Once upon a midnight dreary, Baltimoreans pondered, weak and weary:
‘How to spend this first October weekend?’ Fear not, Baltimore Fishbowl is your trusted friend.
Honor our city’s father of horror literature, or enjoy movie music for a Mesozoic creature.
After this events calendar you have read, adventure will await in the days ahead.
Baltimore International Black Film Festival, Thursday, Oct. 2, through Monday, Oct. 6, Pikes Studio Cinema. For the 12th year, the Baltimore International Black Film Festival will showcase independent films by creators who are African-American, part of the African Diaspora, and members of the Same Gender Loving – Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender (SGL-LGBT) communities.
Toad the Wet Sprocket, Thursday, Oct. 2, doors open at 6 p.m., event starts at 7 p.m., Lyric Baltimore. The rock band Toad the Wet Sprocket is bringing their tour to The Lyric with special guests KT Tunstall and Vertical Horizon.
Jazzy Summer Nights: Final show with Dru Hill, Thursday, Oct. 2, 5–10 p.m., Baltimore City Hall. After 25 years of music, culture, and community, the Jazzy Summer Nights series is taking its final bow. The grand finale will be headlined by Baltimore’s own R&B superstars, Dru Hill.
World is Your Oyster Fest 2025, Thursday, Oct. 2, 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., B&O Railroad Museum. Savor local seafood, slurp your way through a bounty of local oysters, sip craft cocktails, and soak in the spirit of the Chesapeake—all to benefit successful oyster restoration efforts that are transforming the Bay.
The Nevermore Haunt, Friday, Oct. 3, through Sunday, Oct. 5, 450 Mott St. Featuring a haunted house, an outdoor bar, music, sideshow performers, and wandering monsters, Nevermore Haunt opens this weekend and will run through Nov. 2.
Zoo Boo, Friday, Oct. 3, through Sunday, Oct. 5, Maryland Zoo. Explore a hay maze, participate in a costume contest, make seasonal crafts, go trick-or-treating throughout the zoo, and more. There will be a different costume theme each weekend. Attendees are encouraged to wear their Halloween costumes throughout the month. Zoo Boo events will take place on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays through Oct. 31.
Maritime Magic, Friday, Oct. 3, 6 p.m., Frederick Douglass-Isaac Myers Maritime Park. This annual waterfront benefit—featuring food and drinks from top Baltimore restaurants, caterers, bars, and microbreweries, as well as live music by Dumpstaphunk—celebrates and supports the work of Living Classrooms Foundation.
POSTPONED UNTIL MARCH 5, 2026 Jimmy O. Yang, Friday, Oct. 3, doors open at 7 p.m., event starts at 8 p.m., Lyric Baltimore. Comedian Jimmy O. Yang has appeared in television shows and films such as “Silicon Valley,” “Crazy Rich Asians,” “Love Hard,” and “Space Force.” Yang also has released two standup comedy specials: “Guess How Much” and “Good Deal.” He currently stars in the limited series “Interior Chinatown.” Now, he’s bringing his comedy to Baltimore as part of his “Big and Tall” tour.
Shane Gillis, Friday, Oct. 3, doors open at 7 p.m., event begins at 8 p.m., CFG Bank Arena. Pennsylvania-native comedian Shane Gillis is coming to Baltimore. His 2023 Netflix special, “Beautiful Dogs,” reached the Netflix Top 10 in five countries.
Pink Martini All-Stars, Friday, Oct. 3, 8 p.m., Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall. The Pink Martini band comprises vocalists Ari Shapiro (who also co-hosts National Public Radio’s “All Things Considered”), Edna Vazquez, and Jimmie Herrod (a finalist on “America’s Got Talent”), and Thomas Lauderdale on piano.
The 8th Annual International Edgar Allan Poe Festival & Awards, Friday, Oct. 3 through Sunday, Oct. 5, various locations in Baltimore. Celebrate the 180th anniversary of “The Raven” and the 150th anniversary of Poe’s Monument with live performances, lantern-lit tours, a mesmeric masquerade, and the city’s most hauntingly original street festival, held in the shadow of Poe House. Admission to the street festival is free, with select programs requiring advance tickets.
Music Box: Fall Festival, Saturday, Oct. 4, 10 a.m., Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall. The BSO Brass Quintet will perform songs of the season, from silly to spooky music. The concert is recommended for ages 6 months to 3 years.
Vino in Vogue, Saturday, Oct. 4, 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., Harbor East. Enjoy an afternoon of wine tasting, shopping specials, local crafts vendors, and live music. Tasting tables will line the sidewalks of Harbor East, with sommeliers and wine experts offering pours of all varieties, blends, and regions.
NBA YoungBoy, Saturday, Oct. 4, doors open at 6:30 p.m., event begins at 7 p.m., CFG Bank Arena. Rapper NBA YoungBoy will perform in Baltimore as part of his first headlining tour, the 2025 MASA TOUR.
Interactive Move Night: Halloween, Saturday, Oct. 4, mingle 7 p.m., movie 8 p.m., Creative Alliance. Join hosts Jennifer Marsh and Heather Keating as they kick of spooky season with this classic 70s slasher film. Sip on cocktails, shout the lines and test your knowledge at Halloween movie trivia, sip on cocktails. Costumes are encouraged.
Whitney Cummings, Saturday, Oct. 4, doors open at 6 p.m., event starts at 7 p.m., Lyric Baltimore. Comedian Whitney Cummings created and starred in the NBC series “Whitney.” She also co-created and co-wrote the CBS comedy series “2 Broke Girls.” She has hosted the podcast “Good for You” since it launched in 2019. Cummings released her sixth stand-up special, “Mouthy,” in November 2023. Now, catch her comedy in person when she brings her “Big Baby” tour to Baltimore.
Jurassic Park in Concert, Saturday, Oct. 4, 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Oct. 5, 3 p.m., Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall. Listen to the soundtrack from “Jurassic Park,” performed live by the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra.
Mooooncake Fest, Saturday, Oct. 4, and Sunday, Oct. 5, South Point – West Covington Park. Taste food from more than 90 vendors representing cultures across Asia. There will also be more than 40 merchandise vendors; live performances and cultural acts like Taiko drumming and Kung Fu shows; and interactive activities, such as Kung Fu workshops and lion dances.
Gil Shaham, violin and Orli Shaham, piano, Sunday, Oct. 5, 5:30 p.m., Shriver Hall. Shriver Hall Concert Series’ 60th anniversary season opener will feature siblings Gil Shaham and Orli Shaham performing works by Clara and Robert Schumann, Johannes Brahms and Amanda Maier. Read about the series in this Baltimore Fishbowl article.
Violent Femmes, Sunday, Oct. 5, doors open at 7 p.m., event starts at 8 p.m., Lyric Baltimore. Wisconsin folk punk band Violent Femmes released their 10th and most recent studio album, “Hotel Last Resort” in 2019. Now, the group is coming to Baltimore as part of their “Grasp and Reach for a Leg of Hope” tour.
Hey Marcus, the Jimmy O. Yang show was announced on Monday to be delayed until March 5th, 2026.