MAJOR
EVENTS
FORT MCHENRY NATIONAL MONUMENT
AND HISTORIC SHRINE
SEPT. 13-15
Commemorate the Battle of Baltimore
from the War of 1812, which inspired the
writing of “The Star-Spangled Banner,”
with music, historical reenactments and
a fireworks display.
Hampdenfest
HAMPDEN
SEPT. 21
“The Avenue” in Hampden is filled with
live entertainment, local food vendors
and artisans selling their wares. But the
annual highlight is always the irreverent
Toilet Race competition, in which racers
on wheeled commodes zoom down a hill
as onlookers cheer.
Pigtown Festival
PIGTOWN
SEPT. 21
The Pigtown neighborhood gets its name
from the pigs that used to run through
the streets from nearby cargo ships. Its
annual festival includes a running of the
pigs, aptly named the Squeakness.
International Edgar Allan
Poe Festival and Awards
EDGAR ALLAN POE HOUSE & MUSEUM
OCT. 5-6
This free outdoor festival features
Poe-themed performances, art and
booksellers celebrating the author’s life,
works and influence in the arts.
Baltimore
Running Festival
INNER HARBOR
OCT. 19
This annual festival offers
five distance options,
including a .05K and a full
marathon. This year’s race
ends at the picturesque
Inner Harbor, where
thousands of visitors will
cheer on the finishers.
Brilliant Baltimore
The Great Halloween
Lantern Parade and Festival German Christmas Village
PATTERSON PARK
OCT. 26 INNER HARBOR
NOV. 23–DEC. 24
Celebrate Halloween with a kids’
costume contest, hayrides and a lantern-
making workshop by day and a parade
of lanterns and light-up costumes
around Patterson Park at night. This authentic German Christmas Village
offers the best schnitzel, bratwurst and
gluehwein, plus vendors selling clothing,
accessories, home goods and tasty treats.
Brilliant Baltimore: Light City
& Baltimore Book Festival
INNER HARBOR
NOV. 1-10
Two of Baltimore’s most popular
events unite to create a one-of-a-
kind international festival. By day,
internationally renowned authors
can be found giving readings or
participating in panel discussions.
And by night, large, illuminated art
sculptures and major performers will
take over the Inner Harbor.
Miracle on 34th Street
HAMPDEN
NOV. 30–JAN. 1
Every house on this block of Hampden’s
famous 34th Street glows with holiday
decorations. Must-see attractions include
a Christmas tree made from hubcaps and
a bicycle-wheel snowman.
Winter Restaurant Week
CITYWIDE
JANUARY
Sample the city’s best cuisine at brunch,
lunch or dinner with special multi-course
menus at a reasonable fixed price.
Generations: A History
of Black Abstract Art Spectrum of Fashion:
Celebrating Maryland’s Style Elizabeth Catlett:
Artist as Activist
BALTIMORE MUSEUM OF ART
SEPT. 29–JAN. 19, 2020 MARYLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY
OCT. 5–OCT. 2020 Featuring nearly 80 paintings,
sculptures and mixed-media
installations by such notable
artists as Mark Bradford, Jennie
C. Jones, Norman Lewis, Lorna
Simpson, Alma W. Thomas
and Sam Gilliam, and a newly
commissioned work by Kevin
Beasley, this exhibition highlights
the significant contributions that
black artists have made to the
development of abstraction from
the 1940s to the present. Featuring nearly 100 examples of women’s
and men’s clothing spanning four
centuries, Spectrum of Fashion includes a
gown by “Project Runway”
finalist and Baltimore
native Bishme
Cromartie
as well as clothing
worn by the Duchess
of Windsor Wallis
Simpson, another
Baltimore native. REGINALD F. LEWIS MUSEUM OF
MARYLAND AFRICAN AMERICAN
HISTORY & CULTURE
OCT. 26–MARCH 1, 2020
Sculptor and printmaker
Elizabeth Catlett is best known
for her work during the 1960s
70s, blending art and social
and 70
consciousness to confront the
consc
disturbing injustices against
most d
Africa
African Americans. More than a
dozen of her thought-provoking
works will be on display.
B A LT I M O R E . O R G
Defenders’ Day Weekend
For more info on Baltimore events, visit
Baltimore.org/events-exhibitions
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