On Black Friday and Small Business Saturday, there are plenty of ways to shop without going to the mall in the suburbs. From pop-up shops to Main Street celebrations to breweries, grab free food and drink while the season is young. Or, get out on a hike and catch some new music. Enjoy:
Friday, Nov. 23
“The Polar Express“: Nov. 23-25 at B&O Railroad Museum. Journey to the North Pole as characters from the classic children’s book come to life aboard a train, and head to see the big guy.
Festival of Trees: Nov. 23-25 at Maryland State Fairgrounds. Check out hundreds of decorated trees, gingerbread towns and plenty of gifts along the way. The winter wonderland benefits the people served by Kennedy Krieger Institute.
Holiday Pet & Family Portraits: Nov. 23-25 at the Canton Ace Hardware. Get a picture taken with your loved ones of the furry and human kind.
Shop Black Pop-up Shop: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at Open Works. Support black makers and entrepreneurs at the Station North makerspace’s answer to the holiday bustle.
6th Annual Black Friday Walk/Hike: 9 a.m. at Rawlings Conservatory. Arise from your food coma and take to the hills of Druid Hill Park to walk it off. The five-mile loop traverses the park’s back hills and Jones Falls Trail.
Black Friday Bike Ride: 10 a.m. at Gwynns Falls Leakin Park. Head out on the streets with the option for a 5.6-mile ride or 21-mile ride.
Black Friday Block Party: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at Harbor East. Get the shopping started with mimosas and bloody marys, live music and family-friendly activities.
Holiday Train Garden: Through Jan. 4 at The Shops at Kenilworth. Model trains and characters zoom by while you shop.
Black Friday//Celebration: noon-11 p.m. at Diamondback Brewing. Here’s an excuse to skip out on shopping as the Locust Point brewery hosts a full day of music, oysters, pizza and new beer.
Bazaart Holiday Art Market: Nov. 23-24 at American Visionary Art Museum. Check out the creative gift options from local artists and crafters.
Epoch Rye Release: noon-8 p.m. at Baltimore Spirits Company. The Union Collective distillery has one last drop of the rye whiskey this year.
Symphony of Lights: Through Dec. 30 at Merriweather Post Pavilion. Drive the one-mile course through Symphony Woods to see more than 100 light displays from Wednesday-Sunday. Ticket sales benefit Howard County General Hospital.
Ice Skating: Nov. 23-Jan. 9, 2017, at The Four Seasons. Harbor views and ice skating, the new holiday combo. The fifth floor of the Harbor East hotel goes frozen, but cocoa, cider and chestnuts will be on offer for a warm-up.
Black Friday Hike and Beer Tasting Fundraiser: 2 p.m. at Oliver Brewing Company. Friends of Herring Run Park hosts the benefit event heading off the beaten path and winding toward the brewery’s taproom.
Tiger vs. Phil at The Famous: 3-9 p.m. at Jimmy’s Famous Seafood. The restaurant orders the pay-per-view match between Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson so you don’t have to. Enjoy specials on drinks, oysters, burgers and tacos.
Chris Wilcox: 7 p.m. at the 8×10. The singer-songwriter and Baltimore native returns home. The Pips and Little Stranger open.
Greg Schatz and the Seth Kibel Quintet: 8 p.m. at Creative Alliance. Schatz is a New Orleans songwriter with a combo of Crescent City all-stars in tow. Kibel brings woodwind specialties with Flo Anito guesting on vocals. The quintet is releasing a new album called “When You’re Smiling.”
The Pumpkin Spice Social: 9 p.m. at The Windup Space. MC Twisty hosts a dance night of UK Groove with Charles Feelgood, DJ LoveGrove and Chris Brooks.
Saturday, Nov. 24
21st Annual Christkindlmarkt at Zion: Nov. 24-25 at Zion Church. The German market features imports, vendors, a train garden and food and drinks.
Miracle on 34th Street: Nov. 24-Jan. 1 at 34th St. The lights go up on Baltimore’s brightest block.
Record Store Day: at various locations. Hey, in addition to Small Business Saturday, it’s also Record Store Day. Stop by your favorite shop to buy special releases and anything else that might be missing from your collection. Baltimore favorites Crack the Sky are stopping by Sound Garden in Fells Point for a signing and acoustic performance.
Small Business Saturday: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at Pigtown Main Street. Stroll through neighborhood shops and restaurants for special deals. Those who collect a passport at the Pigtown Main Street office and fill it out with stamps receive a special gift.
Small Business Saturday Sell-A-Bration: 11 a.m.-7 p.m. in Fells Point. Support local businesses for gifting needs with free coffee and cocoa, a holiday atmosphere and a retail passport game. More than 45 businesses will be open.
19th Annual Oyster Fest: 11 a.m.-6 p.m. at Kooper’s Tavern. The Fells Point spot has more than two dozen kinds of oysters, live music and more.
The Youth Business Marketplace: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at The Startup Nest. The event gives young makers a chance to show what they’ve been creating in fashion, home decor, tech and more.
Small Business Saturday Pop-up Party: 11 a.m. at Get Shredded Vintage. Shop goods from Amanda Glasser Vintage and Handmade, Alecia Thomasson and more. Plus, tarot readings from Keenon Brice, music from DJ Elon and snacks.
Libations & Creations: noon-5 p.m. at Monument City Brewing. The makers market features food, jewelry, illustrations and woodwork. Plus, drink while you shop.
Pigeons Playing Ping Pong: Nov. 23-24 at Rams Head Live. The funk band from Baltimore has a two-night stand at the Inner Harbor in the midst of a fall 2018 tour.
“Jim Burger: A Charmed Life” (Closing Reception): 5-7 p.m. at the Creative Alliance. The exhibit of pictures from the former City Paper and Evening Sun photographer closes out with a celebration.
Black Saturday: Soul Cannon album release celebration: 6 p.m.-midnight at The Compound. The hip-hop fusion act celebrates its latest release with a special post-holiday performance.
A Holiday Concert with the Voices of ViVA Trio: 7:30 p.m. at the Hippodrome. The Canadian soprano trio performs seasonal favorites, plus pop and jazz classics.
3rd Annual Nerdsgiving: 8 p.m.-1:30 a.m. at Mex. Head to Power Plant Live! for a night of cosplay, karaoke and themed drinks. VIP packages include a Thanksgiving buffet and drink.
Dance Your Brass Off!: 8 p.m. at Motor House. D.C.’s Black Masala and Baltimore’s Orchester Praževica grace the stage in Station North for a mix of Eastern European and big band sounds.
Pescatore Record Release Show: 8 p.m. at The Windup Space. The local band led by singer Adam Fisher releases “Thank Gods America.” Duos Liz Downing and Hanna Olivegren and Nick and Luke also join the bill.
DEEP SUGAR Thanksgiving Weekend “revival”: 10 p.m.-5 a.m. at Factory 17. Work off those calories on the dance floor as DJs Ultra Naté and Lisa Moody keep the party moving well into the morning.
Sunday, Nov. 25
The World’s Greatest Tailgate: 9 a.m. at Hammerjacks. Linebacker Jarret Johnson will be on hand at the future home of the bar and venue before the Ravens taken on the Raiders. Plus, a KISS cover band, food and plenty of drinks.
Baltimore Ravens vs. Oakland Raiders: 1 p.m. at M&T Bank Stadium. The Ravens host Black and Silver in an AFC clash with playoff implications.
Pioneers: Dorthy Davenport: 4 p.m. at SNF Parkway. The women filmmakers series screens “Linda,” Dorothy Davenport’s 1929 film exploring the constraints of a patriarchal society.
Dry Branch Fire Squad: 4:30-6:30 p.m. at Bnai Israel. Creative Alliance books the special show called Bluegrass on the Bimah, featuring Dry Branch’s combo of old-time music and comedy.
Tea Dance: 4-8 p.m. at Lord Baltimore Hotel. The free event heads inside, and features a Crush Bar, happy hour specials and more.
Jacquees: 7 p.m. at Rams Head Live. The hip-hop star behind “B.E.D.” plays the Inner Harbor.
Straight No Chaser: 7:30 p.m. at Modell Lyric. The a capella group had an original viral sensation with “The 12 Days of Christmas.” Now they’re bringing a full slate of Christmas hits to Midtown.
Reel Big Fish: 8 p.m. at Baltimore Soundstage. The ’90s ska punk heroes are still putting out new songs. With Ballyhoo! and We are the Union.
Upcoming:
- Amy Schumer brings laughs to the Hippodrome on Nov. 30.
- The Patterson Park 5K and Homebrew Contest trots out on Dec. 1.
- The next day, the Pagoda Lighting illuminates Hampstead Hill.
- In Hampden, make way for the Mayor’s Annual Christmas Parade on Dec. 2.
- The annual Monument Lighting welcomes the holiday season on Dec. 6.
