We’re about one third of the way through spring and the weather is starting to feel more consistently seasonally appropriate. This weekend, several events are drawing Baltimoreans outdoors, including the return of Flower Mart, Mayor Brandon Scott’s Spring Cleanup, and multiple festivals. The Maryland Film Festival is also underway and will continue through the weekend with an impressive slate of films.
Check out the events that are blooming in Baltimore this weekend:
Maryland Film Festival, Thursday, April 28 through Sunday, May 1. The Maryland Film Festival kicked off Wednesday and will continue through the weekend with a total of 20 feature films, 130 short films and one episodic. If you’ve yet to watch HBO’s “We Own This City,” based on former Baltimore Sun reporter Justin Fenton’s book about the corruption of the Baltimore Police Department’s Gun Trace Task Force, you can catch a screening of the first episode during the festival. Plus, enjoy films about volcanic love, out-of-body experiences and more.
The JoGo Project, Thursday, April 28, 7:30 p.m. Keystone Korner. Formed in 2014, The JoGo Project fuses jazz and and go-go music. In 2018, the band performed in Russia as part of a cultural diplomacy tour on behalf of the U.S. State Department.
Tree Giveaway, Thursday, April 28, 4-7 p.m., B. Willow. TreeBaltimore and B. Willow are giving away free trees to celebrate Arbor Day and grow the city’s tree canopy. They will be giving away sweetbay magnolia, river birch, beach plum, white fringetree, serviceberry, American hazelnut, and green hawthorn trees – all 2 gallon size plants that are often less than 4 feet tall. Each tree will come with a 15% off coupon to B.Willow. Trees will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Flower Mart, Friday, April 29 and Saturday, April 30, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. both days, Mount Vernon Place. As the saying goes, April showers bring May flowers. So what better time than this weekend’s Flower Mart to get some ideas for your garden and shop for flowers, pots and accessories to add to your home? After being canceled in 2020 and going virtual in 2021, the favorite festival of floral fans is back in full bloom in person this year. In addition to meeting vendors, visitors can learn from a variety of workshops, lick a lemon stick treat, and enjoy live musical performances.
Pawject Runway, Friday, April 29, 6-10 p.m., Pier Six Pavillion. Watch furry friends strut their stuff in this fashion show for adoptable cats and dogs from the Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter (BARCS). Ticket sales benefit BARCS and the Show Your Soft Side anti-abuse campaign.
Bike Prom, Friday, April 29, 6:30 p.m., St. Mary’s Park. The Baltimore Bike Party is celebrating 10 years of riding around Charm City! To mark the occasion, they’re holding a Bike Prom and are encouraging riders to dress up themselves – and their bikes! – for a high school prom-inspired ride. DJ Micah Diggs will manage the tunes, plus there will be a photobooth so you can remember the night forever.
Mayor’s Spring Cleanup, Saturday, April 29, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., various sites across Baltimore. Mayor Brandon Scott and Baltimore City Department of Public Works Director Jason Mitchell are encouraging Baltimore residents to help clean up the city this Saturday. Lend a hand to your local community group or launch your own effort to beautify Baltimore by removing trash and debris from city streets, parks and other spaces.
Storm Thomas, Friday, April 29, 8:30 p.m., Baltimore Center Stage. BCS Sound Check, a live concert series by Baltimore Center Stage, is back and will feature Storm Thomas and the Theater but Dance Company. The concert will include music from afrofuturist musicals such as “Ancient Future” and “Be Like Bone.”
Towsontown Spring Festival, Saturday, April 30 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday, May 1 from 1-6 p.m., Towson Historic Courthouse. The 53rd Annual Towsontown Spring Festival will feature more than 250 vendors selling crafts, jewelry, art, food, and more. There will also be live performances by Baltimore-area musicians.
Canton Spring Festival, Saturday, April 30, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Patterson Park, near the Pulaski Monument. Free and open to the public, the Canton Spring Festival is the perfect opportunity to enjoy some springtime weather with more than 100 vendors, food trucks and local bands.
Tacos ‘N Taps Festival, Saturday, April 30, noon to 5 p.m., Harbor Point. Forget Taco Tuesday. This Saturday is going to be a whole taco festival down at Harbor Point with tacos and other Mexican food, drinks, live music, contests and more. Guests will be able to taste more than 60 margaritas, mezcals, margaritas, tequilas, craft beers, ciders and wines. Plus, vendors will be offering more than 30 different types of tacos. And between eating and drinking, attendees can enjoy lawn activities and games; buy jewelry, hot sauces and more from boutiques; and dance to mariachi bands and other live music.
International Jazz Day, Saturday, April 30, 7 p.m., An Die Musik. The Charles Rahmat Woods Quartet will commemorate International Jazz Day at An Die Musik. The quartet will perform original tunes as well as a special tribute to the music of National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master Roy Haynes.
Flock of Dimes, Sunday, May 1, 7 p.m. Ottobar. Flock of Dimes, a project by Baltimore musician Jenn Wasner, has been featured on NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert and this month they released a collection of unreleased tracks titled “Head of Roses: Phantom Limb.” Their Ottobar performance will also include a guest performance by Tuscon artist Karima Walker.
