EAT

Oct. 4-6: The Night Brunch Festival

Harbor Point, 1500 Thames St. Fri. 6 p.m., Sat. 2 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m. $15-500.

After more than a year of hosting brunches after dark at area hotspots—no mimosa cut-off times or reservations required—the Night Brunch team is stepping up their game with a three-day festival dedicated to all things fried and boozy. Kick off the weekend with a happy hour preview at the 1405 Point rooftop pool (featuring mermaids and freshly rolled cigars) before returning to the Harbor Point plaza on Saturday and Sunday to sample brunch-inspired eats from local restaurants and vendors such as Clavel, The Local Fry, and Big Softy. In between rounds of Bloody Marys, take in live music sets by local artists Joi Carter, FUNSHO, and the co-founder of the event himself, DJ Impulse.

DRINK

Oct. 5: Mobtoberfest

Mobtown Brewing Company, 4015 Foster Ave., Suite 400. 12-6 p.m.

Thanks to new brewery on the block Mobtown Brewing Company, Brewers Hill is getting its own Oktoberfest complete with a German-style food menu from The Rolling Grill, live music by whiskey-rock band Old Eastern, and commemorative beer steins. Don your best lederhosen or dirndl dress and spend the afternoon downing Mobtown’s special-release Mobtoberfest Marzen and Schwarzbier, as well as taproom favorites like the Belgian amber ale Tiny Purple Fishes and the golden sour Ex-Girlfriend.

SEE

Oct. 4-6: Baltimore Japan Art Festival

Short North Arts District, locations and times vary. Free-$15.

Expand your worldview of contemporary Japanese art and culture at this four-day festival in the Station North Arts District. With the mission of broadening American viewers’ perceptions of Japan, the annual event will host several Japanese artists and cultural experts at multiple venues across the arts-centric neighborhood, including The Crown and the MICA Fox building. Don’t miss the chance to see this year’s special guest, Tokyo-based illustrator Utomaru, present her first-ever solo exhibition at MICA’s Julian Allen Gallery.

HEAR

Oct. 5: Parktoberfest

Mount Vernon Marketplace, 520 Park Ave. 12-11:30 p.m. Free.

We all know and love the Mount Vernon Marketplace for its eclectic mix of food and drink options, but for one weekend a year it also becomes the site of a full-blown music festival featuring some of the best rising acts in Baltimore. With more than 11 hours of nonstop live music, this can’t-miss shindig features eight back-to-back sets from the likes of hip-hop artist Al Rogers, Jr., trumpeter Brandon Woody, and high-energy rapper and DJ Kotic Couture. Stick around to imbibe on specialty cocktails, sample eats from 14 local vendors, and jam out to a wide range of artists that represent every corner of the Charm City music scene.

DO

Oct. 5-6: Doors Open Baltimore

Locations vary. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free.

Have you ever walked past a centuries-old landmark like the Baltimore Basilica or a brand-new skyscraper like 414 Light Street and thought, “I wonder what’s inside?” Well, this weekend is your golden opportunity to peek inside more than 50 of the city’s most intriguing spaces and places. Take a self-guided tour through local architectural wonders, ranging from the historic Howard O. Rawlings Conservatory to the Zion Lutheran Church, and talk with on-site volunteers about the insider facts of each location.

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

 EAT

September 16: Baltimore Seafood Festival

Canton Waterfront Park, 3001 Boston St. 12-7 p.m. Free-$99.   

Maryland and seafood go together like Old Bay and, well, pretty much anything. The crab season might be reaching its end (aka its peak), but oyster season is officially upon us, and there’s rarely a better time for rockfish. At this waterfront festival, now in its fourth year, join fellow seafood-lovers for sea-fare of all fashions, like Faidley’s crab cakes, fried oyster tacos, and the ever-classic lobster roll, plus cooking demos, live music, and activities for the kids.

 DRINK

September 16: Parktoberfest

Mount Vernon Marketplace, 520 Park Ave. 12-10 p.m. Free.

Remember ParkFest, Mt. Vernon Marketplace’s first summer block party? Well, that was so last year—it’s all about Parktoberfest now. Despite the festival will still celebrate Charm City through delicious eats, lots of beer, and groovy tunes. Outside on the city streets, enjoy the cool September air and sip on Union Craft beers, as well as cocktails from Cultured, drafts from Taps Fill Station, and other local brews from throughout the marketplace. To soak up the suds, sample your way through the market’s around-the-word offerings, from Pinch’s traditional pork dumplings to the new Cucina Al Volo’s ravioli di burrata to those R-month oysters at The Local Oyster. Once you’re satiated, continue raving in the revelry with a plethora of crafters’ booths and a fresh local music lineup featuring gypsy jazz group Ultrafaux, experimental duo Holy Ghost Party, and old-school DJ Rob Macy.

 SEE

September 14: High Zero Festival

Baltimore Theatre Project, 45 W. Preston St. 8-11:59 p.m. Free-$15.

While some might argue that Baltimore has lost its edge, the city’s eclectic arts scene is never more alive and well than during the annual High Zero arts festival. Now in its 19th year, musical mad scientists and world-class creatives will defy genre expectations and reinvent music as we know it with expert and out-there improvisations. Half of the core musicians are Baltimore locals, such as abujaphone player Baba L’Salaam and vintage Casio keyboardist Maria Shesiuk, validating the virtuosic talent of the city’s experimental music subculture. Embrace the alternative with a new range of audio possibilities.

 HEAR

September 15: Outcalls

WTMD Studios, 1 Olympic Pl., Towson. 7:30-11 p.m. $15-17. 

When we first heard of Outcalls earlier this year, we couldn’t get enough of their debut single, “No King.” This weekend, they’re finally releasing their first EP, featuring four tracks and two remixes, and while you’ll have to wait for our full review in the October issue, we’ll just say: it’s friggin’ awesome. This weekend, catch a live broadcast of the female-fronted sextet’s hypnotic melodies and edgy beats, plus a sneak peek of their first music video. Led by Baltimore opera queens Melissa Wimbish and Britt Olsen-Ecker, both classically trained at Peabody Conservatory, the band is making waves with its dreamy vocals, lush electronic instrumentation, and rich alt-baroque sound. Be sure to arrive early as stellar local acts Super City and J Pope and the HearNow will be kicking things off, but be sure to don your best regal garb. You might get crowned the best-dressed royal of the night.

 DO

September 16: Korean Festival

Centennial Park, 10000 Clarksville Pike, Ellicott City. 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Free. 

There’s more to Korean culture than kimchi and bibimbap (though we love them both). Since 1977, the ever-growing Korean-American population in Baltimore has been sharing its vibrant traditions with the local community. With 15,000 attendants last year, this 40th annual event proves to be a public favorite. Located at the beautiful Centennial Park in Ellicott City, the celebration features eight hours of non-stop entertainment—from taekwondo demonstrations and traditional fan dances to rising k-pop stars like HeeSun Lee and singer-songwriter Dabit. Food trucks will be serving up mainstream Korean dishes like bulgogi and japchae, and a pojangmacha-style beer garden will pay homage to South Korea’s pop-up street bars. But drivers beware: there will be no public parking at Centennial Park, so make sure to leave your car at one of the six satellite parking locations.