With everything from ethnic foods and wine tastings to jazz concerts and live cultural music, Baltimore?s summer festivals are guaranteed to be hot.
The Polish Festival in Patterson Park today kicks off the Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts (BOPA) Showcase of Nations ethnic festivals. Twelve in all, the events bring traditions from around the world right into Baltimore?s backyard.
“The Showcase of Nations is just a great way to expose residents and visitors to various cultures, because you don?t just have to attend a festival of your own heritage,” said Tracy Baskerville, Communications Director at BOPA. “You can sample other cultures ? their food, music and crafts.”
Filled with samples of gourmet dishes, fine wines and beers from around the region, food and drink festivals are great ways to become a connoisseur without breaking the bank.
The 6th Annual Great Grapes! Wine, Arts and Food Festival takes place on June 21 and 22 and will feature more than 120 wines from 12 Maryland wineries.
“This is one of our most successful festivals, especially because of the hometown Baltimore flavor that permeates the event,” said Greg Nivens, president of Moorea Marketing, the show?s producer. “The two days provide a great atmosphere for attendees to enjoy a wide variety of wines for tasting.”
The Harbor East Arts and Music Festival on June 21 sees about 2,000 attendees every year gathered to peruse the more than 40 local artists displaying their wares for purchase.
“It?s a day for everyone, with plenty to do in one location,” said Mikey Monaghan, retail marketer for Struever Bros. Eccles & Rouse, Inc. “And new this year, many established and emerging artists will be taking their craft to the streets as we have our first street painting competition.”
The Columbia Festival of the Arts from June 13 to 28 includes a variety of regional, national and international performers in the areas of music, dance, art and literature.
“This year we have fewer acts than we?ve had in some prior years, but I?m thrilled the way everything finally fell into place with the dance, comedy, magic, children?s programming, literature and more,” said Nichole Hickey, Executive Director of the Festival.
Summer Festivals Schedule
- Through Sunday: Polish Festival, Patterson Park, Baltimore, Saturday and Sunday, noon to 10 p.m., 410-879-6336.
- Saturday and Sunday: Charles Village Celebration Weekend Festival, Wyman Park Dell, Baltimore, Sat. from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sun. from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., www.charlesvillage.net.
- June 5 to 8: Saint Nicholas Greek Folk Festival, 520 South Ponca Street, Baltimore, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., 410-633-5020.
- June 8: Jazz and Blues Festival, South Charles and Cross streets in Federal Hill, Baltimore. 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., 410-727-4500.
- June 13 to 28: Columbia Festival for the Arts, Columbia, prices and times, www.columbiafestival.com.
- June 14: Art in the Park and Strawberry Festival, Millard Cooper Park, Cooper Drive and Springfield Ave., Sykesville 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., 410-795-8959.
- June 14 to 15: HonFest, the Avenue, 36th Street in Hampden, Baltimore, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, 410-243-6800.
- June 21 to 22: Great Grapes! Wine, Arts and Food Festival, Oregon Ridge Park, Cockeysville, noon to 6 p.m., www.uncorkthefun.com.
- June 21 to 22: LatinoFest, Patterson Park, Baltimore, Saturday from noon to 10 p.m., Sunday from noon to 9 p.m., www.latinofest.org.
- June 27 to 29: African-American Heritage Festival, Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Baltimore. Friday from 1 to 10 p.m., Saturday from noon to 10 p.m., Sunday from noon to 8 p.m., 410-318-8286.
- July 10 to 13: Baltimore County 4H Fair, Maryland State Fairgrounds, 2200 York Road, Timonium, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, www.baltimorecounty4hfair.org.
- July 11 to 13: Caribbean Carnival Festival, Druid Hill Park, Baltimore. Friday from 5 to 10 p.m., Saturday and Sunday from noon to 9 p.m., 410-230-2969.
- July 18 to 20: Artscape, Mt. Royal Ave. and Cathedral St., Baltimore, noon to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, noon to 8 p.m. Sunday, 877-BALTIMORE.
- July 26 to Aug. 1: Carroll County 4-H and FFA Fair, 700 Agriculture Center, Westminster, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Wednesday and Thursday, 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Sunday, 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday, 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, 410-848-3247.
- July 31 to Aug. 3: Harford County Fair, Equestrian Center, 608 N. Tollgate Road, Bel Air, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, 410-838-8663.
- Aug. 2 to 3: International Festival, Poly/Western High School at Falls Road and West Coldspring Lane, Baltimore, noon to 9 p.m., 410-396-3141.
- Aug. 4 to 9: Howard County Fair, Howard County Fairgrounds, 2210 Fairground Road, West Friendship, 7 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Sunday and Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, 9 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, 410-442-1022.
- Aug. 9 to 10: Annual Havre de Grace Seafood Festival, Tydings Memorial Park, Havre dr Grace, Saturday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., 410-939-1525.
- Aug. 15: Paetec Jazz Festival, Pier Six Concert Pavilion, 731 Eastern Ave., Baltimore, 8 p.m., $39 to $125, www.paetecjazz.com.
- Aug. 22 to 24: PowWow Native American Festival, Patterson Park, Baltimore. Friday from 2 to 9 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., 410-675-3535.
- Aug. 22-Sept. 1: Maryland State Fair, Timonium Fairgrounds, 2200 York Road. Open 10 a.m. on weekends, noon on weekdays, 410-252-0200.
- Aug. 23-Oct. 19: Maryland Renaissance Festival, Crownsville Road in Anne Arundel County, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., 1-800-296-7304.
- Sept. 6 to 7: Ukranian Festival, Patterson Park, Baltimore, Saturday from noon to 10 p.m., Sunday from noon to 9 p.m., 410-687-3465.
- Sept. 12 to 16: Anne Arundel County Fair, Anne Arundel County Fairgrounds, 1450 General?s Highway, Crownsville, 4 to 11 p.m. Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Thursday, 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, 410-923-3400.
- Sept. 12 to 13: Irish Festival, Canton Waterfront Park, Canton, Friday from 6 to 9 p.m., Saturday from noon to 9 p.m., 410-292-3658.
- Sept. 13: Korean American Festival, War Memorial Plaza at Fayette and Gay streets, Baltimore, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., 410-625-2442.
- Sept. 21: Bel Air Festival for the Arts, Shamrock Park, Hickory Ave, Bel Air, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., www.belairfestival.com.
- Sept. 26 to 28: Baltimore Book Festival, Mount Vernon Place, 600 North Charles St., Baltimore, Friday from 5 to 9 p.m., Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., 410-752-8632.
- Oct. 17 to 19: Russian Festival, Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Church, 1723 East Fairmount Ave, Baltimore, Friday and Saturday from noon to 9 p.m., Sunday from noon to 6 p.m., 410-276-6171.
