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

 EAT

April 7: Shuckin’ in the Street

Lee’s Pint & Shell, 2844 Hudson St. 12-10 p.m. $10. 410-327-2883.

There’s a cold front coming in this weekend, but that won’t stop this rebranded Canton spot from shucking some 20,000 free oysters at their fourth blowout block party. Rain, shine, or snow, duck underneath the heated tents to slurp down all-you-can-eat oysters during the last R month of the season, with drinks from the orange crush bar and live performances by local bands like Crushing Day, DJ Nick Paros, and Philly’s beloved Kristin and the Noise. If they run out of oysters, don’t worry—food stands serving up pit beef sandwiches and burgers will be on hand to soak up the crushes.

 DRINK

April 6-7: Beer, Bourbon, & BBQ Festival

Maryland State Fairgrounds, 2200 York Rd., Timonium. Fri. 6-10 p.m., Sat. 12-6 p.m. 29-$99. 410-252-0200.

We’re impatiently waiting for weekends filled with sunny skies and backyard cookouts, but luckily, this two-day festival will have enough brews and barbecue to tie us over until then. This weekend, make your way to the Maryland State Fairgrounds for unlimited samplings of more than 60 beers, 40 bourbons, and smoky meats from local barbecue joints. While you sip on local brews from DuClaw, Flying Dog, and Monument City—or Maryland-distilled whiskey from Baltimore Whiskey Company and Sagamore Spirit—take part in a tasting seminar or compete in the stein-holding and bacon-eating contests.

 

 SEE

April 6-8: Light City

Times & locations vary. Free. 410-752-8632. 

We love seeing the way Light City’s art installations reflect off the Inner Harbor, but this year, downtown Baltimore will not be the only place illuminated by glowing sculptures and attractions. This Friday, the can’t-miss festival will kick off its third year with Neighborhood Lights, an artist-in-residence program that pairs notable local artists with community organizers to light up 14 city neighborhoods. Make your way across town to snap pictures of each location’s work of art during this one-weekend-only display.

 

 HEAR

April 7: Natural Velvet Homecoming & Ratboiler Reunion

The Crown, 1910 N. Charles St. 8 p.m. 410-625-4848. 

After two months of performing up and down the continent on their biggest tour to date, post-punk quartet Natural Velvet finally returns home this Saturday to grace The Crown with its rip-roaring sound. On Saturday night, welcome back Kim Te and Spike Arreaga’s searing guitars, Greg Hatem’s propulsive drums, and Corynne Ostermann’s howling vocals as the band perform songs from their latest album, Mirror to Make You—and hopefully their latest cover of Britney Spears’ “Gimme More.” Don’t miss the reunion performance by local heavy metal band Ratboiler (their first show together in years), as well as other opening acts like Baltimore’s indie group Pinkwench and Richmond’s disco punk band Toxic Moxie.

 DO

April 8: Baltimore Farmers’ Market & Bazaar

Beneath the Jones Falls Expressway at Holliday & Saratoga Sts. 7 a.m.-12 p.m. Free. 410-752-8632. 

It’s always tempting to sleep in on Sunday mornings, but we’ll gladly throw back our covers and brave the cold for the sweet smell of freshly-cut flowers and homemade bread wafting beneath the JFX. Now in its 41st season, Maryland’s largest producers-only market has become a true weekend ritual for farm-fresh produce, scrumptious eats, and one-of-a-kind vendors. On opening day, join in the hustle and bustle with a Blacksauce Kitchen breakfast sandwich in one hand and a Migue’s Minis made-to-order donut in the other. While there’s plenty to see, be sure to check out the 26 new vendors including Mera Kitchen Collective, The Urban Oyster, and Stupid Delicious Desserts.

Light City
April 6-21. Locations & times vary. Free. 410-752-8632. Since the inaugural event in 2016, this bright and bold arts festival has become a cherished citywide tradition. Now, Light City’s organizers are taking this year’s theme of “More Love! More Lights!” to heart by expanding the festival to include as many people and installations as possible. Head to the Inner Harbor or one of 14 participating neighborhoods to see awe-inspiring illuminations that are sure to elicit ooohs, ahhhs, and about a million Instagrams.

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Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival
April 6-7. Maryland State Fairgrounds, 2200 York Rd., Timonium. Fri. 6-10 p.m., Sat. 12-6 p.m. $29-99. 410-252-0200. Picture this: two days of unlimited sampling of more than 40 bourbons, 60 beers, and all-you-can-eat barbecue with all the fixins. In between local brews from Flying Dog, Jailbreak, and Heavy Seas, or Maryland-distilled whiskey from Sagamore Spirit, enjoy live rock and bluegrass music, participate in bacon-eating or stein-holding contests, or take in a tasting seminar. If that doesn’t describe your dream weekend, then we can’t help you.

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Baltimore Farmers’ Market & Bazaar
April 8-Dec. 23. Underneath the Jones Falls Expressway at Holliday & Saratoga Sts. Sun. 7 a.m.-12 p.m. Free. 410-752-8632. For more than 40 years, locals have dragged themselves out of bed on Sundays to fill their stomachs and totes with the best locally grown and handmade products that Maryland has to offer. From typical farmers’ market fare like fresh produce and flowers to made-to-order eats such as mushroom fritters and falafel, this is an event worth setting an alarm for. Reward yourself for getting up early with a breakfast sandwich from Blacksauce Kitchen.

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Motown The Musical
April 13-15. Hippodrome Theatre at the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center, 12 N. Eutaw St. Fri. 8 p.m., Sat. 2 & 8 p.m., Sun. 1 & 6:30 p.m. $49-117. 410-837-7400. For one weekend only, flashback to the groovy glory days of 1960s and ’70s Detroit with this behind-the-scenes look at the iconic record company that launched the star careers of Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder, The Jackson 5, and many more. From Broadway, the story of Motown Records comes alive on the Hippodrome stage in this smash-hit jukebox musical, featuring hit songs such as “ABC” and “Dancing in the Street.”

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CityLit Festival
April 14. University of Baltimore, William H. Thumel Sr. Business Center, 11 W. Mount Royal Avenue. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 410-271-8793. This year marks the 15th anniversary of the CityLit Festival, the signature event from CityLit Project that celebrates reading, writing, and creativity. To tie into this year’s focus on poetry, fiction, and nonfiction, The New Yorker writer Philip Gourevitch will keynote the event with conversations about his book We Wish To Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed With Our Families: Stories from Rwanda. Make time in between editorial and speaker sessions to participate in guided discussions about motherhood, the #MeToo movement, and local funding for literary artists.

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Under Armour Sole of the City 10K
April 14. Charm City Run, 1713 Whetstone Way. 9 a.m. $50-75. 410-645-8266. Spring has officially sprung, so lace up your sneakers, breathe in some fresh air, and get moving during this annual 10K. Start your Saturday early and dash through the streets with more than 4,500 other runners at this race that starts and ends in Locust Point. While the mileage might sound intimidating (10K = 6.2 miles), it’s a prime opportunity to embrace our city, especially with the route’s stellar views of the city skyline and the Inner Harbor.

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Peter Max Retrospective
April 20-29. Y:ART Gallery & Fine Gifts, 3402 Gough St. Wed.-Thurs. 12-5 p.m., Fri.-Sat. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Free. 443-928-2272. Peter Max was practically born to be an artist. He was raised in Germany, China, Tibet, Israel, and France, gaining inspiration from vibrant societies and shifting art movements along the way. As a young art student in Manhattan during the late 1950s, he worked diligently under the American painter Frank Reilly before being swept up in the counter-cultural revolution of the ’60s. The budding artist would go on to create bright, radical posters and psychedelic art—the style he’s mostly recognized for today. The abstract expressionist has been called the United States’ “Painter Laureate,” painted portraits of six presidents, and crafted posters for major events like the Grammys, the Super Bowl, and the Olympics. Despite his global fame, his art remains immediate and accessible. This month, catch his remarkable collection of major works in Highlandtown, carefully curated to include pieces that span his five-decade career. View never-before-seen celebrity portraits, iconic pop art like the above “Cosmic Runner,” and even a special tribute to Charm City.

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Charm City Bluegrass Festival
April 27-28. Druid Hill Park, 3100 Swann Dr. 10 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Free-$55. This year’s two-day party is slated to be bigger and better than ever with three stages, 21 bands, plenty of local food, and homegrown brews from Union Craft Brewing. With national acts like The Devil Makes Three and The Travelin’ McCourys and local talent such as Caleb Stine and The Honey Dewdrops, the dynamic lineup promises to be a little slice of Americana heaven for all music lovers.

Women of the World Festival
April 28. Notre Dame of Maryland University, 4701 N. Charles St. 9 a.m. $20. 410-435-0100. The past year was defined by female voices—from speaking out against sexual harassment to becoming a tenacious political force. In April, the Women of the World Festival returns just in timeto explore women’s issues through panels, performances, and activities. Get inspired by keynote speakers Tarana Burke, the #MeToo founder who was named a Time magazine “Person of the Year,” and Roxane Gay, cultural critic and The New York Times best-selling author of Bad Feminist and Hunger.