With the help of volunteers, sponsors and local agencies, the Towsontown Spring Festival has grown into one of the largest outdoor festivals in the state of Maryland.
The two-day event is expected to draw more than 300 vendors and 100,000 visitors to Chesapeake, Pennsylvania, Washington and Baltimore avenues in Uptown Towson.
Festivities will take place May 2 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and May 3 from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
The Towson Chamber of Commerce, the organization that oversees the annual festival, hopes this year will serve as a return to warmer weather for everyone involved.
“I think more than anything, we’ve had one of the most difficult winters we’ve ever had in years and years, and people are ready to get out for the sunshine,” said Nancy Hafford, the chamber’s executive director. “Not just the people that are participating, that are coming to enjoy the festival, but also the vendors are looking forward to coming out.”
Hafford said the festival will be a family-friendly event. With carnival rides, food trucks, vendors, concerts and more, there will be something for everyone. Parking will be $5 for the day at all Baltimore County garages and entry to the festival will be free.
Originally called the Towsontown Art Exhibit, the Towsontown Spring Festival will mark its 57th anniversary this year.
Keeping with the tradition of the event’s original name, many vendors are local artists and craftspeople.
Murals of Baltimore, a local art studio that has painted more than 50 murals in the last 30 years within the Baltimore area, will be running a stand at the festival for the first time this year.
Shay McCafferty, studio manager at Murals, said they wanted people who purchase from them to get more than just a piece of art.
“We have a lot of artwork around the city and surrounding Baltimore, so hopefully they’ll be able to kind of get some joy from that, be able to connect with it,” McCafferty said.
For a map of the festival, price of carnival tickets or more general information, click here.
