Summer is upon us once again with the arrival of Memorial Day weekend. There are plenty of local events that don’t involve the beach, like one of the city’s most-loved neighborhood festivals in Hollins Market, a chance to imbibe among the animals and an event to buy herbs in the park.
Friday, May 24
Balticon: May 24-27 at The Renaissance Baltimore Harborplace Hotel. The science fiction and fantasy convention returns with a host of special guests, a short film festival and more.
Whitman Coin Expo: Through May 26 at the Baltimore Convention Center. Buy, sell and trade rare coins and currency.
Ethel Ennis Memorial Concert: 2-3:30 p.m. at Miriam A. Friedberg Concert Hall. Baltimore’s “First Lady of Jazz” is celebrated with live performances and a tribute featuring old interviews and footage.
“Welcome to Shakesville”: Through June 16 at Zion Church of the City of Baltimore. The Baltimore Rock Opera Society production offers “a groovy love letter to the ’60s filled with puppets, magic and rock ‘n’ roll.”
CREAM Big Softy Pop-Up: 5-9 p.m. at UNION Craft Brewing. Big Softy and Well Crafted Kitchen team up on crab dishes, and the Charmery serves up Wu-Tang Clan-inspired ice cream.
Pitango Jazz Series: 6-8 p.m. at Pitango Bakery and Cafe. Brandon Woody’s Upendo plays the Fells Point cafe, which will be serving wine and beer, cocktails and happy hour snacks.
Cyrus Chestnut Trio w/ Antonio Hart: May 24-26 at Keystone Korner. The local pianist and his band perform at Baltimore’s newest jazz club.
Summer Sounds: 6-9 p.m. at Belvedere Square. The summer concert series in North Baltimore kicks off with Kelly Bell Band.
Black Girl Magic: 7 p.m. at Motor House. The event features a celebration through song, poetry, hip-hop and dance.
Art After Hours: 8-11 p.m. at Baltimore Museum of Art. The event provides nighttime access to the museum, and features drinks, music, art-making and more activities to close out “Myths and Monsters.”
Mid-Spring Soiree: 8 p.m. at The Windup Space. The seasonal event features live music, poetry, fashion, drag performance, live painting and more.
Going Gray: A Benefit for Brain Cancer Awareness: 8-11 p.m. at Normal’s Books and Records. The night offers music and poetry, benefitting the American Brain Tumor Association.
Mobtown Shank Presents: 8 p.m. at Metro Gallery. The show features music from Caleb Stine, The Creachies and Tom Pettibon. Jim Meyer hosts.
Mark Farina: 9 p.m. at Ottobar. The DJ known for mixing house, jazz and downtempo makes a stop in Charles Village with DJ Who and DJ LoveGrove.
Maryland Deathfest: May 23-26 at Rams Head Live and Baltimore Soundstage. The annual metal gathering features headliners Deicide (pictured), Anaal Nathrakh, Tormentor, Primitive Man and more.
“Vinegar Tom”: Through June 2 at Spotlighters Theatre. Caryl Churchill’s play about power, sex and witches tells stories from the 17th and 21st centuries.
“Queens Girl in the World”: Through June 23 at Everyman Theatre. The play by Caleen Sinnette Jennings tells the story of Jacqueline Marie Butler, who in the 1950s starts classes at a predominantly Jewish private school in Greenwich Village.
“Queens Girl in Africa”: Through June 23 at Everyman Theatre. The second part of the story follows Jacqueline Marie Butler as she starts classes at an international high school in Nigeria.
“The Diary of Anne Frank”: through May 26 at Chesapeake Shakespeare Company. Directed by Eve Muson, the play recreates the powerful story of a young girl hiding during the Nazi invasion of the Netherlands.
“TornKid”: through July 9 at Cohesion Theatre Company. The company teams up with the Baltimore Asian Pasifika Arts Collective on a world premiere play.
Saturday, May 25
Annual Tulip Dig at Sherwood Gardens: 7-11 a.m. at Sherwood Gardens. Dig up a bulb (or several) from Baltimore’s famous tulip garden and help support the return of the flowers next year.
Baltimore Herb Festival: 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. at Leakin Park. Shop more than 50 plant and garden vendors, or take in lectures on herbs and gardening, vendors and music.
Brew at the Zoo: May 25-26 at Maryland Zoo in Baltimore. Walk among the wild and enjoy more than 80 beers, live music and vendors.
Repticon: May 25-26 at the Maryland State Fairgrounds. Learn about reptiles and other exotic animals.
Lillie Carroll Jackson Day: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at Lillie Carroll Jackson Civil Rights Museum. Celebrate the 130th birthday of the civil rights leader with jazz, food, a documentary film and a keynote from professor Kaye Whitehead.
Pints for Poe: noon-4 p.m. at DuClaw Brewing. Sponsored by RavenBeer, the event supports Edgar Allan Poe House and Poe Baltimore.
Blaqstarr’s Get My Gun Battle: 3-7 p.m. at Cherry Hill Urban Garden. The Baltimore club musician helps get the summer started with a water gun battle that includes a remix and cipher challenge, dancing, food and drinks.
John Waters’ Mr. Know-It-All Signing. 7-9 p.m. at Atomic Books. The legendary Baltimore director and artist signs copies of his new book “Mr. Know-It-All: The Tarnished Wisdom Of A Filth Elder.” Stop by early in the day to take part in the John Waters Star Walk and see locations featured in the movie “Pecker.”
Jawbox: 8 p.m. at Metro Gallery. The much-loved post-hardcore band led by J. Robbins plays Metro Gallery with Andy Bopp and Fotocrime.
2019 Baltimore Drag Awards: 8-11:30 p.m. at Creative Alliance. The annual event celebrating the local drag community features red carpet arrivals, cocktail mixers and more. This year’s theme is CAMP.
Wume: 9 p.m. at Ottobar. Still riding high from last year’s “Towards the Shadow,” the Baltimore duo headline a bill with Konjur Collective and Wheatie Mattiasich feat. Stephen Santillan.
Sunday, May 26
Sowebo Arts and Music Festival: noon-8 p.m. at Hollins Market. The 36th edition of the festival features three stages of live music, local artists and galleries, local food and beer.
Festival of India: noon-6 p.m. at McKeldin Square. The daylong event features the Chariot Parade from Maryland Science Center, a vegetarian feast, cultural exhibits and more.
“The Emerald City: A Contemporary Ballet”: 2 p.m. at Chesapeake Arts Center. The Ballet Nouveau School adapts “The Wizard of Oz” and adds in a Broadway twist.
Momo x Sandlot: 3-7 p.m. at Sandlot. Six top Baltimore chefs join Momofoku’s Tae Strain to grill out by the water. Caleb Stine provides live music.
Reels and Reads: “Ferrante Fever”: 4-7 p.m. at Creative Alliance. The Highlandtown arts center teams up with Ivy Bookshop to present events pairing books and movies on the same theme. In this case, “Ferrante Fever” screens, while Elena Ferrante books will be on hand.
Is That a Door? An Exterior Tour of the Phoenix Shot Tower: 5-7 p.m. at Phoenix Shot Tower. The president of Carroll Museums, Inc. gives a tour of the downtown landmark.
Sunset w/ Rob Macy and Double A: 5-9 p.m. at Waverly Brewing Company. The DJs from Save Your Soul and Ottobar combine for a night of 45s.
Venue Valhalla: Final Whose Roll Performance at Windup Space: 7-9 p.m. at The Windup Space. The troupe plays Dungeons & Dragons and lets the audience dictate how the game goes. It’s the final performance by Whose Roll Is It Anyway? before the closing of The Windup.
Monday, May 27
Memorial Day at Fort McHenry: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. The day includes a chance to learn about Memorial Day’s origins, a flag raising and a national moment of remembrance.
Orioles vs. Tigers: 1:05 p.m. at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The O’s play afternoon baseball, and the first 20,000 fans age 21 and older get a pair of pint glasses.
Sandlot Outdoor Latin Dance Holiday Party: 6-11 p.m. at Sandlot. Orquesta Nfuzion will be live for salsa and bachata in a new covered pavilion at the waterfront getaway. The night kicks off with free dance lessons.
The Benny Russell Big Band: 7-9 p.m. at Keystone Korner. The tenor saxophonist and his group perform.
Upcoming:
- Taste of 3 Cities is back in Patterson Park on June 1.
- Blockenstein, Highlandtown’s big yard sale and community cookout, rises on June 1.
- Baltimore Floatilla takes to the harbor waters from Canton Waterfront Park on June 8.
