Let’s hope the weather holds, as Baltimore-area residents have lots of reasons to get outside this weekend. There are chances to see the city by bike, boat and beehive. Big festivals are gathering people in neighborhoods like Hampden, Greektown and Northwest. Plus, it’s as good a chance as any to check out some of the area’s choirs. Enjoy:
Happening tonight
Pigtown Community Farmers Market: 3-7 p.m. at Carroll Park. The weekly farmer’s market in Southwest Baltimore returns for the season. Along with fruits and vegetables, the market features free yoga, music and more.
St. Nicholas Greek Folk Festival: June 7-10 at Greektown Square and Events Center. Opa! The weekend-long celebration showcases authentic food, drinks, music and dancing, with groups from around the region descending on Southeast Baltimore. Tonight’s festivities include opening ceremonies.
WTMD’s First Thursday Festival: 5:30 p.m. at Canton Waterfront Park. The monthly summer concert series continues by the water. This month’s lineup features indie poppers Family of the Year, blues rocker Danielia Cotton, Lauren Ruth Ward, Natalie Prass and Typhoon.
Screw Cancer Brew Hope: 6-9 p.m. at Crossbar der Biergarten. Raise money for The Ulman Cancer Fund while enjoying unlimited beer, wine and appetizers at Cross Street’s German-flavored gathering spot.
Painting and Pride: John Singer Sargent: 6:30 p.m. at the Walters Art Museum. American painter John Singer Sargent was the master of the portrait. But tonight, Walters Manager of Adult and Community Programs Alexander Jarman discusses his watercolor work, “The Alhambra Vase,” as well as the influence of Islamic design on European art.
WJZ 70th Anniversary Archival Footage Screening and Celebration: 7-8:30 p.m. at Mill No. 1 Picker House. Outdoor movies meet vintage TV in a Hampden courtyard. For those who want to remember or just see what the city used to look like, the screening features WJZ-TV footage dating back to 1948.
Eternal Summers: 8 p.m. at Metro Gallery. The Roanoke-based indie pop band stops through town in support of their latest album, “Every Day It Feels Like I’m Dying…” Their music is more lush and sugary sweet than that title suggests. Local groups Outer Spaces and Surf Harp provide support.
Friday, June 8
Cinnaholic Opening: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Cinnaholic. The gourmet cinnamon bun shop, as seen on “Shark Tank,” is celebrating its grand opening in The Rotunda with dollar cinnamon rolls.
SOBO Sunsets: 4 p.m.-1 a.m. at The Field in Port Covington. This new outdoor event series is launching across from Sagamore Spirit Distillery, with DJ Impulse and DJ Who spinning. Free entry.
The Ready Room Opening: 5 p.m. at Old Line Spirits. The Highlandtown distillery is opening a cocktail bar to serve libations with its own whiskey and rum, as well as local beer and spirits from around the world. Chef Nancy Longo supplies the food.
Summer Social: 5 p.m. at West Shore Park. Get the weekend started at the Inner Harbor with a family-friendly evening, featuring the music of Loose Ties. Includes food trucks, bar service and kids activities.
Summer Sounds: 6 p.m. at Belvedere Square. The Friday gathering at Belvedere Square Market features cover tunes from The Remainders.
Wine and Wags: Paw That Jazz: 6 p.m. at Maryland SPCA. Get the dogs out of the house on a Friday night for live sounds from David Bach Music, pet-friendly vendors and a specialty drink called the CosmoPAWlitan.
Nights on the Fringe: June 8-9 at Baltimore Theatre Project. Charm City Fringe hosts two nights of cabaret, with performances ranging from dance to puppetry to acrobatics.
Dave Chappelle: June 8-9 at The Modell Lyric. The comedian behind “Chappelle’s Show” made the transition to Netflix with four stand-up specials. Now he’s getting back to live performance ahead of a tour with Daily Show host Jon Stewart.
LEVEL UP: Video Game Competition and Music Showcase: 7 p.m. – 1 a.m. at Creative Labs. Kick off CreateScape weekend in Woodberry with a Super Smash Bros. tournament, followed by music from 10 acts.
Saturday, June 9
Baltimore Floatilla: 8 a.m. at Canton Waterfront Park. Join the armada for the environment. The massive kayak event features a 5-mile ride that makes a statement about clean water and shows the paddles belong in the harbor. Stick around for an after-party.
HonFest 2018: June 9-10 on the The Avenue in Hampden. It’s the 25th anniversary of the festival celebrating the working women of Bawlmer and the beehives they’re proud to wear. The pageant to crown Baltimore’s Best Hon runs Saturday. Throughout, there’s 36 music acts on three stages, an oyster-shucking contest and vendors on four blocks.
Greater Northwest Neighborhoods Festival: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at Calvin Rodwell Elementary School. The family festival celebrates the neighborhoods of Northwest Baltimore with music and art, a fashion show, food trucks and more.
The Belmont Stakes at Laurel Park: 11 a.m. at Laurel Park. Can Justify pull out another win and become the 13th horse to win the Triple Crown? That’s the question on everyone’s mind in the world of horse racing, and Laurel Park is the place to be in Maryland if you intend to find out. The track will be giving away Justify T-shirts with the purchase of a program (while supplies last), offering a food buffet for $45 and, of course, holding a full day of live racing. The Belmont is scheduled to start around 6:45 p.m.
Feastival: A Food Adventure for a Cure: Noon-4 p.m. at Sandlot. This benefit for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation features a chance to sample the city’s much-talked-about food scene in one afternoon. Plus, Baltimore Bartenders Guild provides the cocktails, and attractions abound.
Brewers Hill Porch and Patio Neighborhood Crawl: 2-7 p.m. at Knotty Pine. Southeast Baltimore neighbors are welcoming the community to check out their relaxation spaces, and offering up snacks and drinks. It’s the first edition of the home tour event.
CreateScape: June 9-10 at Creative Labs. A warehouse in Woodberry has turned into a home for DIY arts culture in Baltimore. This weekend, Creative Labs is holding an open house to let everyone in on what’s happening. Take in activities as varied as group yoga, dance battles, an edition of Say it Loud Film Fest and BBQ.
WigStock: A Stillpointe Gala: 7-11 p.m. at Wishbone Reserve. Stillpointe Theatre celebrates the 2018/19 season. Modeled after an outdoor drag festival founded in New York, the night features performances, food and cocktails.
Freedom’s Journey: A Black Music Month Celebration: 7 p.m. at Eubie Blake National Jazz Institute. The Urban Choral Arts Society concert features a program highlighting African-American contributions to music.
The Crown 5-Year Anniversary Party: 8 p.m. at The Crown. The wonderfully weird Korean fusion restaurant and bar, and epicenter of Baltimore’s DIY music scene, celebrates its 5th birthday with a “three-room free-for-all” including performances by Chiffon, Hunter Hooligan, Brendan Sullivan, DJ James Nasty, Micah E. Wood and many more.
Sunday, June 10
Tour dem Parks, Hon: 7:30 a.m. at Rawlings Conservatory. It’s time for the 16th edition of the big bike tour of Baltimore’s green spaces. Choose from four routes traversing streets and trails, then stick around for BBQ in the afternoon.
Baltimore Folk Songs: 3 p.m. at the Maryland Historical Society. The Dan Meyer Choir performs new arrangements of Baltimore songs on history, romance and beyond.
Charm City Labor Chorus Concert: 3-5 p.m. at the Baltimore Museum of Art. This vocal ensemble works to raise awareness about equality and justice, performing the songs of labor and civil rights movements. The ninth annual concert is titled, “We Will Not Be Moved.”
Riverside Concert Series: 5-8 p.m. at Riverside Park. The concert series on the second Sunday of the month gets underway for summer with music from Get Steady. Farm to Charm food truck and Miss Twist ice cream will be on-hand.
Friends of Patterson Park Concert Series Opener: 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Pagoda Hill. Caleb Stine & The Brakemen kick off the calendar of music on the hill in Southeast Baltimore.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
- Pride Weekend is just a week away. The LGBTQ+ celebration featuring a parade, block party and festival at Druid Hill Park is June 16-17, with the theme “United We Shine.”
- Healthy Baltimore gives us a day of wellness-centered activities on June 16 at The Field in Port Covington. Featuring a special performance by rapper Talib Kweli.
- Get the moptops back in shape for Beatles Family Festival. WTMD’s Saturday Morning Tunes comes to life on June 23 by paying tribute to the Fab Four with an indoor/outdoor festival at its Towson studio. It has Beatles reggae tribute band Yellow Dubmarine, as well as Beatles-themed photos, arts and crafts.
- The Chesapeake Crab and Beer Festival offers a feast of two things Marylanders like most in the summer. The June 23 event at Rash Field is all-you-can-eat, so start saving room now.
