13 Things to Do in Baltimore This Weekend: Edgar Allan Poe Festival; Fell’s Point Fun Festival; Doors Open Baltimore

Hello, October. The month of leaves, frights and pumpkin spice arrives with a full calendar of events across the city. Between Free Fall Baltimore and Doors Open Baltimore, there are a host of free events to explore. This weekend, honor Edgar Allan Poe, have fun in Fell’s Point and welcome back a couple of old favorite music sessions from the pandemic hiatus. Here’s the plans:

Free Fall Baltimore: In October, the city’s arts and culture venues are hosting a full month of in-person and virtual events during the month of October. This weekend, check out a celebration of James Baldwin at Nancy Cafe, a closing reception of the art exhibition Hypogean at Current Space and more.

Doors Open Baltimore: AIA Baltimore and the Baltimore Architecture Foundation’s annual invitation to go inside otherwise private creative and architecturally significant spaces is going for all of October this year. The mix of virtual and private events kicks off with a lecture on Mapping Baltimore Apartheid with Dr. Lawrence Brown. Plus, check out tours of the National Aquarium Animal Care and Rescue Center, a the Shot Tower and walking tours in Highlandtown and Bromo and more.

Save Your Soul: 9 p.m.- 2 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 1, at Lithuanian Hall. The soul and R&B dance party returns IRL to Southwest Baltimore for the first time in 18 months. DJs Rob Macy & Baby Alactraz will be spinning vinyl, while Lith Hall serves up giant beers.

Recovered Voices: Oct. 1-2 at Meyerhoff Symphony Hall. The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra performs works from composers whose voices were silenced and suppressed in history, including William Levi Dawson and Alexander von Zemlinsky. James Conlon makes his conducting debut with the orchestra.

Fell’s Point Fun Festival: Oct. 2-3 in Fells Point: The giant festival retuns to the historic waterfront neighborhood with two days of live music including headliners Eli Young Band and Spin Doctors, over 150 food and retail vendors and plenty more, well, fun.

B&O Food Truck Oktoberfest: 12-6 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 2, at B&O Railroad Museum. Make a stop for mobile munchies from faves like The Queen’s Food Truck and So Beachy Haitian Cuisine, music from Rufus Roundtree and Da B’more Brass Factory and Kraken Duo, drinks, vendors and more.

The International Edgar Allan Poe Festival & Awards: Oct. 2-3 at The Edgar Allan Poe House & Museum. Many cities can lay claim to Poe, but Baltimore has unmatched affection (and his grave). Mark the macabre master’s death with a grand opening of a new exhibit on Poe in film and fashion, the return of the Black Cat Ball and more.

Dylan @ 80: 8 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 2, at Creative Alliance. The Complete Unknowns, a band of Baltimore musicians that interprets Dylan’s songs, celebrate the octegenarian year for the legendary songwriter. They’re joined by Caleb Stine, Stable Shakers, Ari & The Buffalo Kings and Linda Nelson.

Nate Bargatze: The Raincheck Tour: 7&9 p.m. at The Lyric. The stand-up comedian is a veteran of “The Tonight Show,” “Conan,” and Comedy Central. Now he has a podcast called Nateland and is back on tour with a Saturday night stop in Baltimore.

Fiesta Baltimore 2021: 10 a.m.- 7 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 3, at Patterson Park. Southeast Baltimore plays host to a parade of Latino nations and cultural festival.

Italian Heritage Festival: 1-6 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 3 at Stiles & Exeter Sts., Little Italy. Head to the epicenter of Italian culture in Baltimore for food from the neighborhood’s restaurants, live music, a bocce tournament, games of chance and more.

We’re Bach!: 4 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 3 at The Maryland State Boychoir Center for the Arts. First Sunday concerts from Bach in Baltimore return with performances of the German composer’s Cantata 1 & Brandenburg Concerto No. 1. In-person and virtual tickets are available.

A Modern Influence: Henri Matisse, Etta Cone, and Baltimore: Open Sunday, Oct. 3, at the Baltimore Museum of Art. The BMA’s renowned Cone Collection has long been a highlight of the museum’s holdings. Featuring more than 160 works, this exhibit offers a chance to dig deeper into how it came together, and the friendship between Matisse and Baltimore collector Etta Cone.