This is one of those weekends loaded with great opportunities to get out and enjoy the city. Take in moving art racing through South Baltimore, flowers and lemon sticks in Mount Vernon, local music in Station North and two ways to sample local wine on Sunday. Here’s the schedule:
Friday, May 3
Flower Mart: May 3-4 at Mount Vernon Place. Now under the direction of the Mount Vernon Place Conservancy, the annual spring festival has offerings from local gardens, crafters, music and, of course, lemon sticks. Plus, a hat contest, dog show and parade.
Baltimore Tattoo Arts Convention: May 3-5 at Baltimore Convention Center. The 12th annual show offers a great place to get tattooed by the best, and check out side show entertainment.
Made in Baltimore Spring Pop-up Grand Opening: 5 p.m. at 20 W. North Ave. The shop featuring goods from more than 60 local makers is back for spring. Celebrate the return with drinks, DJ and more.
First Friday Art Walk: 5 p.m. at Highlandtown Arts District. The event features nearly 20 galleries and local hotspots open for perusal.
Hampden West Fest: 5-7 p.m. at Gypsy’s Truckstaurant. Check out food trucks at the brick-and-mortar home of Gypsy Queen. Friends such as Kommie Pig BBQ, Bistro Lunchbox, Taharka Bros Ice Cream and Red Zebra Pizza will be on hand.
FUNSHO EP Release Show: 7 p.m. at Motor House. The singer-songwriter marks the release of “NUMB3RZ” with Gurl, Carlos Cubas, Janelle, Vicu,Sunny Cowell and DJ Neil Paul.
Festival of Laughs: 8 p.m. at Royal Farms Arena. The tour makes a Baltimore stop with Sommore, Earthquake, George Wallace, Guy Torry, Tony Rock and Mark Curry.
Avengers: Pregame: 8 p.m. at Maryland Science Center. Get ready for “Endgame” with superhero-themed cocktails, Hulk-sized Jenga and more. Then watch the flick on IMAX.
H.R. of Bad Brains: 9 p.m. at Ottobar. The frontman of the legendary D.C. punk band Bad Brains (and Baltimore resident) performs with guests The Upstarters and The Soularites.
808 Vol. 21: 9 p.m. at the Crown. The latest show from Station North Sadboi features DJs and performers like Infinity Knives + Randi, Jacob Marley and more.
Save Your Soul: 9 p.m. Lithuanian Hall. Phast Phreddie is in town from NYC to guest DJ at the monthly dance night featuring rare wax cuts.
Saturday, May 4
21st Annual Kinetic Sculpture Race: 10 a.m.-6 p.m., starts at American Visionary Art Museum. It’s time for the prismatic, pedal-powered, obstacle-filled race to take to the streets. Teams compete on handmade human-powered creations on land and water.
2019 Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival: May 4-5 at the Howard County Fairgrounds. Drive out I-70 for a weekend of shepherding demonstrations, fiber art workshops, vendors selling wool and yarn, and much more.
52nd Annual Towsontown Spring Festival: May 4-5 at downtown Towson. The weekend-long festival features 350 vendors selling crafts, jewelry, food and more, plus three stages of live music.
Baltimore Reads: Children’s Literacy Festival: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at Library Square Park, Patterson Park. Councilman Zeke Cohen and Councilwoman Shannon Sneed host the event featuring read-aloud, storytelling, games and crafts in English and Spanish.
Free Comic Book Day: 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m. at Atomic Books. 50+ titles will be available, plus a few surprises. Plus, 20 percent off all comics throughout the Falls Road store.
Holi Festival of Colors: 10:30 a.m. at Sweet 27/Wyman Park Dell. The second edition of the celebration features a color fight, a DJ spinning Indian dance hits and kid friendly activities.
The Baltimore Mixtape: May 4-5 at Station North. The first-ever event in Station North bringing together local musicians from across genres spans the Crown, the Windup Space, and the Ynot Lot. Headliners include War On Women, Super City, Soul Cannon and Raindeer.
Kentucky Derby Block Party: noon-10 p.m. at The Chasseur. The Canton party celebrates the run for the roses with food, drinks, music and more.
Star Wars Night: 5 p.m. at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. May the Fourth at the ballpark features a Star Wars BB-8 beanie giveaway, plus a pre-party.
Get on Up! 6 p.m. at A. Hoen Lithograph Building. Strong City Baltimore takes it back to the ’60s to celebrate 50 years with food, live music, dancing and more.
Street Dreams: 6-9 p.m. at Atlas Fine Arts. The opening reception for the exhibit bringing street art to a gallery setting features 17 artists’ work.
The Vigil: All-Night Music Festival: 6 p.m. May 4 -6 p.m. May 5 at MICA. The festival of sound art includes more than a dozen artists on two stages.
Star Struck Stillpointe Season 8 Gala: 7:30 p.m. at Wishbone Reserve. Dress up as your favorite star and partake in cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and dancing. Plus, vote on the local theater company’s next season.
Baltimore Bashment Dance Party: 9 p.m. at Motor House. DJ Footloose and DJ Shainight spin soca, dancehall and Afrobeat hits.
Fiesta De Mayo: 9 p.m.-midnight at Power Plant LIVE! Get a headstart on Cinco de Mayo music, contests, margaritas and plenty of tacos.
Sunday, May 5
Bike to Market Day: 7 a.m.-noon at the Baltimore Farmers’ Market & Bazaar. Cyclists are given extra perks at the market for National Bike Month, such as valet parking from Bikemore, giveaways and local bike shops selling accessories.
Pigtown Flea Market: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at Housewerks. Vendors sell antiques, vintage clothing and furniture, art, food, coffee and more.
Made In Maryland Festival 2019 at Kurtz’s Beach: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. The festival in Pasadena highlights all the best things being made in the Old Line State, from beer and wine to crafts to art. The event also includes live entertainment, children’s activities and demonstrations of the state sport–jousting.
Nature’s Calling – Family Fun Event: noon-4 p.m. at Genesee Valley Outdoor Learning Center. The day of outdoor activities at the 150-acre property includes fishing in the pond, golf lessons, a corn hole tournament, tie dying, a climbing tower, pony rides, a petting zoo, live music and more.
MD Food Trucks Foodie Bash: noon-4 p.m. at Baltimore Museum of Industry. Eight mobile munchie purveyors will be down by the water on a Sunday afternoon.
First Sunday Sip & Shop: noon-5 p.m. in Fells Point. Peruse the shops in the South Baltimore neighborhood while enjoying drinks along the way.
Highlandtown Wine Festival: 1-6 p.m. at DiPasquale’s. The Southeast Baltimore festival features wine from the neighborhood, music, crafts and more.
Weird Wine: 1-4 p.m. at Union Collective. Hosted by the Maryland Wineries Association and Baltimore magazine, the event presents a chance to sample 20 wine, cider and mead producers from here in Maryland.
Baltimore Piano Marathon: 2-6 p.m. at The Spire Series. Eight solo pianists from the DMV perform at the First & Franklin Presbyterian Church sanctuary.
Black Girl Magic: May 5-6 at Motor House. A night of all-female performers celebrates women in song dance, poetry and hip-hop.
Chimney Swifts at Dusk: 7:30-8:15 p.m. at Free State Bookbinders. The Baltimore Bird Club invites people to come out and see the unique birds who take up residence in an old factory chimney.
Upcoming:
- Maryland Film Festival rolls at the Parkway Theatre from May 8-12.
- Fells Point Jazz and Art Festival arrives with a larger footprint on May 11.
- More than 100 vendors set up shop for the Butchers Hill Flea Market & Craft Fair on May 11.
- Remfest is back in the neighborhood on May 11.
- The Preakness Stakes returns to Pimlico Race Course on May 18.
