Get ready to wave to the runners (and be mindful of road closures), as Baltimore’s marathon event returns on Saturday. Elsewhere, square dancing is back, the Russian Food Festival kicks off a three-weekend event and a new exhibition at AVAM is Rebecca Alban Hoffberger’s final as curator.
Marc Ribot’s Ceramic Dog: 8 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 8, at Creative Alliance. The guitarist has played with Tom Waits, Elvis Costello, John Zorn and more. Now, he brings a trio to Baltimore, fresh off the June release of the new album “Hope.”
Baltimore Running Festival: Sat., Oct. 9, at Inner Harbor and around Baltimore. It’s time to go for a run. Participants will take to the streets for distances including 5K, 10K, half-marathon and marathon. The final stop is Inner Harbor.
Free Fall Baltimore: In October, the city’s arts and culture venues are hosting a full month of in-person and virtual events. This weekend, check out the Baltimore International Black Film Festival, a Halloween display workshop with Fluid Movement, a live recording of the podcast Local Color Live! 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 running for all of October this year. This weekend, check out tours of Inner Harbor’s development, and First and Franklin Presbyterian Church.
Baltimore Tattoo Arts Convention: Oct. 8-10 at the Baltimore Convention Center. Meet tattoo artists from around the country, including various stars of the show “Ink Master.” Plus, enjoy circus acts, burlesque, aerials and a little learning at seminars.
Jazzy Autumn Nights: 7-9 p.m. on Sat, Oct. 9 at The Jerk Garden. Relax at the outdoor venue at Terra Cafe for performances from The JOUSE Project and Michele Bowman Music.
Baltimore Square Dance: 7:30 p.m. on Sat., Oct. 9, at Mobtown Ballroom. After pausing during the pandemic, square dancing and music is back in Pigtown. Participants don’t need a partner or square dancing skills to get in, but vaccination is required. Organizers wil teach the dances, and music will be provided by Rachel Eddy, Em Hammond, Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer.
New Found Glory: 7:30 p.m. on Sat., Oct. 9, at Rams Head Live. The Pop Punk’s Not Dead tour rolls into Inner Harbor with New Found Glory, ska heroes Less Than Jake, Hot Mulligan and LØLØ.
Russian Food Festival: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sat., Oct. 9, at Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Church. Sample the best culinary offerings from Russia, including shashlik, beef stroganoff, blinchiki and more. The festival runs on three consecutive Saturdays, and pre-ordering is available.
Saleem and the Music Lovers: 7 p.m. on Sat., Oct. 9, at An Die Musik Live! Combining hip-hop drum machines with live band instruments, the combo has performed with The Root, Wu-Tang Clan and Common. In-person and virtual viewing tickets available.
UNITY Oktoberfest: 12-6 p.m. on Sun, Oct. 10, at Peabody Heights Brewery. Check out a full slate of DJs and visual artists at this Sunday afternoon event, while sampling food from Secret Sauce Co.
Feastival Baltimore: 1-4 p.m. on Sun., Oct. 10 at Sandlot Baltimore. The benefit for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation features food from some of the top chefs, and cocktails courtesy of the Baltimore Bartenders Guild.
Healing and the Art of Compassion (and the Lack Thereof!): Oct. 9-10 at American Visionary Art Museum. It’s opening weekend for this exhibition featuring work from 22 artists and scientific research on the power of compassion and kind acts. It will be the last exhibit curated by AVAM founder and executive director Rebecca Alban Hoffberger before she retires next year.
Imani Winds with the BSO: 3 p.m. on Sun., Oct. 10 at Meyerhoff Symphony Hall. Woodwind ensemble Imani Winds joins the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra to perform “Phenomonal Women” by Valerie Coleman, a piece dedicated to Maya Angelou, Serena Williams and Michelle Obama. Works by Bartok and Tchaikovsky are also on the program.
The Marcus King Band: 8 p.m. on Sun., Oct. 10, at Baltimore Soundstage. The southern rock and blues band is in Baltimore for two shows this weekend, including the Sunday night date, which has tickets available as of this writing. King’s recently-released solo album, El Dorado, was produced by Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys.
Thank you for including Saleem and the Music Lovers Sat concert at An die Musik Live! in your column.