Doors Open Baltimore
Oct 5-6. 10 a.m.-4 p.m.. Locations vary. Free. When Margaret De Arcangelis walks past a building—whether it’s a new high-rise office or a centuries-old home—she’s always curious to know what’s inside. That sense of appreciation for local structures of all sizes and ages is what led her to become the committee chair of Doors Open Baltimore, an annual event where more than 55 spaces open their doors to the public. De Arcangelis says that while many people only associate Baltimore’s architecture with rowhomes, Doors Open (this year on October 5-6) gives visitors the chance to explore the different types of buildings, museums, and historic houses that make up the city. “Through this event, people ‘catch the bug’ and get excited about these buildings,” she says. “If we get people interested in them now, we hope that curiosity continues throughout the rest of the year.”—KP

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The Great Halloween Lantern Parade & Festival
Oct. 26. 3:30 p.m.. Patterson Park. Free. One of the city’s most beloved fall traditions turns 20 this year, and to celebrate, there will be even more parade floats, glowing sculptures, and dance parties than ever before. After spending the afternoon in Patterson Park for the annual Lantern Festival, join thousands of onlookers and watch people of all ages parade through the park holding glowing lanterns and marching alongside community bands.

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International Edgar Allan Poe Festival & Awards
Oct. 5-6. 11 a.m.. 203 N. Amity St.. Free-$200. Whether you believe Edgar Allan Poe died of alcohol poisoning, cooping, or otherwise, there’s no denying that his “death weekend” never ceases to bring Poe fanatics together. We take a deep dive into Baltimore’s connection to Poe on page 82, but this two-day festival that commemorates his death with a funeral “viewing,” Poe House tours, and a special Black Cat Ball is certainly worth noting. Join thousands of fans outside of his former home on North Amity Street to experience Poe-themed performances, booksellers, and poetry readings, and learn more about the full history of his tormented life through representatives from preeminent “Poe places” such as Richmond and New York.

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Halloween 2019
Oct. 26. 8 p.m.-1 a.m.. Maryland Science Center. $42-80. Who would’ve guessed that one of the hottest Halloween parties in Baltimore—complete with more than a dozen musical acts, a wild costume contest, and tons of craft beer—would take place at the Maryland Science Center? For one night only, the kid-friendly exhibits will make way for this annual music festival on the Inner Harbor, with big-name headliners such as rock band J. Roddy Walston and The Business, pictured, rapper DDm, and Talking Heads tribute group Psycho Killers. Don’t miss the chance to hear the likes of bluegrass stompers The Dirty Grass Players, folk-pop septet Haint Blue, and DJs Roby Macy and Jasmes Nasty all under one roof in this can’t-miss collaboration between local nonprofit Believe in Music and the Maryland Science Center.

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Phantom of the Opera
Oct 9-20. 12 N. Eutaw St.. Time varies. $56.50-206. The Hippodrome Theatre is kicking off its 2019-2020 season with the classic of all classics: Phantom of the Opera. Revered as one of the best musicals of all time, this award-winning show follows the story of a brooding, mask-wearing phantom who stirs emotions and schemes at a 19th-century Paris opera house. Whether you’re experiencing it for the first time or the 10th, this timeless show by Andew Lloyd Webber is sure to leave you thinking about its powerful themes all the way home.

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Charm City Fringe Festival
Oct. 10-20. Time and prices vary. Bromo Arts District. Baltimore’s theater community is even better when it comes together, and this annual festival that brings every type of actor and audience member together proves it. Experience the most innovative and cutting-edge theater productions Charm City has to offer, with 11 days of shows across multiple venues in the Bromo Arts District. Check out the full schedule of acts, troupes, and performers online to make your theater-hopping plans.

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Oysterfest 13
Oct. 12. 12-9 p.m.. 36 E. Cross St.. Free-$99. For the first time in its 13-year history, this slurp-tastic festival will take place on South Point’s waterfront, with tons of freshly shucked oysters, seafood delights, and drinks to kick off prime Chesapeake Bay oyster season. Spend the day sampling more than 10 varieties of raw oysters, taking in the picture-perfect views, and, if you want to be impressed, watch the some of the region’s most skilled oyster shellers compete for the title of fastest local shucker. If you’re hemming and hawing over the price of a VIP shuck-buck package, remember that a portion of the proceeds benefits the Oyster Recovery Partnership and Living Classrooms Foundation, Shipboard.

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Baltimore Comic-Con
Oct. 18-20. Time varies. The Baltimore Convention Center. $25-165. If you spot a superhero or villain walking around the Inner Harbor, don’t worry, that just means that the annual Baltimore Comic-Con has officially descended upon Charm City. Now in its 20th year, this weekend-long sci-fi fest is a can’t-miss event for comic book enthusiasts, with a packed schedule of costume contests, art exhibits, panels, and, of course, browsing for comic books. Spend the weekend at the Baltimore Convention Center looking for the perfect addition to your collection, rubbing elbows with big-name cartoonists, and showing off your best Joker or Darth Vader look.

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Baltimore Running Festival
Oct. 19. Time and location varies. $55-280. One thing that we love about citywide festivals is there’s usually something for everyone, and the Baltimore Running Festival is the perfect example. Since this event features five different events ranging from an all-ages 5K to the BaltiMORON-a-thon, runners of all skill levels can come together and celebrate the beauty of hitting the pavement. Register early to secure your spot at the starting line and get ready to show off that crab-shaped finishing medal.

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The Walters Gala and Party
Oct. 19. 6 p.m.-12 a.m.. The Walters Art Museum. $115-500. The Walters Art Museum has been revered as one of the best art museums in the country, so it’s no surprise that its annual fundraising gala and party is up there with the best of them. This year’s theme, Modern Nouveau, takes inspiration from an exhibition of Charles Rennie Mackintosh, the architect who influenced the art nouveau movement, that’s premiering at the Mount Vernon museum this month. Start the evening with a cocktail reception followed by a gourmet dinner in the galleries, and cap off the night with late-night drinks and dancing in the Sculpture Court. Be sure to grab tickets early, as this party-for-a-cause experience is almost guaranteed to sell out.

EAT

Sept. 30: The Big Ice Cream Social

The Ynot Lot, 4 W. North Ave. 12-5 p.m. Free.

For the past five years, Taharka Brothers Ice Cream’s hot pink “Change-Maker Mobile” has traveled around Baltimore selling countless cones and promoting a message of equality throughout the city. The Clipper Mill-based company’s socially conscious message caught the attention of ice cream behemoth Ben & Jerry’s, which is teaming up with Taharka Brothers to throw a one-of-a-kind ice cream social featuring free scoops, live performances by local legends DDm and Martina Lynch, and Q&A sessions with area leaders about politics and culture. Don’t miss this Station North block party that will bring people from all corners of the city to enjoy sugary-sweet treats and community discussions.

DRINK

Sept. 29: Patterson Park Brew Fest

Patterson Park, E. Baltimore St. & S. Patterson Park Ave. 12-7 p.m. Free-$65.

We love Patterson Park for its picturesque rolling fields, tail-wagging dog park, and annual autumn brew fest that invites beer-lovers to crack open local beers and enjoy live entertainment in the crisp September air. On Saturday, spend the afternoon sipping on local offerings from The Brewer’s Art, Union Craft Brewing, Heavy Seas, and Monument City; sampling eats from area food trucks; and jamming out to sets by Baltimore-based folk quartet Charm City Junction, indie band Cara Kelly & The Tell Tale, and beach band Sons of Pirates.

SEE

Sept. 28-30: Baltimore Comic-Con

The Baltimore Convention Center, 1 W Pratt St. Fri-Sun Noon-7:00 p.m. $25-500.

This weekend, the Baltimore Convention Center will transform into a comic book-lover’s paradise, complete with a costume contest, tons of comic books to peruse or purchase, and the chance to rub elbows with fellow nerds and famous cartoonists alike. Come decked out as your favorite superhero or villain during this 19th annual festival and take advantage of art exhibits, panels, and autograph sessions. Stick around for the chance to meet Maryland-born graphic novelist Frank Miller, the creative force behind the late-era Batman comics, or actor Zachary Levi, the future Shazam and voice of Flynn Rider in Tangled.

HEAR

Sept. 29: Super City

Ottobar, 2549 N. Howard St. 9:30 p.m. $12.

Since the release of its first album, Again Weekend, back in 2015, indie-pop band Super City has garnered a following throughout the city—and we’ve been eagerly waiting to see what they’ll do next. To kick off the multi-city tour of their latest, self-released album, Sanctuary, the “freak wave” boys will put on an all-out show for their hometown fans before hitting the road. Pack into the Ottobar on Saturday night to sing and dance along to new songs like “Vulture” and “Nice Person (DOA).” Head there early to hear an opening set by indie band Vita and the Woolf.

DO

Sept. 28-30: Baltimore Book Festival

Locations vary. 11-7 p.m. Free.

Although our city’s slogan is no longer “The City That Reads,” that hasn’t stopped locals from embracing this annual weekend-long literary extravaganza. Stretching from the Inner Harbor to the American Visionary Art Museum, this locally-loved festival features readings, demonstrations, and panel discussions by prominent regional and national authors, as well as more than 100 book exhibitors, kids’ projects, and live entertainment throughout the weekend. Expect to see the likes of Baltimore native and White House correspondent April Ryan, local cookbook author John Shields, New York Times best-selling authors A.J. Jacobs and Justina Ireland, as well as performances by local acts like soul singer Joi Carter and indie-pop duo Outcalls on the Music Stage.

Baltimore Seafood Festival
Sept. 15. The Canton Waterfront Park, 3001 Boston Street. Wed-Sun Noon-7 p.m. Free-$105. We take seafood pretty seriously in the Land of Pleasant Living, and this end-of-summer celebration is a chance for locals and visitors alike to feast on some of the best blue crabs, crab soup, crab cakes, and, of course, oysters that Maryland has to offer. At this fifth annual festival at Canton Waterfront Park, sip on refreshing cocktails, listen to live music, and honor the bounties of the bay from noon until sundown.

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Charles Street 12
Sept. 1. The Shops at Kenilworth, Towson. 7:30 a.m. $80-90. The idea of running 12 miles in Baltimore’s late-summer heat is nothing short of intimidating, but this annual trek from Towson to Locust Point features city views (and hopefully a harbor breeze) worth running for. Lace up your sneakers and join thousands to jog down Charles Street from the Shops at Kenilworth, to the Inner Harbor, and around to Under Armour’s waterfront headquarters. After crossing the finish line, stick around for post-race festivities, including free beer, snacks, and live music.

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Baltimore Comedy Festival
Sept. 1-3. Multiple Locations. 7 p.m.-11 p.m. Free-$10. For the second year, this comedy extravaganza will bring free standup performances, panel discussions, and podcast recordings to more than 20 venues across the Baltimore region. With an opening ceremony at Station North’s Motor House, the festival will be filled with side-splitting showcases by more than 100 comedians, including many from Charm City’s own flourishing comedy scene.

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Hateful Things
Sept. 1-Oct. 14. Reginald F. Lewis Museum, 830 E. Pratt St. Wed-Sun 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free-$8. In this highly anticipated special exhibition at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum, controversial memorabilia such as banks, posters, and tobacco tins featuring racist caricatures will be displayed as examples of the country’s segregated past. View materials from the late-19th century to the present that represent the lasting effects of the Jim Crow era, and, on September 22, participate in a discussion hosted by the Johns Hopkins University Center for Africana Studies about the history of objects used to negatively stereotype African Americans.

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Little Italy Madonnari Arts Festival
Sept. 7-10. Multiple Locations. Free. During one of Little Italy’s fan-favorite traditions, master street-painting artists from around the world will color the city to reflect this year’s festival theme: respect. Watch as street artists fill the neighborhood’s historic sidewalks with chalk masterpieces and create a colorful homage to Baltimore’s cultural diversity.

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Hampdenfest
Sept. 8. W 36th St. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Free. For one day only, Hampden’s can’t-miss block party returns with its annual celebration of one of the city’s most quintessential Bawlmer neighborhoods. Indulge in local food and drink, browse regional arts and crafts vendors, cheer on contestants in the Dangerously Delicious pie-eating contest, and rock out to three stages boasting hometown bands such as F City and Raindeer. Just be sure not to miss the iconic Toilet Races as porcelain flies down Chestnut Avenue.

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Trillectro Music Festival
Sept. 22. Merriweather Post Pavilion, 10475 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia. Noon. $79-199. Since its inaugural festival seven years ago in Washington, D.C., this hip-hop and electronic music festival has found a new home at the Merriweather Post Pavilion and grown into a can’t-miss concert that draws big-name acts and thousands of fans to Columbia every fall. At the end of the month, hear a killer lineup of artists including R&B star SZA, rapper 2 Chainz, internationally renowned DJ Carnage, and even a set by local performers curated by Lawrence Burney of Baltimore arts publication True Laurels.

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Pigtown Festival
Sept. 22. 700-900 blocks of Washington Boulevard. Noon-7:00 p.m. Free. One of Baltimore’s most anticipated races of the year is finally here—no, not the Preakness Stakes—it’s “Squeakness,” aka Pigtown’s annual contest that sends piglets running around a ring on Washington Boulevard. Aside from this crowd-favorite tradition, the Southwest Baltimore festival boasts plenty of family-friendly fun, including live music, local food trucks, and an arts and crafts zone.

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Baltimore Comic-Con
Sept. 28-30. The Baltimore Convention Center, 1 W Pratt St. Fri-Sun Noon-7:00 p.m. $25-500. For one weekend, the Baltimore Convention Center will transform into a comic book-lover’s paradise, complete with a costume contest, tons of comic books to peruse or purchase, and the chance to rub elbows with fellow nerds and famous cartoonists alike. Come decked out as your favorite superhero or villain during this 19th annual festival and take advantage of art exhibits, panels, and autograph sessions. Stick around for the chance to meet Maryland-born graphic novelist Frank Miller, the creative force behind the late-era Batman comics, or actor Zachary Levi, the future Shazam and voice of Flynn Rider in Tangled.

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Baltimore Book Festival
Sept. 28-30. Baltimore Inner Harbor. Fri-Sun 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Free. Ten years after the release of her eighth book, The Glen Rock Book of the Dead, local author Marion Winik realized she had enough material to fill a sequel. (Since the first book’s publication, her mother, the family goldfish, and one of her favorite musicians, Lou Reed, had died.) With the same candid and often humorous writing style she fine-tuned through her years as an All Things Considered commentator, Winik memorializes the departed in short essays that evoke a tender sense of connection in readers. During the Baltimore Book Festival on September 28-30, she will debut The Baltimore Book of the Dead with a reading at the Inner Harbor Stage on Friday ahead of the official release on October 9. “For me, it’s important to find material that is challenging and scary to write about because that usually means that you’re onto something interesting.”

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

EAT

September 4: Mother’s Pajama Brunch

Mother’s Grille, 1113 S. Charles St., 9 a.m.-2 p.m., 410-244-8686

It doesn’t get much better than a three-day weekend. But a three-day
weekend featuring half-off hash browns, bennies, and Bloodies during
Sunday brunch is basically perfection. This Sunday, favor flannel and
fleece over shades and sundresses at Mother’s Grille’s bi-annual pajama
brunch. Show up in your jammies (think onesies and fuzzy
slippers—scrubs, sweats, and boxers don’t count) to receive half-off of
your check from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. In true Federal Hill fashion, the menu
includes requisite hair-of-the-dog options like mimosas, sweet tea
vodka, and Arnold Palmer pitchers.

DRINK

September 2: Grand Reopening of Nepenthe Homebrew

Nepenthe Homebrew, 3600 Clipper Mill Road, Suite 130, 11 a.m.-8 p.m., 443-438-4846

Just shy of five weeks after raging flood waters wiped out this
home-brewing haven in Meadow Mill, the beloved business is officially
reopening its doors this weekend with shelves boasting brand new
merchandise. Though community fundraising (including last weekend’s Hope
Floats benefit at Union Craft Brewery which raked in more than $7,500)
gave the company a tremendous boost, co-owner Brian Arnold tells us that
there’s still a ways to go before Nepenthe can afford to get back to
its normal amount of inventory. So this weekend, as the fall brewing
season kicks into gear, support one of our own by stocking up on all of
the kettles, carboys, and cask tools that you can get your hands on.

SEE

September 2-4: Baltimore Comic-Con

Baltimore Convention Center, 1 W. Pratt St., Times vary, $25-149, 410-649-7000

Don’t be surprised if you spot superheroes strolling around the
Inner Harbor this weekend. Though they won’t actually be warding off
villains, the colorful costumes are a sure indication that Comic-Con has
officially descended upon Charm City. Now in its 17th year, the massive
sci-fi fest is returning to the Baltimore Convention Center for three
jam-packed days of panels, art exhibits, and autograph sessions. Channel
your inner nerd to browse books in Artists Alley, rub elbows with more
than 200 of the industry’s best cartoonists (Kevin Eastman, co-creator
of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, is this year’s guest of honor), and see
who takes the cake at the annual Harvey Awards.

HEAR

September 3: Bad Boy Family Reunion Tour

Royal Farms Arena, 201 W. Baltimore St., 8 p.m., $29.50-125, 410-347-2020

In 1993, after climbing the ranks in New York City’s booming
hip-hop scene, Sean Combs founded Bad Boy Records—the label that
eventually churned out chart-toppers like Mary J. Blige and The
Notorious B.I.G. Now, Combs, who recently revived his Puff Daddy
persona, has launched a nationwide tour to celebrate the artists who
have defined Bad Boy throughout the decades. This weekend, the league of
label-mates, including Lil Kim, 112, Mase, Total, Carl Thomas, The Lox,
Faith Evans, and French Montana, are taking over Royal Farms Arena for a
night of ’90s nostalgia. With so many greats on one stage, we can only
expect that the collaborative tracks (think “I’ll Be Missing You,”
Evans’s tribute to Biggie featuring 112) will be nothing short of
amazing.

DO

September 3: Charles Street 12

The Shops at Kenilworth, 800 Kenilworth Drive, Towson, 7:30 a.m., $85-90, 410-645-8266

Running 12 miles on a three-day weekend might sound downright
daunting, but a course that stretches along one of Baltimore’s most
beautiful byways makes it a worthwhile workout. This Sunday, lace up
your running shoes and curate the perfect playlist for Under Armour’s
annual race down historic Charles Street, which steps off from The Shops
at Kenilworth in Towson. Along the way, take in the sights of the
Towson, Loyola, and Johns Hopkins campuses before descending into the
Inner Harbor for a post-race party at Power Plant Live, complete with
lunch, live music, and free beer.