EAT

Aug. 18: Fiesta Del Mar

Clavel, 225 W. 23rd. St. 12-6 p.m. Prices vary.

We’re a sucker for firsts, and this inaugural Mexican seafood festival hosted by hometown chef Carlos Raba of Clavel—and special guest TJ Steele of Brooklyn’s Oaxacan restaurant Claro—is certainly an original. Stop by the Remington staple on Sunday afternoon for an array of ceviches, grilled whole snapper, and head-on prawns, as well as The Local Oyster’s signature bivalves. It’s an a la carte menu that is sure to make a seafood lover out of almost anyone.

DRINK

Aug. 16: World of Beer Block Party

World of Beer, 1724 Whetstone Way. 5-9 p.m. Free.

Summer may be winding down, but that shouldn’t stop you from enjoying the warm weather while you still can. This last McHenry Row bash of the season will have festivities for everyone in the family, including a moon bounce for the kids, Union Craft Brewing glassware raffles for the adults, and a dunk tank for anyone with a good arm. Spend the evening noshing on seafood from Chesapeake Food Works, bopping along to a set by local band The Unofficial, and knocking back a few Duckpins or Skipjacks to celebrate the end of summer.

SEE

Aug. 17: Wet Hot American Summer Staged Reading

Peabody Heights Brewery, 401 E. 30th St. 5-8 p.m. $10.

If your summer hasn’t been nearly wet, hot, nor American enough for you, no worries, the nomadic Single Carrot Theatre company has got you covered. The avant-garde group will take over Peabody Heights Brewery for a reading of the 2001 cult-classic film as part of their Screen2Stage series, featuring the same wacky antics and secret rendezvous as the movie. Stick around after the performance to participate in group activities and field-day events to become a true member of Camp Firewood.

HEAR

Aug. 17: Hot August Music Festival

Oregon Ridge Park, 13403 Beaver Dam Road, Cockeysville. 11 a.m.- 10 p.m. $73-199.

The 27th iteration of this hometown throwdown is finally here, and the forecast for this end-of-summer blues and roots festival is shaping up to be just as its name promises. Make the quick trip to Oregon Ridge Park to hear an all-star lineup of acts, including Turkuaz, Billy Strings, Vanessa Collier, and none other than Pigeons Playing Ping Pong (the band, although avian athletes would also be cool). To make a full day out of it, check out the Power Plant Live! pre-party featuring Psycho Killers or the after-party at The Greene Turtle in Hunt Valley.

DO

Aug. 17: Big Sticky Summer Hampden Sidewalk Sale

The Avenue on 36th St. 10 a.m.- 6 p.m. Free.

Make the most out of Tax-Free Week and shop local during Hampden’s third and final sidewalk sale of the summer. Whether you’re looking for vintage clothing or vinyl records, you will be sure to find a few steals from shops in the neighborhoods’ business district, including Best of Baltimore-winning places like Hunting Ground, Keepers Vintage, and Six2Six Society. Since the sale overlaps with Baltimore Vegan Restaurant Week, check out nearby participating spots like Golden West Cafe or Harmony Bakery for a post-haul snack.

Maryland Renaissance Festival: Leave it to Hamlet
Aug. 24-Oct. 20. 10 a.m.-7 p.m.. Crownsville Rd., Crownsville. Price varies. When Steve Wannall first performed with Shakespeare’s Skum, a local comedy troupe, at the 1997 Maryland Renaissance Festival, he was blown away by the number of dedicated fans waiting to see the four-person team act out hilarious riffs on the Bard’s famous works. After 23 years of playing everything from the lead in “Henry the Vee” to the goofy ghost of Hamlet’s father, Wannall, left, says he still loves seeing Ren Fest audience members connect with the centuries-old stories, especially when the cast adds Star Trek or Game of Thrones references into the dialogue. “It helps that we work with some of the best-written material in history,” he says with a laugh. “We’ve become the funny CliffsNotes of Shakespeare.”

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Maryland State Fair
Aug. 22-Sept. 2. 9 a.m.-10 p.m.. 2200 York Rd., Lutherville-Timonium. $10. For the past 137 years, the Maryland State Fair has been summer’s last hurrah before the leaves begin to change. While fairgoers can look forward to classic festivities such as the thoroughbred races, Midway rides, and livestock shows, be sure to check out some of the festival’s brand-new additions, including axe-throwing, a cowboy circus, and a market square packed with local artisan vendors.

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Baltimore Improv Festival
To Aug. 4. $10-75. Time and Location vary. The biggest laughs in Charm City are reserved for the Baltimore Improv Festival, where local and nationally known comedians (including The Cast at Magnet Theater, pictured) take over stages across town to cut their teeth with seven nights of stand-up sets, workshops, and events. Whether you want to test out your comedic timing on stage or just need a night of lighthearted laughs, this 13th annual celebration of all things improv, run by our very own Baltimore Improv Group, is just the ticket.

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BronyCon
Aug. 1-4. Baltimore Convention Center. $30-150. Time varies. It’s that time of year again, when die-hard fans of My Little Pony take over the downtown streets and transform the Baltimore Convention Center into a magical cosplay utopia. Join thousands of “bronies” for this four-day extravaganza that honors the series and its cult following with a star-studded panel, screenings, costume contests, and gaming. Be sure to snag your tickets before July 25 to join in on the equine fun.

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Baltimore Restaurant Week
Aug. 2-11. $12-35. Time and Location vary. It’s been a whirlwind summer of openings and closings in the city’s restaurant scene, so the timing of this biannual tradition couldn’t have worked out better. More than 100 local spots are on board for this 10-day deal, which offers prix-fixe menus priced between $12-20 for brunch and lunch and $20-35 for dinner. Strategize your meals, and take advantage of all this delicious city has to offer, such as this grilled octopus appetizer from Birroteca.

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Maryland Latino Festival
Aug. 4. 10 a.m.-9 p.m.. 2200 York Rd., Lutherville-Timonium. Free-$600. Celebrate the Old Line State’s Hispanic and Latino communities during this annual family-friendly fiesta at the Timonium Fairgrounds. For its eighth year, this all-day festival is pulling out all the stops, including authentic Mexican and Salvadoran eats, kids’ activities, and performances by Dominican singer Luis Vargas and popular group Impacto Latino. True to tradition, this event also highlights the importance of fostering goodwill and civic participation by providing voter registration resources as well as information on community outreach programs.

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Hootie & the Blowfish
Aug. 8. 7:30 p.m.. Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia. $35-129.50. Since this Grammy Award-winning group was formed back at the University of South Carolina in the late 1980s, its unique blend of roots rock, pop, jangle, and folk music has inspired fans across the world and sold more than 25 million records. This month, the band will make a one-show stop at Merriweather Post Pavilion on their first full-scale tour in more than a decade, with the rich vocals of Darius Rucker and harmonies of guitarist Mark Bryan, bassist Dean Felber, and drummer Jim “Soni” Sonefeld. Don’t miss the chance to belt out the lyrics to “Hold My Hand” and “Let Her Cry” alongside thousands of other Hootie heads.

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AFRAM Festival
Aug. 10-11. 12 p.m. Druid Hill Park. Free. As one of the largest African-American festivals on the East Coast, this two-day extravaganza is known for drawing big-name artists as well as thousands of fans to Druid Hill Park for a weekend of local eats and unbeatable entertainment. This year, the fan-favorite festival is using its popular Instagram page to highlight Baltimore-based movers and shakers (such as The Voice contestant Davon Fleming and Le Monade owner Carleen Goodridge) in an effort to promote local minority-run businesses and creators. During this jam-packed weekend, shop at the open-air marketplace, participate in exercise pop-ups, and hear acclaimed rapper Rick Ross along with sets by singer Sevyn Streeter, pictured, and Charm City’s own Dru Hill.

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Hot August Music Festival
Aug. 17. Oregon Ridge Park, 13401 Beaver Dam Rd., Cockeysville. Free-$199. Time varies. As its name promises, the hot summer sun is sure to shine on Cockeysville’s Oregon Ridge Park for this 27th annual blues and roots festival. Although festival-goers are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets for a full day of performances by local and national acts, this year’s lineup, featuring Baltimore’s psychedelic Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, pictured, bluegrass guitarist Billy Strings, and folk band The Lil Smokies, will bring spectators to their feet. To keep the summer night rolling, attendees can rendezvous at The Greene Turtle in Hunt Valley for an afterjam with live music and drink specials.

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Baltimore Art, Antique, and Jewelry Show
Aug. 29-Sept. 1. Baltimore Convention Center. $20. Time varies. Art and antique enthusiasts will revel in the diverse and hard-to-come-by collections on display at the Baltimore Convention Center during this four-day creative show. Now in its 39th year, this Charm City classic offers unique finds such as furniture, American and European silver, porcelain, antique and estate jewelry, glass, and textiles. Be sure to check out the Antiquarian Book Fair and the Baltimore Fine Craft Show, which will also be present at the exhibit to share new and ancient treasures.

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EAT

Aug. 19: La Cuchara Evenings at the Farm

The Zahradka Farm, 2300 Golupski Rd., Essex, 5-9 p.m. $73.80.

Spanish staple La Cuchara took “farm-to-table” to a whole new level in June when it brought its cuisine and its customers from table to farm at the debut of their outdoor dinner series. This Sunday, join chef Ben Lefenfeld for the second installment of this unique dining experience as he prepares a fresh-off-the-farm meal, including dishes such as whole roasted lamb with lemon and cherry tomatoes, grilled sweet potatoes with charred herb salsa, and carrot zucchini cake with coconut buttercream. Soak up the late-summer weather, witness Lefenfeld’s mastery as he cooks over an open flame, and enjoy fresh produce from the evening’s host, the Zahradka Farm in Baltimore County.

DRINK

Aug. 18: St. Patrick Swayze Day

Frazier’s on the Avenue, 917 W. 37th St. 6-11 p.m. Free.

On what would have been his 66th birthday, celebrate the life and legacy of iconic actor Patrick Swayze at Hampden’s beloved neighborhood dive. During this national holiday, toss back themed drinks like the Dirty Dancing watermelon bomb or the Red Dawn shot (a dangerously delicious concoction of Jägermeister, peach schnapps, and cranberry juice) but make sure to balance out the booze with Swayze-specific sustenance, like the towering Road House cheeseburger, topped with an onion ring and a fried egg. With screenings of three of his classic films and free gifts for the first 25 people who arrive in attire dedicated to the ’80s heartthrob, Frazier’s first annual tribute event is sure to be the time of your life.

SEE

Aug. 17: The Medicine Show

The Arena Players, 801 McCulloh St. 7-11 p.m. Free.

Last year, the Red Bull Amaphiko Festival came to Baltimore to give some of the city’s most promising artists and entrepreneurs the “wings” they needed to let their talents fly. This weekend, the festival is back with a series of creative lectures, innovation workshops, and collaborative classes, including this intimate evening of storytelling and art, hosted by local businesswoman and social innovator Michelle Antoinette Nelson, aka Love the Poet. At this historic theater, hear the stories of the local entrepreneurs behind media platform Roots & Raíces, urban florist Tha Flower Factory, and refugee-run co-op Mera Kitchen Collective as told through local artists such as soul singer Joy Postell, rapper Eze Jackson, and spoken word artist Kondwani Fidel at this historic theater.

HEAR

Aug. 18: Hot August Music Festival

Oregon Ridge Park, 13401 Beaver Dam Rd., Cockeysville, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Free-$199.

When the mercury climbs, that means it’s almost time to head to Cockeysville to celebrate the end of summer with the beloved Hot August outdoor music festival. This year, the event will be headlines by Americana rock septet The Revivalists and modern bluegrass folk-rock masters Trampled By Turtles, followed by other fiery acts including Baltimore artists such as roots king Cris Jacobs, fingerpicking pros The Dirty Grass Players, and Talking Heads tribute group Psycho Killers, plus national talents like rising blues star The Marcus King Band, cricket-player-turned-reggae-star Omari Banks, and bluesy rock powerhouse Nikki Hill. For one hot August night, dance the heat away to a full afternoon and evening genre-spanning tunes.

DO

Aug. 18-19: Feast of St. Gabriel Italian Festival

St. Leo the Great Catholic Church, 227 S. Exeter St. Sat. 12-8 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. $1.

This weekend, bring la famiglia to this annual outdoor festival that celebrates Baltimore’s vibrant Italian community right on the streets of Little Italy. Outside of St. Leo’s Catholic church, taste classic Boot Country fare like meatballs, calzones, and cannolis, cool off with classic Italian vinos, and cheer on the participants at the highly anticipated Roma sausage-eating contest. Stroll alongside Sunday’s lively parade, peruse booths full of arts, crafts, and games, and even take selfies with costumed Roman gladiators. Italian or not, everyone is welcome at this traditional family-friendly street festival that dates back to 1928.

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

 EAT

August 20: Fiesta Del Sol

Union Craft Brewing, 1700 Union Ave. 12-6 p.m. Free.

We’re all especially excited about the sun right now—what with the once-in-a-lifetime total solar eclipse taking over our skies on Monday afternoon. One day early, celebrate that giant star and the high-heat of summer with a Sunday Funday at the Union Craft Brewing. The local brewery will be releasing its guava and passionfruit flavored Older Pro white wine barrel-aged goses variants with tacos by Clavel and ice cream by The Charmery. There will be mini pools in place for cooling off, and Reggae Spin Cycle spinning the feel-good tunes throughout the afternoon. 

 DRINK

August 19: Diamondback Beer x Max’s Taphouse | DQ’d Collaboration

Max’s Taphouse, 737 S Broadway. 11 a.m. Free. 410-675-6297.

There’s a good chance you’re already planning to spend your Saturday daydrinking at Max’s Taphouse, but with the help of Diamondback Beer, there’s now some extra incentive. On Saturday, head to the legendary bar for its annual Hopfest celebration, where the local craft brewer will be realizing its new collaboration beer, DQ’d. The brew boasts blueberry and raspberry flavors with a heavy hit of oats and wheat and a touch of vanilla bean. With such a killer combo, be sure to get it while it lasts.

 SEE

August 20: Red Bull Amaphiko Festival

Impact Hub Baltimore, 10 E. North Avenue. 3- 8 p.m. Free.

It’s not every weekend that a national brand throws a festival in Baltimore, but the energy drink’s social entrepreneurship program sees something in Charm City. For the last week, the festival has hosted events, lectures, and workshops throughout in Station North, and this Sunday, they’re throwing a celebration of creativity and community. At Impact Hub, catch a full day of programming, including special performances by hip-hop duo Bond St. District, rapper Abdu Ali, the Eubie Blake drum circle and dance program, and Q&A with the likes of best-selling author D. Watkins, rising photographer Devin Allen, and Afropunk Festival founder Jocelyn Cooper. Free and open to the public, it’s feel-good way to end the week.

 HEAR

August 19: Hot August Music Festival

Oregon Ridge Park, 13401 Beaver Dam Road, Cockeysville. 11 a.m.-10 p.m. $66-189. 877-321-3378.

For the 25th year, Baltimore County’s biggest music festival descends on the hills of Oregon Ridge Park with more than 10 musical acts. Soak up the sounds of eclectic jam bands like Lettuce and Electric Love Machine, and Americana all-stars like headliners Old Crow Medicine Show and the Infamous Stringdusters.

 DO

August 20: Free to Breathe Yoga Challenge

The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, 1 Safari Pl. 7 a.m.-4 p.m. Fundraising required. 608-833-7905.

For the second year, the Maryland Zoo will be taken over not by sneakers and strollers but leggings and yoga mats. Last year, the Free to Breathe Yoga Challenge helped raise more than $70,000 for increasing the survival rate of lung cancer, which is the leading cancer killer in the U.S. This year, they hope to double that figure. With deep breaths and restorative exhales, this yoga retreat will feature eight hour-long sessions with some of the city’s best instructors, as well as a walk-in wellness marketplace for fitness demos and healthy food and drink. Whether you downward dog as an individual or reverse warrior with an entire team, open your lungs and support a good cause. 

Union’s Fifth Birthday Celebration
Aug. 5. Union Craft Brewing, 1700 Union Ave., Ste. D. 6 p.m.-12 a.m. $30-60. 410-467-0290. We can’t believe it’s been five years since we started drinking Union Craft beer. Within a few sips, we fell head over heels for its Duckpin pale ale and, shortly thereafter, we became lifetime regulars at its communal taproom in Woodberry. From there on out, whenever we saw those colorful, cold cans—be it the simple blue Anthem, the Johnny Depp-bedecked Rye Baby, or the mini-golf scene on the sour gose Old Pro—we knew what we were ordering. Head to the place that started it all to celebrate the brewery’s half-decade in business and its bright future. The founders will pour a bevy of new, classic, rare, and cask drafts until midnight, as local food favorites Gypsy Queen, Ekiben, and The Local Oyster will be on hand to help soak up the suds. Biggest of all, beloved indie band Big In Japan will be in tow, performing live for the first time in 10 years.

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White Marlin Open
Aug.7-11. Harbour Island Marina, 419 14th St. #66, Ocean City. 4-9:15 p.m. Free. 410-289-2800. Whether you’re a Lefty Kreh-accredited fisherman or a laid-back, beach-combing spectator, Ocean City is the place to be for this one weekend of the summer. During the world’s largest billfish tournament, throw some line for those long-nosed swimmers, pop in to watch the daily heavyweight weigh-ins, or simply stroll the docks to ogle at all the massive boats. It’s one of the beach’s biggest attractions, drawing thousands of visitors into town and more than $15 million to the local economy.

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Mystery Science Theater 3000
Aug. 9. Modell Performing Arts Center at the Lyric, 140 W. Mount Royal Ave. 8 p.m. $36-46. 410-900-1150. Pre-millennials fondly remember this late ’80s television show that followed a man and his robot friends through the terrible task of watching (and wryly narrating) the worst movies ever made. In the era of remakes, the series is now back with a new cast of characters on Netflix and, this month, at the Lyric. See for yourself if it stands the test of time.

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Lady Antebellum
Aug. 13. Merriweather Post Pavilion, 10475 Little Patuxent Pkwy., Columbia. 6 p.m. $56.75-199. 410-715-5550. Summer is the season for country music. With your windows down, your jean shorts on, and an ice-cold beer can just waiting to be cracked, there’s no better time to listen to its easy breezy sound. In the middle of the month, boot-scoot down to Columbia for a night of southern music starring this chart-topping trio known for hits like “Bartender” and “Need You Now,” as well as rising songstress Kelsea Ballerini and Cali-infused heartbreaker Brett Young.

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Santana
Aug. 15. Merriweather Post Pavilion, 10475 Little Patuxent Pkwy., Columbia. 6:30 p.m. $55.50-295. 410-715-5550. For one night only, this legendary guitarist brings his Latin-infused blues-rock to the Merriweather woods for a performance of worldly number one hits, like “Maria Maria” and “Smooth.”

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From Digital to Damask
Aug. 16-Feb. 18. The Baltimore Museum of Art, 10 Art Museum Dr. Wed.-Sun. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. 443-573-1700. Maryland artist and MICA professor Annet Couwenberg uses science, technology, and history to weave mesmerizing textiles inspired by two seemingly disparate subjects—ancient aquatic fossils and the traditional costumes of her homeland, the Netherlands—though both are riddled with patterns and texture. Get lost in the lines and folds of these ethereal artworks, including one inspired by the BMA’s own Portrait of a Young Woman by Frans Hals.

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Hot August Music Festival
Aug. 19. Oregon Ridge Park, 13401 Beaver Dam Road, Cockeysville. 11 a.m.-10 p.m. $66-189. 877-321-3378. For the 25th year, Baltimore County’s biggest music festival takes over the hills of Oregon Ridge Park with more than 10 musical acts. Soak up the sounds of eclectic jam bands like Lettuce and Electric Love Machine, and Americana all-stars like headliners Old Crow Medicine Show and the Infamous Stringdusters.

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Free to Breathe Yoga Challenge
Aug. 20. The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, 1 Safari Pl. 7 a.m.-4 p.m. Fundraising required. 608-833-7905. For the second year, the Maryland Zoo will be taken over not by sneakers and strollers but leggings and yoga mats. Last year, the Free to Breathe Yoga Challenge helped raise more than $70,000 for increasing the survival rate of lung cancer, which is the leading cancer killer in the U.S. This year, they hope to double that figure. With deep breaths and restorative exhales, this yoga retreat will feature eight hour-long sessions with some of the city’s best instructors, as well as a walk-in wellness marketplace for fitness demos and healthy food and drink. Whether you downward dog as an individual or reverse warrior with an entire team, open your lungs and support a good cause. 

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Maryland State Fair
Aug. 24-Sept. 4. Maryland State Fairgrounds, 2200 York Road, Timonium. Times vary. $3-8. 410-252-0200. Whether you’re 8 or 88, this quintessential summer ritual will make you feel young at heart, with amusement rides, carnival games, live animals, fried fair food, and big-name blowout concerts, this year by hard-rock quartet Halestorm and Disney star turned pop singer Sabrina Carpenter.

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Maryland Renaissance Festival
Aug. 26-Oct. 22. 1821 Crownsville Road, Annapolis. Times vary. Free-$25. 410-266-7304. Hear ye, hear ye! For nine straight weekends, the country’s second largest renaissance festival will post up in the Anne Arundel County countryside for all the jousting, flower crowns, turkey legs, and mead-fueled merriment your heart could desire.

Brad Selko has been deciding Hot August Music Festival‘s lineup for the past 22 years.

“It’s not easy,” says the 64-year-old Baltimore native, who founded the festival. “I study everything and listen to everything, talk to family and friends both young and old.”

This year’s festival—August 16 at Oregon Ridge Park in Cockeysville—features bluegrass-folk band Old Crow Medicine Show, Americana band Nickel Creek, and indie rockers Dr. Dog. There will also be local acts like electronica quartet ELM, soul band Bosley, rock trio Jordan August Band and blues rockers The Solicitors.

The one-day event focuses primarily on bluegrass and country music, genres that Selko holds near and dear. That being said, he doesn’t shy away from bringing in different genres to diversify the musical offerings, inviting bands such as Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, Gov’t Mule, and Trombone Shorty to play in past years.

“People like [Nickel Creek and Dr. Dog] down here,” says Selko. “I think they’re great rock and roll bands. I don’t choose straight down the line of bluegrass and country—I like to go left and right a bit.”

That kind of go-with-the-flow attitude has defined Hot August Music Festival since the days it was held in Selko’s barn. But the festival still remains largely intimate and revolves around what Selko prefers as a music fan, first and foremost.

“One thing that I don’t like about festivals are the short sets,” says Selko. “At festivals with hour-long sets and shorter, sometimes the bands take 15-minutes just to warm up. I make sure that Old Crow is the last band and that they have a full two-hour set.”

His fan-first philosophy also spills over into the other areas of the festival, as well.

“I hate lines,” he says. “That’s why I’ve hired extra beer staff, got more bathrooms, and brought in more food vendors. You’ve gotta keep people happy.”

This year, concession options include organic falafel wraps, pit beef, and beer offerings like Natty Boh and Magic Hat.

And, although the festival has grown in size and brings in bigger, more nationally recognized acts, one thing that hasn’t changed is Selko’s pre-show ritual.

“Every year, my sister or my wife picks me up a box of Berger Cookies,” he says. “It’s the only thing I can eat during the festival. I even turned [blues musician] Susan Tedeschi and [Gov’t Mule drummer] Matt Abts onto them. And, the funny thing is, I never want to eat them any other time of the year.”