art Place—a setting Lackey describes as Cheers meets 8 Mile—and into a bimonthly series at the larger Windup Space that also includes an epic all-night dance party. “I wanted to kill it or grow it,” says Lackey. “I didn’t want it to get stale.”

The most important thing to understand is that BeatClub is not a battle. The stage acts as an even playing field, with national legends like Bobbito and Psycho Les standing alongside fresh-faced up-and-comers, some of whom have gone on to bigger things, like creating collaborative EPs, opening for big-name acts at Baltimore Soundstage, and performing at Artscape.

Those incentives create the hungry edge that keeps artists coming back. As Lackey puts it, “That’s the competition.”

Home Game

July 15, 2017
Herring Run Park

With the game still scoreless after a dozen minutes, Fiona Guinan snatches a baseball-sized white sphere skittering across the grassy field with her bare hand. She quickly tosses it a few inches above her waist, and then, in a single motion, like a right-handed Chris Davis, but on the run, swings her open-faced wooden stick and bashes a long, rising fly ball through the uprights for the game’s first tally. Minutes later, Guinan does it again—this time from 35 yards away—and suddenly, the Baltimore Gaelic Athletic Association’s camogie team and their Irish ringer are on their way to an easy win over their Washington, D.C., rivals. “I’ve been playing since I was six,” Guinan, the visiting 21-year-old Dublin college intern, says with a smile afterward.

The women’s version of the ancient Emerald Island game known as hurling, camogie is akin to a smash-up of lacrosse and field hockey, but with both soccer-like goals and American football uprights for scoring. The game’s roots, explains Isadore Beattie, the sixtysomething Irish coach of the Baltimore squad, date back several thousand years to when villages settled scores with daylong matches. “The annual All-Ireland Hurling Championship is bigger than the Super Bowl,” he explains. “The whole county goes to watch if their team makes the final. You won’t find a dog in the street that day.”

The Baltimore club was formed in 2003 by Lucy Prendeville, who was inspired to take up the game after visiting her ailing Irish grandmother. “She told me to forget field hockey and start playing camogie,” Prendeville says. “So I did. I guess I was anxious to connect to my Irish heritage.”

“She’s 40 and runs around like a teenager out there,” marvels her Ireland-born husband Tadgh, who has retired to the sidelines. “She hasn’t said it as such, but I think she intends to keep playing until our 7-year-old, Patricia, is ready to carry on.”

Prendeville’s daughter, however, will likely have help keeping the Gaelic sporting tradition alive here for another generation.

“So far, there have been four marriages, another is in the works, between the men’s and women’s teams, with nine children altogether,” Prendeville says. “That would definitely make my grandmother happy.”

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Home Spun

July 15, 2017
Eastern Avenue

As the dreadlocked,  pierced, and skirt-wearing Coffin Nachtmahr picks his way through the buffet at the Creative Alliance, awaiting the results of the first-ever Born in Baltimore film festival, a lanky teenager approaches with a question: “How did you do that?”       

As if on cue, Nachtmahr pulls a yo-yo from his pocket and begins to gently dance what’s known as “the stack” back and forth on a string between his chest-high hands. “I’ll show you,” Nachtmahr responds, turning for his backpack. “I’ve got another one with me.”

A Mid-Atlantic champ and national yo-yo competitor, Nachtmahr—a nom de guerre used by the 25-year-old East Baltimore native—is the star of the documentary Throw that screened here this afternoon. “I wasn’t like all the rest of the kids. People would pick on me just for being me,” says Nachtmahr in the 10-minute film’s opening as he looks into a mirror and applies make-up across the bridge of his nose and around his eyes. “‘This kid is weird. He stutters. He’s probably like a retard or something.’”

Not surprisingly, the film, which recently won a regional Emmy, wins the judge’s nonfiction and audience awards. 

Throwing his yo-yo behind his back, twirling it around his fingers and neck, Nachtmahr makes the seemingly simple novelty toy sing in a way that is startling—“like a whimsical high-wire artist,” says David Larson, who spotted him playing one day while walking through Patterson Park and made the film with Early Light Media partner Darren Durlach.

Nachtmahr, who works as a handyman part-time, also plays guitar and makes art, juggles, skateboards, and passes time with a Japanese cup-and-ball game called Kendam. But none of it does what the yo-yo does for him.

“There’s always music in my mind when I yo-yo and, together, that puts me in a certain headspace that helps me just ‘be’ day to day,” Nachtmahr explains. “I can’t explain it. I can’t really function without it.”

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Kill Joy

July 21, 2017
Maryland Avenue

“Who would like this game?” a twentysomething man with dyed blonde hair asks Cole Pritchard, co-inventor of “Mister Mart,” a virtual reality game in which a retail clerk at a badly run store punches annoying customers trying to return their purchases. (Players rack up points by successfully refunding merchandise, and relieve “stress” by smacking customers and hitting them with store items.)

“Anybody who likes violence,” Pritchard deadpans.

In fact, there has been a line to play Mister Mart—which began as Pritchard and Karen Chang’s thesis project at the Maryland Institute College of Art three years ago—since the opening of the Gamescape pavilion at Artscape. Set to launch via Steam, the online gaming platform, Mister Mart is one of two dozen indie, professional, and throwback games available for play at Gamescape.

“The old-school Nintendo games like Mario Kart and Super Smash Bros. are popular,” says Ben Walsh, who founded Gamescape in 2010 and is the owner of the Highlandtown-based company Pure Bang Games. “But it’s great to see independent games getting so much interest.”

Another popular, still-in-development indie game is “Rock, Paper, Scissors,” which brings the basics of the classic contest into a fast-paced, multi-player gaming space where all three competitors try at once to “prey” upon their various targets—paper for scissors, for example—while scurrying away from their own predator.

For game makers, the tweaking process takes years, with Gamescape proving valuable, real-time user feedback. Some, like Pritchard and Chang, have brought their games back more than once for public pleasure and scrutiny.

“I love it,” says 8-year-old Jackson Limmer after pulling his Oculus virtual reality headgear off, following a long turn bashing Mister Mart virtual customers. “It’s better since last year, too. You can see everything better,” he says. “Last year, I punched a real person by mistake.”

Super City 

Greg Wellham, Dan Ryan, Brian Brunsman

DR — “This is the best festival in the world and it’s free and it’s amazing every time. One of our first shows that we played at Artscape I think we hadn’t even been playing together a year and that was a big boost for us. My favorite thing to do is just walk around and see what presents itself. I remember I had gone like three years in a row and then I went to the Charles Theatre and walked in and they were showing short movies and I was like, wow, I didn’t know they had this.”

GW — I love to have things to brag about for Baltimore, and it’s really awesome to tell people from out of town that we have the largest free arts festival in the country. I had some friends from out of town recently, and they were like we don’t have this!”

Murjoni

“I am representing Colored Collective, which is based out of Baltimore and makes art around social issues. My personal work is sculpture and I focus a lot on self-love in black culture and touching upon loving your natural self. Artscape is another level for us because we started in January, and coming here is a huge step. People come here and feel inspired, which is what we want. My favorite part is meeting a whole bunch of people. I’m a people person, and, even thought it’s tiring, it’s nice to meet all different kinds of people who enjoy and are inspired by your work.”

John Marra

“The Baltimore Rock Opera Society has taken over Metro Gallery with the Gluegenheim museum, an exhibition of past artifacts of past shows. It’s nice to feel legitimized, because we’re basically doing what we always do, making it up as we go, holding everything together with a glue gun and tape. Part of me feels like the emperor that has no clothes, like how did we get here, and the other part of me is like, we worked our asses off for this, here we are.

“You never see this many people in Baltimore walking around together, having a good time. Artscape creates a potential for moments that could happen all the time if people were as mixed in with each other as they are here at here.”

Stevie Dissinger

“The Braid Bus is open to any hair length, gender, or age, including people with no hair. You can come and have your hair pretend braided, because then you still get the intimate experience of sitting with other people, having someone touch your head and give you part of their work. We have a guest book, and a lot of people have said this has been a great spot to relax. I’ve been braiding since I was a kid, and I wanted to create something that brought a unity between people that might have otherwise not have been connected.”

Gnama Hartney 

“I’m performing at Artscape with my dance company The Moving Company dance center. Our performance is a modern piece about something that scares you at one point, but then you become the scary thing yourself. I’ve been dancing since I was 3. I’m 15 now and I want to become a professional dancer eventually.”

Hoesy Corona

“I am one of the founders of the arts organization Labbodies and I am a part of the Artist-Run Art Fair. We’re typically known for doing large-scale performances and art works in unconventional spaces, so we took this opportunity to showcase documents of performances that have happened recently, instead of actual live performances. We have three local artists featured who are decontextualizing the black female body in contemporary times. I think the Artist-Run Art Fair is the best part of Artscape. It’s really focused on artist-run spaces, so there are a lot of artists who are blurring the line between producer and organizer. It has a different feel, and I like that authenticity about it.”

Rimi Basu 

“Artscape is amazing. It’s a wonderful platform. I’ve been coming here since I was young, and I love the mission of showcasing different types of art and what people are passionate about. My performance was about presenting several devotional traditions from India through music and dance, and I love the openness of the community to what I have to share. It’s not very mainstream, but people are willing to experience it.”

Five things to eat, drink, see, hear, and do with your Artscape weekend.

 EAT

Local Food!

Station North, Mt. Royal Ave. & Cathedral St. Fri.-Sat. 11 a.m-9 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.-8 p.m.

America’s largest free festival—and the city’s staple summer event—is back and tastier than ever. With an entirely Maryland-made menu, dig into more than 30 food vendors, including local favorites like Dooby’s, Ekiben, The Local Oyster, and Connie’s Chicken & Waffles, plus more than a dozen food trucks from throughout the region dishing out crab cakes, fried chicken, and BBQ. This year, the festival will be placing extra emphasis on recycling with a ban on all Styrofoam materials. And be sure to swing by Prigel’s Family Creamery, for cold scoops and cones to keep the dog days at bay. 

 DRINK

Wet Cityscape

Wet City, 223 W. Chase St. 11-2 a.m. Free. 443-873-6699. 

Like always, Artscape is going to be an extra hot weekend. Stay hydrated with an emphasis on local beers throughout the festival, and at one of Mount Vernon’s best recent additions—the craft beer bar Wet City. Celebrate the bar’s one-year anniversary with taps upon taps of expert and experimental brews, including two special collaborations with Burley Oak and Goonda Beersmiths. Permit permitting, they’ll even have their own beer garden, set up outside in the high-summer heat. 

 SEE

Free Films!

Parkway Theatre, 5 W. North Ave. Fri. 6-9 p.m., Sat.-Sun. 12-6 p.m. Free.

If you haven’t had the chance to experience the Parkway yet, this weekend is your chance to explore the recently renovated historic theater. For local art lovers, cinephiles, or just those in need of some A.C., they’ll be featuring free films throughout the weekend with genres ranging from animation to comedy to documentary and drama. On Friday, catch a feature flick with the cult classic Wet Hot American Summer (which couldn’t be a more appropriate title, for this year’s camp theme and—did we mention it yet?—the weather’s extreme temps). On Saturday and Sunday, stop in for more than a dozen short films, screened with filmmaker Q&As throughout the day.

 HEAR

Concerts!

Locations vary, including Artscape Main Stage, Johns Hopkins University Station North Stage, and the Morgan State University Sound Off Live! Festival Stage. Fri.-Sat. 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Free.  

While we love the art cars of Charles, the avenue of local food, and the sidewalks strewn with street performers, Artscape wouldn’t be the same without its medley of musical acts. Across three stages, they’ll be showcasing an eclectic mix of internationals artists and local talents. At the Morgan State stage on Mount Royal Avenue near Lafayette, hear acts like neo-soul collective The Fruition Experience, hip-hop poet Wordsmith, and indie darlings Us & Us Only and Super City. At the Johns Hopkins stage on Charles Street near North Avenue, be sure to stop by and see local rapper Martina Lynch, teen virtuosos Legends of Et Cetera, skyrocketing rock band Wing Dam, and post-punk stars Natural Velvet. Biggest of all, nestled beside the rolling green hills beneath the light of the old train station’s clock tower, you’ll hear alt-hip-hop group J Pope and the HearNow, local soul singer Ama Chandra, blues experts The Ron Holloway Band, and headliners like R&B star Sheila E., gypsy punk-rockers Gogol Bordello, and soul-blues legends Robert Randolph and the Family Band.

 DO

After-Parties!

Locations, times & prices vary.

Artscape doesn’t end when the festival turns off the lights. For the entire weekend, after-parties will be popping up all across the city. During Artscape’s own After Hours, stay in the neighborhood for everything from street theater and local comedy to George Michael tribute on North Charles. There will be plenty of dance parties, too, including Save Your Soul at the nearby Mount Vernon Marketplace, with vintage soul and pop music on the ones and twos, and 4 Hours of Funk at the Windup Space, with literal hours of funkified jams, both on Friday night. On Saturday, swing by Pen & Quill for a performance by the Baltimore Beat Club, and live music at local venues, like Priests at the Ottobar and :3ION at The Crown.

Jasmine Pope, frontwoman of J Pope and the HearNow, has been a powerful presence in Baltimore’s music scene for years. Her band is making waves right now for its debut album, Soul Searching, which was released this summer. She joined us to talk about influences, juggling practices with day jobs, and the band’s first Artscape performance.

 I know people are familiar with you from outlets like the Baltimore Boom Bap Society, but tell us what the essence of J. Pope and the HearNow is.

 We are two entities that came together—me, J Pope, got together with Funk Friday around 2009, 2010. They were going to Goucher College and I had done a show there and they were the house band. We hit it off and since then we’ve been performing together. They were Funk Friday without me and our sound changed as we started performing together more. It shifted from funk and we started getting into alternative, soul, hip-hop, a bunch of other things other than funk. The name change came about because we didn’t want to be pigeonholed as just a funk band—we wanted something that captured everything it is that we do.

How would you describe your sound? 

We had more of a jam band sound, but our sound now is much more intentional. Jacob Kohlhas, our guitar player, does a good part of our musical arrangements, so I’ll do lyrics and an arrangement of vocals, but Jacob is very precise and has a lot of wonderful ideas about dynamics in the music. Where we used to be loose and jamming, we’re now precise with swift changes now, and I think this album captures that. It comes off well in our live performance, but for a few years we’ve been trying to capture it in our recorded pieces and we hadn’t gotten it exactly how we wanted it to be until we hooked up with [producer] Wendel Patrick and he was shaping that sound and bringing it out during the recording sessions. 

I feel like I hear this brought up a decent amount in Baltimore, where evolution of sound has more to do with a community of people who come together and work together.

I completely agree. The beautiful thing about Baltimore is, even though it’s a smaller city, our scene is really robust and tight-knit and that’s across genres. Being able to work with different folks, from what I do with Boom Bap and our performance with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, the different kinds of music that we do influences what we do when we come together. Our drummer plays with the Bumper Jacksons, which is a completely different type of music than we play, our saxophone player has a basis in jazz, but can play anything. Every experience we have as individual musicians translates when we come together to compose and write. I think that’s another reason why our sound has evolved because we just individually as musicians are interacting with the community of folks who are around us. There aren’t many cities that you can go to where you can hear someone who’s classically trained on violin and a throat trumpet player and a classically trained opera singer from Peabody Conservatory and me. It happens in Baltimore regularly, and I think that’s just so unique, and gives us an opportunity to make sounds that you aren’t able to find in other places.

I wanted to ask you about what has influenced you and got you into music. 

So I came to music probably the way most brown girls will tell you they did, which is through the church. There was a gospel group that would come to my grandmother’s Baptist church. They were five sisters and the only instrument was a piano that one of the sisters played, and they performed like there were 1,500 people watching, even though that church probably held about 200 and probably had only had 45 people in the audience. But the energy they created when they performed had me awestruck, and they came every year to the church, so that made me more interested in music. As I got older, I started getting into Donny Hathaway and Nina Simone. I heard Lauryn Hill and saw that girls could sing and rap and I was ok, I can do this. I was in a gospel/rap group when I was in high school in Prince George’s County, and our administrators would let us out of school to go to other schools and perform. That started everything, and when I went to college at Towson University is when I started my first band. I had a history of jazz class there and the professor gave us the option of writing a paper for our final project, or forming a band, and little did he know there were some pretty amazing musicians in the class. I ended up forming a band and we did good stuff and we ended up staying together for five years. I stayed with them until I started rocking with J Pope and HearNow.

So what do you have planned for Artscape?

We’ve played Artscape a few times, but this is going to be our first time together as a band. Wendel Patrick will be accompanying us, and we’re also going to have a background vocalist that we hope will make our live show feel a little bit bigger since this is a bigger venue. We’re going to do a lot of really cool surprises, and we’re going to do what we always do which is have fun and entertain.

Now that the album is out, are you thinking about future plans for you and the band?

I’ve wanted to do another solo, straight hip-hop album, probably because my little brother is always like, “Yeah, this is great, but when are you going to do more rap?” So I’ve been kicking that around in my head and writing a little bit. As a band, we’re writing new music. Once we finally finished this album, it felt like a permission slip to be able to write new music. We’ve been writing and practicing and writing and practicing.

One thing I don’t think most people understand is the time commitment that’s required to be in a band like this. Can you talk a little about what your schedule is like?

(laughs) I also work a 9 to 5 job—I run an HIV and sexually-transmitted infection prevention program with Chase Brexton—so between that and having a five-year-old, I  practice with the band every weekend and sometimes during the week, getting off work at 5 and practicing sometimes 6:30 to 11. But that’s just my schedule. Most of the guys in the band teach music professionally, so they’re up early to do that, and then they practice all day individually, and they also gig with other bands. It’s really about juggling, but we’ve been together for a few years, so I think that testifies to the commitment we have. We’ll do whatever it is we need to do to make sure we can continue to make music together.   

Let’s be honest—what we love most about Artscape is the way the city is transformed for three days and nights into an art-loving, community-vibing, dancing-in-the-street big party. In fact, one of the best things to do, in our opinion, is simply walk around Charles Street and Mount Royal Avenue, soaking up all the sights and sounds of summer in the city.

But we’d be remiss if we didn’t weigh in on the extensive list of performances, exhibits, installations, and family events that make up the country’s largest free arts festival that runs July 21-23. So without further ado, we give you our list of what not to miss at this year’s camp-themed Artscape.

Installations

One of the biggest visual cues that Artscape will have arrived will be the appearance the larger-than-life works of art in Mount Vernon and Station North. Take the Charles Street Trail, for instance, where, between Penn Station and Lanvale Street, you can meander among works by three artists that hint at more mysterious encounters than a typical wander in the woods. (And, apparently, you should watch for a Sasquatch!) Then, there’s Let’s Build a Big Campfire!, a 20-foot-tall sculpture made from steel and logs that features a marshmallow on a 30-foo-long skewer. Large scale, indeed.

Mount Royal Avenue at Dolphin Street will transform into Aquarium Falls, a participatory installation presented by the National Aquarium in collaboration with visual artist and Maryland Institute College of Art graduate Kasey Jones. Festival-goers will assist Jones in the creation of a waterfall created entirely of repurposed plastic materials, and playfully explore a park-like landscape complete with a winding stream, stepping stones and trail activities.

And while camping is thought of as a way to get away from it all, Who’s Watching (Charles Street by Penn Station) reverses this by exploring aspects of surveillance. This installation brings viewers into one of two physically separated custom framed tents. Initially, participants may be aware only of the chamber into which they are entering, without knowledge that they are watching each other. The live feed will be erratically interrupted by surveillance footage from 2015 now available online, connecting the surveillance occurring live in the space with historical surveillance in Baltimore City.

Performances

So, yes, on Friday, the MICA Main Stage will feature Sheila E., Prince’s drummer, collaborator, and former fiancé (he proposed to her on tour while performing “Purple Rain”, swoon.) And that crazy Gypsy punk band Gogol Bordello takes the stage on Saturday and Sunday features soulsters Robert Randolph and the Family Band. But make sure to check out J. Pope and the Hear Now, the funk-infused Baltimore group whose debut album Soul Searching has made a splash since its release this summer.

At the Morgan State University Sound Off Live! Stage (Mount Royal Avenue near Lafayette), check out Wordsmith (Saturday 2-3 p.m.), a rapper and musician who will perform with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra next season, and Super City (Sunday, 1-2 p.m.) a indie quintet made up of Towson University grads.

The Johns Hopkins University Station North Stage has a diverse lineup that is so perfectly Baltimore, from Baltimore City Public Schools students (Friday 12-1:30 p.m.) to punk rockers Natural Velvet (Sunday 4:30-5:30 p.m.) and PLRLS (Sunday 7:15-8 p.m.). Also check out up-and-coming rapper Martina Lynch (Saturday 2-3 p.m.) and Wing Dam (Saturday 8-9 p.m.), who make a return trip to their Baltimore hometown from their new digs in San Diego. And don’t for get about the George Michael Tribute on Friday night.

 One of our personal favorites this year is Dance Camp (Charles Theater parking lot), where you don’t have to be a budding ballerina to get the full workshop and performance experience. In fact, the schedule was artfully designed to provide the audience with an experience of a typical day at camp. Each day, campers can wake up to morning yoga, attend dance workshops, listen to a fireside chat and, most importantly, just dance. Competitions, games, and talent shows are spread throughout the three days so you can participate and cheer on your favorite professional crews and dancers. Check out all types of battles, choreography workshops, even Parkour instruction, and as the days eases into night, check out a special version of 4 Hours of Funk and a Mobtown Ballroom-sponsored dance party with a live jazz band.

Film

Celebrate the return of film to Artscape at the newly opened Parkway Theatre, home of the Maryland Film Festival. On Friday from 6-9 p.m., programming starts with a free feature film, Wet, Hot American Summer. On Saturday and Sunday from 12-6 p.m., a variety of free short films are shown throughout the day with filmmaker Q&A’s.

The Lyric, Theatre Project, The Meyerhoff, and MICA Brown Center

An Argentinian dance company that blends precise footwork, drumming, and a 17th-century style South American song, Che Malambo brings their fast-paced footwork and traditional drumming to the Modell Performing Arts Center at the Lyric (Saturday and Sunday, 1 and 6 p.m., 140 W. Mount Royal Ave.).

Per usual, Theatre Project presents dance performances, including a Dirty Dancing tribute (Saturday 12:30-2 p.m., 45 Preston St.), where you can audition to join the company.

In addition to the BSO presenting a concert of classical favorites, the Meyerhoff (1212 Cathedral St.) will also host the Dunbar High School Alumni Jazz Band, the Polytechnic Institute Extradition Step Team, and the Baltimore City College “Knights of Jazz.”

The Brown Center at the Maryland Institute College of Art (1301 Mount Royal Ave.) features a broad-reaching program, including the Victoria Piano Trio performing music of the great outdoors by Gershwin and Beethoven (Friday 3:30-4:30 p.m.), Baltimore Concert Opera exploring what makes up an opera with an engaging program for kids (Saturday 3:30-4:30 p.m.), and Full Circle Dance Company presenting a new work based on the experiences of Harriet Tubman (Saturday 6:30-7:30 p.m.).

Pop-Ups

These small but might performances have the advantage of choosing wherever and whenever they want to perform during the festival. And while you might not be able to plan to see them, if you do encounter them, we guarantee you’ll be entertained. It’s an eclectic mix, from Smallfoot, a mysterious giant creature who roams Artscape and drum students from the BSO’s OrchKids program to belly dancers, a dance crew, and the skating wizards of It’s My Skate Night.

Street Theater

Experience an unbelievable performance from Dimitri Reeves, who’s won acclaim as a Michael Jackson impersonator (Friday 8-9 p.m.). On Satuday, check out Spirit of Ma’at, (11:30 a.m.-12p.m.) a Baltimore based troupe that mixes traditional belly dance with hip-hop, African and modern dance, and a showcase by Bmore Than Dance and Follow the Art (7-7:30 p.m.) that features of a variety of dance styles including popping, b-boy, ballet, tap and modern hip-hop. And on Sunday, Tradiciones Bolivianans (2:30 – 3:30 p.m.) take festival-goers on a trip to South America.

Fluid Movement
July 29-Aug. 6.  July 29-30: Druid Hill Park, 800 Wyman Park Dr. Aug. 4-6: Patterson Park, 148 S. Linwood Ave. Fri.-Sun. Times & prices vary. One of the city’s most weirdly wonderful summer events is the Fluid Movement water ballet. This summer, the avant-garde group delves into the 16th-century Renaissance as aquatic ballerinas re-imagine Shakespearean classics such as Hamlet, Macbeth, The Tempest, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Expect loads of glitter and good times as the local troupe fuses Old English prose with Baltimore swimming pools.

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Flicks From The Hill
July 6-Aug. 24. American Visionary Art Museum, 800 Key Hwy. Thu. 5-9 p.m. Free. 410-244-1900. Baltimore is home to a hoard of outdoor movie options throughout the summer, but for our money, you can’t top AVAM’s Flicks From the Hill. Perched atop Federal Hill with a sweeping view of the city skyline, it’s the place to be on warm Thursday nights, as the art museum projects big-name blockbusters, cult classics, and family favorites onto a 30-foot screen. Spread out a blanket, unpack your picnic, and best of all, enjoy free museum admission during each and every show.

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Little Italy Open Air Film Festival
July 7-Aug 25. High and Stiles streets. Fri. 7 p.m. Free. 410-558-0022. Every Friday night through August, set up some lawn chairs, grab some free popcorn, and bring friends to watch open-air flicks projected onto the outside wall of Ciao Bella. This year, catch classics like Moonstruck, Grease, Rocky, The Godfather I and II, and, of course, Cinema Paradiso.

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A Midsummer Night’s Dream
July 7-23. Evergreen Museum & Library, 4545 N. Charles St. Fri.-Sat. 8 p.m., Sun. 4 p.m. Free-$20. 410-662-9455. One of Shakespeare’s most popular plays will certainly feel like a summer dream in the grassy meadow at the historic Evergreen Museum. In this magical setting, join the Baltimore Shakespeare Factory for a mischievous, laugh-filled love story.

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David Blaine
July 8. Hippodrome Theatre at the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center, 12 N. Eutaw St. 8 p.m. $74.50-127. 410-837-7400. Known more for death-defying illusion than rabbits and top hats, magician, illusionist, and stunt artist David Blaine promises to mesmerize a packed house during his first-ever North American tour. For one night only, let down your guard and prepare to be wowed.

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Merriweather 50th Anniversary Concert
July 15. Merriweather Post Pavilion, 10475 Little Patuxent Pkwy., Columbia. 6 p.m. $55-125. 410-715-5550. It’s been 50 years since Merriweather, arguably Maryland’s best music venue, opened in the Columbia woods. To celebrate its half-century, the iconic stage is in the midst of a major summer lineup—from Jack Johnson and John Legend to Paul Simon and Santana—and now it’s about to kick off a four-act anniversary concert of epic proportions. In one night, hear fiery singer Grace Potter, eccentric songwriter Father John Misty, and two legendary headliners, the ever-gentle Jackson Browne and the pot-smoking country poet Willie Nelson, with his family band. 

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Baltimore Caribbean Carnival
July 15-16. Clifton Park, 2701 St. Lo Dr. Sat. 12-10 p.m., Sun. 12-9 p.m. Free. Take a trip to a Caribbean island this summer without even leaving Baltimore. During this weekend-long celebration of paradise in Clifton Park, soak up the sounds of steel drums, dig into endless authentic eats, and see the colorful costumes at the lively parade. 

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Artscape 2017
July 21-23. Mount Royal Avenue & Cathedral Street. Fri.-Sat. 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.- 8 p.m. Free. 410-752-8632. The long stretch of iconic art cars, outdoor concerts, and local food vendors will once again take over the heart of Baltimore. Embrace all the youthful excitement that comes with the tradition of summer camp with this year’s theme.

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Zoo Bop Kids Music Festival
July 29. The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, 1876 Mansion House Dr. 12-4 p.m. Free-$25. 410-396-7102. Finally, kids have a music festival to call their own. The Zoo Bop outdoor concert will feature two kid-approved artists—Baltimore’s own Baby Beats and Latin Grammy winner 123 Andrés, pictured. When the kiddos aren’t grooving to the tunes, they can visit activity tables and food trucks, and partake in all-day admission to view the zoo’s own young ones, like Willow, the baby giraffe.

Cue the giant sculptural campfire, the Adirondack chairs, the dance socials—and, apparently, performances by a Gypsy punk band and a kick-ass female drummer.

Gogol Bordello will headline this year’s camp-themed Artscape, performing on Saturday. The night before, legendary R&B and funk performer Sheila E. (“Glamorous Life”, anyone?) takes the stage, and Sunday features soul group Robert Randolph & The Family Band.

“Artscape is one of the most exciting things we do in the city every single year,” said Mayor Catherine Pugh at the press conference announcement at the Parkway Theatre today. 

Camp Artscape: Adventure Awaits—as the country’s largest free arts festival is being designated this year—runs from July 21-23. And there are plenty of features that are on theme—from a “camp site” on Charles Street where festival-goers can taste camp-inspired eats and connect with fellow “campers” to a whole installation devoted to “dance camp” where you can live out your summer stock dreams in a workshop or catch a high-energy performance.

And, of course, there will be plenty of the old favorites—the artists’ market that lines West Mount Royal Avenue, street performers, concerts from the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and OrchKids. Plus, there’s food from 100-percent Maryland food vendors and, new this year, the beers will also be 100-percent local, including selections from Flying Dog, Heavy Seas, Union Craft, and The Brewer’s Art. 

“It’s great because it’s right in our backyard,” says Tom Creegan, co-owner of The Brewer’s Art. “It’s been a trend that’s been building for a long time and the people at BOPA have really taken notice. I’m glad they’re seeing the plethora of really awesome products available and are choosing to highlight them along with all of the local artists.”

As for new features, the Parkway will host a free feature film and short films, Argentinian dance phenom Che Malambo will perform at the Lyric, and a portable gallery will showcase the work of Brian High, a junior at the Baltimore Design School, at the median of Mount Royal Avenue.

Add to that sets by Ama Chandra, Baltimore rockers Super City, and 15-year-old rapper Faame Emanuel, plus pop-up performances and art shows around the city, and Artscape promises to be the same sweat-soaked, mind-blowing, city-wide party that is always a highlight of the summer.