Your roadmap to getting around a busy Baltimore this weekend

The Baltimore Book Festival is this weekend, and while it guarantees two days of literary excitement and wordy delight, we don’t want the street closures to cause writer’s block.

Not only that, we have Adam Sandler bringing the laughs to CFG Bank Arena on Saturday night, the Ravens home opener on Sunday, and lots more going on this lovely fall weekend in Charm City.

Never fear, Baltimore Fishbowl is here to give you the lowdown on how to make your way around the Waverly neighborhood and other parts of town where things might be hopping.

BALTIMORE BOOK FESTIVAL

The Baltimore Book Festival will be held in Waverly again this year.

The following roads were shut down Thursday evening and will remain closed until Monday at 6 a.m. for the Baltimore Book Festival:

• Brentwood Avenue between E. 31st Street and Merryman Lane
• East 31st Street between Greenmount Avenue and Barclay Street
• East 30th Street between Greenmount Avenue and Barclay Street
• East 32nd Street between Greenmount Avenue and Barclay Street

ADAM SANDLER AT CFG ARENA

The area around CFG Arena will also see changes, with Adam Sandler coming to perform on Saturday, so beginning at 8 p.m. on Saturday until 1 a.m. on Sunday, the following lane closures will be in effect:

• Howard Street left lane closure from Camden to Pratt Streets
• Lombard Street right lane closure from Hopkins Place to Howard Street
• Baltimore Street left lane closure from Howard Street to Park Avenue
• Pratt Street left lane closure from Eutaw to Howard Streets

STAR SPANGLED BANNER WEEKEND PARADE

There will be road closures and parking restrictions in effect on Friday from 5:30–8:30 p.m. for the Star Spangled Banner Weekend Parade:

• Fort Avenue closed between Hull Street and Fort McHenry
• Hull Street closed between Key Highway East and Fort Avenue

BALTIMORE FARMERS’ MARKET

On Sunday from approximately 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., there will be traffic modifications and parking restrictions in effect for the Baltimore Farmers’ Market, which is held under the Jones Falls Expressway along Saratoga Street between Holliday and Gay Streets.

• Holliday Street closed from East Pleasant Street to East Saratoga Street
• Pleasant Street closed at Holliday Street
• Hillen Street center lane closure between Front Street and Fallsway

BALTIMORE RAVENS’ HOME OPENING GAME AT M&T BANK STADIUM

In preparation for the Ravens’ home opener, the following road and lane closures will be implemented on Sunday starting at approximately 10 a.m.:

• The northbound Russell Street Service Drive, which runs alongside M&T Bank Stadium, will be closed between West and Hamburg Streets prior to and during the game.
• The Hamburg Street Bridge will be temporarily closed between Leaden Hall and Paca Streets for game ingress. Once the game begins, the closures will be removed until the start of the fourth quarter for egress.
• The Ostend Street Bridge will be temporarily closed between Sharp and Warner Streets for game ingress. Once the game begins, the closures will be removed until the start of the fourth quarter for egress.
• A special traffic pattern will be temporarily installed along Warner Street between the Ostend Street Bridge and Stockholm Street for ingress and railroad crossings.
• Special traffic patterns will be installed along Warner Street, Alluvion Street, Worcester Street, and Bayard Street for egress at the start of the fourth quarter.
• Hamburg Street closure between Hanover and Charles Streets for egress at the start of the fourth quarter.
• No southbound travel will be permitted along Hanover Street between Henrietta and Hamburg Streets at the start of the fourth quarter. All traffic will be diverted onto Henrietta Street for east or westbound travel.

Special traffic pattern along Warner Street: Due to construction, Warner Street is closed between Worcester and West Ostend Streets. To assist with gameday traffic, the city will implement a special traffic pattern along Warner Street for fans entering and leaving the stadium. On gamedays, a one-way ingress (northbound) and egress (southbound) lane will be implemented on Warner Street, along with a pedestrian walkway.

Football fans attending the game should be advised that all posted parking restrictions and residential permit parking regulations in the vicinity of the stadium will be strictly enforced. Fans choosing to drive to the stadium should park at commercial lots and avoid area neighborhoods. Those who do not have a parking permit for any of the stadium lots are strongly encouraged to use public transportation including the Charm City Circulator. 

OTHER MISCELLANEOUS CHANGES

On Saturday the following ramp, road, and lane closures will be implemented:

• Monroe Street exit ramp from northbound MD 295 closed 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. (cleaning activities and roadway repairs)
• Monroe Street eastbound access ramp to southbound MD 295 closed 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. (cleaning activities and roadway repairs)
• Mulberry Street closed between Eutaw and Howard Streets 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. (crane operation)
• Fayette Street closed between North Payson and North Pulaski Streets 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. (special event – Grace Community Day)
• Payson Street closed between North Pulaski Street and Fairmount Avenue 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. (special event – Grace Community Day)
• Charles Street lane closure between Northern Parkway and Wyndhurst Avenue 6 a.m. to 12 p.m. (special event – Little Sisters of the Poor 5K)
• Wyndhurst Avenue lane closure between North Charles Street and Roland Avenue 6 a.m. to 12 p.m. (special event – Little Sisters of the Poor)
• Roland Avenue lane closure between Wyndhurst Avenue and Northern Parkway 6 a.m. to 12 p.m. (special event – Little Sisters of the Poor)
• Northern Parkway lane closure between Roland Avenue and North Charles Street 6 a.m. to 12 p.m. (special event – Little Sisters of the Poor)

On Sunday, September 14, 2025, the following lane closures will be implemented:

• Jones Falls Expressway / I-83 northbound and southbound left lane closures Fayette Street to the city / county line 6:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (cleaning activities and roadway repairs)

As always, drivers should be on the lookout for changing traffic patterns and are encouraged to use alternate routes to avoid delays.