It’s the weekend between the holidays, and the celebrations keep rolling. Kwanzaa arrives in Charm City with a special celebration. Elsewhere, laugh off the Christmas spirit or dance your way into 2019.
Friday, Dec. 28
Live Music Trivia Night: 5-9 p.m. at Monument City Brewing. Think you know all the songs? Here’s a chance to put your knowledge to the test with a live band. Eat This Food Truck will be on hand.
Baltimore Bike Party: 6:30 p.m. at St. Mary’s Park. The party-prone peloton heads out on a winding ride through the city, toward to Suspended Brewing Company.
Be Free Fridays: 7-10 p.m. at Eubie Blake National Jazz Institute. The open mic features a diverse lineup of poets and musicians, including Chin-Yer Wright.
Parallel Heights: 7 p.m. at Ottobar. The pop-rock dance party includes special guests Taller Tales, GOAT, Space Nature and Paint and Yell.
Jah Works: 7:30 p.m. at Baltimore Soundstage. The roots reggae band from Baltimore plays downtown, with 9 Mile Roots and the Scotch Bonnets opening.
WWE Live Holiday Tour: 7:30 p.m. at Royal Farms Arena. Wrestling’s stars come through town to share the spirit of the holiday season. AJ Styles and Daniel Bryan are slated to face off in a cage match.
Wrapping it Up: A Countdown Cabaret: Dec. 28 and 29 at Spotlighters Theatre. The theater community bands together to perform classics and raise money for costume library The House of Bankerd.
Dennis Chambers Band: Dec. 28 and 29 at An Die Musik. The well-known drummer from Baltimore is back in town for a rare series of sets. He’s performed with the likes of Santana, Parliament-Funkadelic, George Duke and others.
Tom Petty Tribute: 8 p.m. at the 8×10. Musicians come together to perform the music of the late rock singer and frontman for the Heartbreakers.
Jacober: 8 p.m. at the Metro Gallery. The former Dope Body drummer puts out a new tape of solo music. Naeem, Infinity Knives and Randi, and DJ Delish open.
2nd Annual Butch Dawson & Friends: 8 p.m. at the Windup Space. The local rapper performs with friends such as Kente, Al Rogers Jr., Black Zheep DZ and Buffa7o.
Saturday, Dec. 29
Kwanzaa Pop Up Shop: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. at the Bloom Collective. The day includes “entrepreneurs and business owners and honor cooperative economics for community sustainability,” music and refreshments.
Kwanzaa Celebration 2018: noon-4 p.m. at Reginald F. Lewis Museum. The celebration of African heritage at the downtown cultural center features African dance, drumming, workshops and a fashion show.
Third Annual Wing Festival: noon-4 p.m. at Delia Foley’s. It’s the Battle of the Birdland in Federal Hill. Competitions put eaters to the test in categories like speed, heat tolerance and making a sauce of your own.
Short Film Slam Round V Finals: 6:30 p.m. at Motor House. Madlab Post features a dozen short films from international directors.
Free screening of rare ’80s video: 6:30-8 p.m. at Bmore Righteous. The Mid-Atlantic Regional Moving Image Archive shows footage from “City Line,” a former WJZ-TV segment dedicated to African-American culture.
Eze Jackson’s 4th Annual Dirty Christmas: 7 p.m. at Metro Gallery. Unwind and have a laugh at the insanity of the season. Music from Locus, Omnia Azar, Eze Jackson and the Backwudz Band and more.
The Wine, Anime and Onesie Party: 7 p.m. at HiScore. The Happy Hour for Gamers shifts from Wednesday to Saturday for a special party to close out the year.
State Property Now or Never Tour: 7 p.m. at Baltimore Soundstage. The hip-hop show features Beanie Sigel, Freeway Chris and Neef, Peedi Crakk, Omillo Sparks and Lil Flip.
Lovenotes: 9 p.m. at The Elephant. Moonbeam Jones, one half of San Francisco dance legends Dubtribe Sound System, performs in Mount Vernon.
Goodbye 2018 Party: 10 p.m. at The Crown. Send 2018 into the history books with a dance party featuring some of the year’s prime cuts.
Sunday, Dec. 30
Post Xmas Party: 2 p.m. at Baltimore Tattoo Museum. Head to Fells Point for music from Lazlo Lee and the Motherless Children, Distinguished Gentlemen and more. Plus, beer from Union Craft Brewing.
Mt. Vernon Foodie Exploration: 2-6 p.m. at Maryland Historical Society. Bite of Baltimore and Mixolo team up for a tour including Cazbar, Hotel Revival’s Topside and the Elephant.
Haiti Indepdenence Day: 3:30-5:30 p.m. at Komite Ayiti. Celebrate the liberation of Haiti with a menu of soup joumou.
Baltimore Ravens v. Cleveland Browns: 4:25 p.m. at M&T Bank Stadium. The Ravens close out the season with a division matchup, seeking a division title.
Maryland SPCA Bakesale: 6-9:30 p.m. at 34th Street. The doghouse will be out among the lights at the Miracle on 34th Street offering treats for the human set to benefit homeless pets.
Black Composers Forum VI: 6-9 p.m. at An Die Musik. Celebrate the music of Kwanzaa with a five-piece band performing James Mtume’s “Kawaida.”
A Very Punk New Year’s Eve Eve!: 7-10 p.m. at The Depot. The festivities begin with Go On Red, Swamp City Rockers, Wolf In Sheeps Clothing, The Wilds, The Neckbeards and I remain a psychotic killer.
The Feelies: 8 p.m. at Ottobar. The indie band behind “Crazy Rhythms” brings its sound to Charles Village.
Upcoming:
- Looking ahead to 2019, the Harbor Point Ice Festival is Jan. 12.
- Dan Deacon joins the BSO on Jan. 17 for BSO Pulse.
- Pratt Contemporaries brings Studio 54 to the Assembly Room for The Black and White Party on Jan. 19.
- The Baltimore Women’s March takes to the streets on Jan. 19.
- Local luminaries gather for An Afternoon of Artistic Excellence on Jan. 26 at the Walters Art Museum.
