Join the fun November 8-10, 2024, when the Maryland Irish Festival returns to the Timonium Fairgrounds to celebrate 50 years! Rock out to contemporary Irish music or tap your toes to traditional tunes while watching an authentic Irish dance troupe take the stage. Enjoy delicious Irish food & drink, (yes we have colcannon, Irish Stew, Guinness & Tullamore Dew), soak in the cultural exhibits, browse beautiful gifts from dozens of regional vendors, and check out the children’s activities area, too.

• Friday Night Happy Hour 6-8pm with $5 Beer and live music from Kilmaine Saints
• Saturday Night Irish Ceili at 7:45pm led by Eammon De Cogian (Audience Participation Social Dance)
• Sunday Mass at 10:30am led by Fr. Collin Poston and Fr. Leo Patalinghug
• Saturday and Sunday Whiskey Tastings

Live music includes Kilmaine Saints, Albannach, Piper Jones Band, Syr, Dublin 5, The ShamRogues, Brendan’s Voyage, Poehemia, Diddley Idols, and more!

Proceeds benefit the Irish Charities of Maryland. Kids and Active Military get in FREE. For details, event schedule, and tickets visit www.irishfestival.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

The ‘John Waters: Pope of Trash’ exhibit may have ended in Los Angeles, but part of it lives on in the form of a new line of fashion, gifts and other merchandise similar to what visitors could purchase at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures.

Waters is also dropping a new single with a canine-theme, displaying his visual art in San Francisco, and releasing the details of his coast-to-coast Christmas tour that starts Dec. 1.

The fashion line is a collaboration of Waters, visual artist and musician Seth Bogart and online retail store wackywacko.com. It features a mélange of “filthy’ references to Waters’ highbrow/underground aesthetic and Bogart’s distinctive etchings, including long- and short-sleeve tee shirts; crewnecks, hats, buttons, enamel pins, backpacks, tote bags, bathmats, hand towels and, of course, the popular ‘He’ll Make You Sick!’ barf bags.

Bogart and Waters first met eight years ago at Mosswood Meltdown, a punk music festival that Waters hosts every year and where Bogart performs with his band, Hunx & His Punks. Waters is known for films such as Pink Flamingos, Hairspray and Serial Mom. Bogart has shown his artwork at the Jeffrey Deitch Gallery; MoCA; the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit and the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, among others. They joined forces in 2023 to create a collection of merchandise for sale in the pop-up gift shop at the Academy Museum, and many of the items repeatedly sold out during the 11-month run of the ‘Pope of Trash’ exhibit, which closed in August.

“I don’t know whether to call the line “norm-core for nutcases” or “hate-couture,” but Seth has captured my smutty sartorial splendor and given a whole new meaning to the term ‘rag trade,’ ” Waters said in announcing the collaboration.  

Wacky Wacko is Bogart’s art and fashion store, which features an array of products in a camp-meets-punk style. The new John Waters line goes on sale Oct. 23 at 9 a.m. Pacific Standard Time at www.wackywacko.com. The collaborators say that a “select line” of retail partners will be announced soon.

The Singing Dogs

On Nov. 8, Waters and Sub Pop will release a Christmas single entitled ‘Jingle Bells/It’s a Punk Rock Christmas.’

The A-side features a ‘howling’ parody version of The Singing Dogs’ iconic “Jingle Bells” single, with Waters covering the song. The B-side, ‘It’s a Punk Rock Christmas,’ is a raunchy, spoken-word yarn about the lack of the punk rock spirit during the Christmas holidays.

The single was produced by Grammy-winner Ian Brennan, who produced Waters’ three previous singles. “In producing John’s annual Christmas tour for over 20 years, it seemed almost negligent that he didn’t have a Christmas record,” Brennan said.  “Everyone from U2 to Justin Bieber to William Shatner to Bob Dylan does, and John’s wit couldn’t be a more fitting cheer for the annual holiday music canon.”

The cost is $9, and Sub Pop is taking pre-orders at Sub Pop Mega Mart. Arf! Arf! Arf!

‘Worst of Waters’

“John Waters: The Worst of Waters,” is an exhibit of Waters’ visual art work that opened in September at the Rena Bransten Gallery, 1275 Minnesota St. in San Francisco, and runs through Nov. 16. The subtitle is: “Works never before exhibited in San Francisco: the rudest, the hardest to sell, the just plain wrong.” Waters had a show with a similar theme at C. Grimaldis Gallery in Baltimore in 2022.

Tour dates

Tour dates for Waters’ Christmas shows are: Dec. 1: The Rio Theatre in Santa  Cruz, Ca.; the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco, Ca.; Dec. 3 and 4 at the Neptune Theatre in Seattle, Wash.; Dec. 5 and 6 at the Aladdin Theatre in Portland, Ore.; Dec. 7 at the El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood, Ca.; and Dec. 8 and 9 at Lou Lou’s Jungle Room in San Diego, Ca.

Also, Dec. 13 and 14 at Ludlow Garage in Cincinnati, Oh.; Dec. 15 at the City Winery in New York; Dec. 17 at Union Transfer in Philadelphia, Pa.; Dec. 18 at Birchmere Music Hall in Alexandria, Va. and Dec. 19 at Baltimore Soundstage in Baltimore, Md.

Waters also has a pre-holiday performance of his “Naked Truth” show on Nov. 2 at The Parkway in Minneapolis.

It was all hands on deck at Maryland Public Television studios on a sunny Saturday afternoon in October, with staff and volunteers ready to handle the flow of hundreds of guests bringing their treasured artifacts for appraisal for the taping of the 12th season of MPT’s “Chesapeake Collectibles.”

After all, it’s not every day one sees armor from the 17^th century, or telegrams signed and sent by President Theodore Roosevelt.

“Chesapeake Collectibles” is an MPT program similar to “Antiques Roadshow” but for Marylanders. The guests and appraisers are Maryland-based, and many of the items are either Maryland-themed or of Maryland origin. The tapings take place over a two-day period, so over the course of the weekend the “Chesapeake Collectibles” team expected to see around 450 guests come through with around 1,500 items for appraisal. Each ticket holder was permitted to bring one guest, and each person could bring three items for appraisal.

While each item likely holds incalculable sentimental value for its owner, very few people learn their possessions hold life-changing monetary value. Patrick Keegan, executive producer for MPT and “Chesapeake Collectibles,” determines which people and pieces get filmed and ultimately which make it into an episode of the show. Keegan told Baltimore Fishbowl that over the course of the weekend, appraisers saw two items that were each worth in the vicinity of $250,000.

“They are both remarkable items of historical interest,” wrote Tom Williams, MPT’s senior managing director of communications. Naturally, they would not reveal what the items were — we will have to watch the series to find out.

When a guest arrives, they check in with an appraiser who takes a quick look at their item to determine into which category their items fall, like jewelry; pottery, porcelain, and glass; toys and amusements; generalist; drawings and paintings; furniture and decorative arts; rugs; books and manuscripts; memorabilia and ephemera; and more. The guest receives a ticket for that category, then sits in a waiting area until it’s time for the next group to enter the appraisal area.

The appraisal area is where the magic happens. Tables line the perimeter of the room with appraisers sitting in front of large banners announcing their categories of expertise. Guests find their tables, and (usually) must wait in line to learn about the item(s) they’ve brought in.

Marilyn brought her grandmother’s engagement ring to get assessed, but this was not her first time attending a “Chesapeake Collectibles” event. She’d come at least once before pre-COVID, before MPT had renovated their Owings Mills studios to be large enough to accommodate the show’s tapings. They’d held the tapings at Turf Valley before renovations.

John brought the aforementioned telegrams from President Theodore Roosevelt. His great-grandfather was head of the telegram office in St. Thomas, and Roosevelt sent the telegrams in 1906. There were some of personal nature and others that were on matters of official government business.

Other items of note included the upper portion of a suit of armor Keegan surmised was from the 17^th century, likely from the English Civil Wars. The Royalists loyal to King Charles I were known as the Cavaliers, and the Parliamentarians loyal to the Westminster Parliament were known as the Roundheads. They fought in the first major battle on English soil in October 1642. This piece of armor appears to have belonged to a member of the Roundheads.

Another gentleman brought in Tom Clancy memorabilia, but the items were not the only things of interest to Keegan.

“The people who own the items we see are often just as interesting as the items themselves,” Keegan wrote in an email to Fishbowl. “One such example was a collection of correspondence, first editions, and movie memorabilia related to Baltimore native, Tom Clancy.”

Keegan continued, “Clancy’s novels are acclaimed for their technical accuracy, and among Clancy’s technical advisors was Craig, a physician from Calvert County in southern Maryland. Craig discussed his collection of Clancy memorabilia with Chesapeake Collectibles’ books and manuscripts appraiser, Allan Stypeck, who coincidentally handled Tom Clancy’s estate following his death in 2013.”

Around 5% of the items get filmed for segments, though not all segments filmed make the final cut of episodes for the season. And as on “Antiques Roadshow,” when a person and their item is chosen for filming, they aren’t told what the value of their possession is until the filming itself. Their reactions that television audiences see in the episodes are completely real and genuine. They are watching the people on the show truly learn about the value for the first time.

After a guest has received their appraisal, whether they were filmed or not, they are invited to answer questions on camera about their experience. This takes place in the Testimonial Studio in Studio B, which is in the original part of MPT studios. Guests are asked about their experience from start to finish about the show, and they have the chance to talk about what they enjoyed or didn’t enjoy about the process.

“Studio B mostly is used as our on-air fundraising or pledge set,” said Ethan Staple, assistant producer at MPT. “So, four times a year, we have our on-air fundraising drives, where we raise money for the station. On the right is our phones and our computers, where our volunteers sit, and then we have the actual pledge set, where our talent stands.”

Studio B is also where they film “MPT and Your Community” and “MPT Arts Minute.” They also bring in people for interviews. They had a project called “The Maryland Oral History Project” where famous Marylanders were interviewed, sometimes by other famous Marylanders. Staple is especially proud of getting former Senator Barbara Mikulski to be interviewed for the project in 2023.

Incidentally, these are all areas visitors can see on tours offered by MPT for individuals and groups. Studio B, the sets, control rooms, and more are available free of charge with proper advanced notice and arrangement, though donations are appreciated. On MPT’s website, click on “Community” and find the “Station Tours” section for more information.

As for Chesapeake Collectibles, Patrick Keegan and his team have their work cut out for them. They must now cull approximately 80 segments they filmed down to around 40, and from that, piece the remaining together into 13 fluid episodes that make it onto our TVs and streaming devices for audiences to enjoy.

While taping for Season 12 of Chesapeake Collectibles is over, there is always next year! Keep current on news of when Season 12 will premiere, and when taping will take place for Season 13 on MPT’s Chesapeake Collectibles page by clicking this link.

Pride of Baltimore II will host a festival celebrating the lives of sailors and the art of tattooing on Saturday from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Fells Point Broadway Pier.

Sailabration: Sailing Traditions in Ink explores and explains the connection between sailing on the high seas and tattoos. This inaugural event is free and family-friendly.

“Learn about sailors and life at sea as the festival highlights the history and art of tattooing, presented by the Baltimore Tattoo Museum or experience ‘hand poke tattooing’ with a live demonstration aboard the ship,” reads the press release. March along to performances by the Fort McHenry Fife and Drum Corps, and enjoy The Marching Elite and Ship’s Company Chanteymen, who will provide nautical music from the 1700s and 1800s.

Drink grog, sample “hardtack,” and partake of other activities that will give you a taste of what life on the high seas was like in the 18^th and 19^th centuries.

The Pride of Baltimore II is a historically evocative reproduction of one of the most famous War of 1812 privateers, Chasseur. A privateer is a private ship or vessel that is engaged in maritime warfare, commissioned by a government. Pride of Baltimore II (and Pride of Baltimore I before her) has provided more than four decades of education and fostered economic development and tourism in Maryland.

The Fells Point Broadway Pier is located at 920 S. Broadway, Baltimore, MD. For more information about this Sailabration event, click this link.

MCB Real Estate, Midtown Baltimore, and Bloom Arts Strategy have partnered to launch the Fitzgerald Activation, which will transform the unoccupied retail space at The Fitzgerald into a creative hub and economic engine for Baltimore this fall.

From October to December 2024, local artists and cultural organizers will offer a diverse lineup of arts-based events and activities at The Fitzgerald, located at 1201 W. Mt. Royal Ave. The Fall 2024 Artistic Partners include Wordsmith and Rise with a Purpose, Ernest Shaw, Kelly L. Walker, M.A.G.I.C. Center of the Arts, Birch & Pen, Oh to Dream, The Stylette, and Good Quemistry.

The Fitzgerald Activation provides artists and makers with access to the space and resources for free. They may use the space to rehearse, perform, create, and connect with the community. Some groups are offering recurring events, and some are offering one-time-only experiences. Genres include music, dance, theater, spoken word, fashion, film, visual art, and more.

“As a community-focused developer and investment firm, we know how arts, entertainment, and culture enhance the health and vibrancy of a city. In Baltimore specifically, we’re excited to elevate The Fitzgerald with these offerings and take pride in shaping places that serve as strong foundations for thriving communities,” said Louis J. Kousouris III, Managing Director of MCB Real Estate.

The Fitzgerald Apartments, in Baltimore’s Mount Vernon neighborhood, are steps from Penn Station and the Light Rail, offering easy access for artists and public spectators in the Station North Arts District. The idea to offer artists free access to unused retail space was conceived in August 2023, with plans taking shape in early 2024. Nearly 50 local creatives submitted proposals to the open RFP issued in spring 2024. Of the applicants, 42% were small businesses and 63% of those businesses were led by BIPOC women.

“In addition to providing opportunities for artists to engage the community with their work, the Fitzgerald Activation offers Baltimore’s creative entrepreneurs a unique, low-risk opportunity to test ideas as a proof of concept, build their audience base, and fine tune their business models,” reads the press release.

“We know that artists lack access to affordable, clean, safe space to pursue their creative endeavors, and when you remove barriers to that access, not only will the artists benefit, but the communities in which they work will benefit, as well,” said Stacy Handler, CEO & founder of Bloom Arts Strategy. “This space will now be filled with music, dance, theater, creative commerce, and more. I am grateful to MCB and Midtown for being such supportive partners in this endeavor and collaborating with us to bring this idea to life to serve Baltimore’s artistic community.”

Some of the events and classes are closed to the public, like most rehearsals for certain performances, and the MICA Mural Class with Ernest Shaw. Some groups, however, offer the occasional “open” rehearsal wherein the public is invited to watch. There will be rehearsals and performances by M.A.G.I.C. Center of the Arts, a Sip, Swap, & Shoot event hosted by The Stylette, and an art exhibition featuring works by Kelly L. Walker.

Wordsmith, the BSO Artist in Residence, will be holding workshops and rehearsals for the youth artists in his organization, Rise with a Purpose, as well as performances and events for his own band and work. Most rehearsals will be closed, but several are open to the public. The Fitzgerald Activation will also offer a holiday market curated and hosted by Birch & Pen, and a bi-monthly immersive storytelling event series called Zora’s Room celebrating Black culture, womanhood, and queer identity hosted by Good Quemistry.

For a full listing of The Fitzgerald Activation’s Fall 2024 groups, activities, and events, along with public viewing, attendance, and ticketing information, click this link.

Editor’s note: This article has been updated to correct the spelling of Stacy Handler’s name.

As if walking through the galleries of the National Aquarium wasn’t dream-like enough, imagine doing it in the evening, with original music inspired by ecosystem feedback loops performed live and echoing throughout.

Baltimoreans will have that opportunity during the sixth installation of Voyages, the National Aquarium’s adults-only event series where conservation, science, and art converge in a completely original experience.

On Thursday, Nov. 21, attendees will be immersed in this sonic journey courtesy of Baltimore-based recording artist, composer, and performer Dan Deacon. His original musical composition will be performed by a collective of Baltimore musicians, whose soundscape will flow throughout the Aquarium’s galleries.

Deacon was inspired by research at the Aquarium and insight from Patuxent Riverkeeper, Fred Tutman to create a piece based upon the concept of feedback loops. The term “feedback loop” refers to how natural systems react to environmental changes and how these same systems undergo exponential transformation.

He envisions guests interacting and engaging with the musicians, thereby influencing the music and helping shape the dynamic soundscape that evolves from their interactions. Deacon imagines this echoing the intricate balance found within different ecosystems.

“I hope voyagers leave (this upcoming chapter) feeling a greater connection to and role in the feedback loops they are a part of—their actual ecosystem, those around them, and within themselves,” Deacon said. “My favorite part about interaction is that even by choosing not to participate, you’ve interacted with the work that’s asking you to participate. That’s been an aspect of my performance practice for many years now, but I think this performance will expand upon it in ways I’ve never done before.”

He added, “I’m hoping the performance, and the audience’s role in it, will help highlight the endless fractalizing of the connectivity we all have with everything around us.”

After exploring the Aquarium’s exhibits, guests are invited to end their night with fellow voyagers at an exclusive after-party featuring an intimate performance by Deacon. The evening will also include a curated bar menu crafted by Cane Collective, alongside delicious offerings from local eateries, including Ekiben, Arepi, Sistah’s Sweets, and Crust by Mack. 

Voyages: Chapter 6 takes place on Nov. 21, from 7 p.m. – 11 p.m. This event is for guests 21 years of age or older. Tickets cost $60. To learn more about the experience, and purchase tickets, click this link.

 The Aquarium is located at 501 E. Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD.

Christmas Village in Baltimore, the German-style holiday market that draws crowds to the west shore of the Inner Harbor, is returning next month.

“Christmas Village in Baltimore will be back at the Inner Harbor from Nov. 23 to Dec. 24, 2024!” organizers announced on Instagram and Facebook. “Who’s ready for the most magical time of the year in Baltimore?”

According to the event’s organizers, German American Marketing Inc., the market will feature more than 60 local and international vendors, including Kaethe Wohlfahrt, a well-known source of handcrafted ornaments and gifts.

Returning food favorites include Bratwurst and vegan Brat, Raclette cheese, schnitzel, latkes, bacon on a stick and crepes. There will be imported German Gluhwein (mulled wine) with new flavors and themed weekends with live performances, family-friendly activities and appearances by Gingy the Gingerbread Man.

Nov. 23 and 24 will be Preview Weekend, and the market will be closed on Mondays and Tuesdays except for Dec. 23 and 24, and on Nov. 27. It will be open on Thanksgiving (Nov. 28) and Christmas Eve from noon to 5 p.m. Non-holiday hours will be from noon to 8 p.m. Sunday to Thursday and from noon to 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. All-day visitor parking will be available for $15 at the Harbor Court Garage, 30 E. Lee St.

In 2019, Baltimore’s Board of Estimates approved a license agreement that gave German American Marketing the right that year to use a portion of West Shore Park, the city-owned property between the Baltimore Visitor Center at 401 Light Street and the Maryland Science Center. The 2019 agreement gave the organizers an option to renew the license five times.

The market wasn’t held in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but it returned in 2021, 2022 and 2023. On August 21, the Board of Estimates approved the fourth renewal of the license, which starts Nov. 11 for set-up and ends Dec. 31. It requires German American Marketing to pay the city $41,500.00, including $14,000 for an electrical services fee, $15,000 for a security deposit and $12,500 for a license fee, and to complete “breakdown and clean-up after the Event” no later than Dec. 31. That’s when crowds will gather for the next big event at the harbor – Baltimore’s New Year’s Eve celebration.

More information about Christmas Village in Baltimore is available at baltimore-christmas.com and on Facebook, TikTok and Instagram, @bmorechristmas.

There’s an autumnal chill in the air, but Baltimore is hot with events to attend this weekend.

From the return of the Baltimore Speakers Series, to concerts by the band Hanson, there’s plenty in store.

Check it all out in our weekend events roundup:

Grow Session, Thursday, Oct. 10, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Waverly Commons. Get free mulch, free trees, and resources and information about gardening, greening, recycling and growing.

Dining Out For Life, Thursday, Oct. 10, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Silver Queen Cafe. Help raise money for Moveable Feast, which serves people experiencing food insecurity and chronic illness.

Artists-in-Residence, Thursday, Oct. 10, 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., virtual. Ainsley Burrows and Vonne Napper, the 2024 JJC Summer Artists-in-Residence at MICA, will discuss their work from the residency. The conversation will be livestreamed on the Baltimore Museum of Art’s Facebook and YouTube pages.

Dan Schøener, Thursday, Oct. 10, 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., Harbor East Cinemas. Mentalist and mindreader Dan Schøener will get inside your head during “Mind Over Magic.”

Liz Cheney, Thursday, Oct. 10, 8 p.m., Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall. Former U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyoming) will kick off the 2024/2025 season of the Baltimore Speakers Series. Cheney chaired the House Republican Conference and served as Vice Chair of the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol. She has campaigned in support of Vice President Kamala Harris’s run for president.

Pokémon Sleepover, Friday, Oct. 11, 5:30 p.m. (overnight into Saturday, Oct. 12), Maryland Science Center. Do you want to be the very best like no one ever was? Are you on a mission to catch ’em all? Put your knowledge of Pokémon evolutions to the test; make a trading card; battle and trade Pokémon; and then sleep overnight at the Science Center alongside fellow Pokémasters. This event is for children age 5 and older. All children must be accompanied by an adult.

Kidz Bop Live, Friday, Oct. 11, 7 p.m., Pier Six Pavilion. Listen to Kidz Bop versions of pop songs in this live show.

Hanson, Friday, Oct. 11, and Saturday, Oct. 12, Rams Head Live. Enjoy a two-night appearance by the band Hanson as part of their “Underneath: Experience Tour.” The first night will be an acoustic show featuring special guest Matthew Sweet. Then on night two, enjoy an electric show featuring special guest Phantom Planet.

Bop to the Top, Friday, Oct. 11, doors open at 8:30 p.m., show starts at 9 p.m., Baltimore Soundstage. Get the best of both worlds at this celebration of Hannah Montana and your favorite Disney Channel anthems. There will be a lip sync battle, dance off, costume contest, and more.

Marco Antonio Solís, Saturday, Oct. 12, doors open at 7 p.m., event begins at 8 p.m., CFG Bank Arena. Mexican musician Marco Antonio Solís will perform in Baltimore as part of his “Eternamente Agradecido World Tour.”

Barrio Fiesta, Sunday, Oct. 13, 10 a.m., Power Plant Live! Celebrate Filipino culture with vendors, live entertainment, and more.

Spooky Expo, Sunday, Oct. 13, 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., Ottobar. At the “Macabre Menagerie of Mysteries,” enjoy a mini-expo full of dark and spooky live performances, special effect make-up demonstrations, taxidermy classes, macabre vendors, and meet & greets and book signings with authors of dark books and comic books.

Indigenous People’s Day Performance, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., The Walters Art Museum. Flutist and storyteller Aio “Blue Heron” Sifu will perform in honor of Indigenous People’s Day.

Morgan State University’s Magnificent Marching Machine has been selected to perform in the 137^th Rose Parade in 2026.

This will be the university’s first performance in the iconic parade that takes place every January in Pasadena, California, and follows another groundbreaking first: the band’s participation in the annual D-Day memorial parade, the first-ever Historically Black College or University (HBCU) to do so. The band is led by Director of Bands Jorim E. Reid Sr., D.M.A.

Every year, the Pasadena Tournament of Roses selects the most unique and exceptional marching bands from around the world to participate in the Rose Parade based on various criteria, including musicianship, marching ability, and entertainment or special interest value. It’s estimated that 50 million people worldwide watch the parade, broadcast in more than 170 countries. Approximately 20-25 bands are chosen to perform, with a mix of high school, college, and community bands, and military and international groups included as well.

“The selection of Morgan’s Magnificent Marching Machine to participate in the 137th Rose Parade is a major achievement, not just for our band but for the entire Morgan community. This historic opportunity allows us to showcase the exceptional talent, energy and spirit of our students on an international stage,” said David K. Wilson, president of Morgan State University. “This is an extraordinary moment of pride for Morgan, and I do not doubt that the world will be as captivated by the Magnificent Marching Machine as we are every time they take the field.”

The Rose Parade is one of three “jewels” in what’s considered the “Triple Crown” of parade events: the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, the Rose Parade, and the U.S. Presidential Inaugural Parade. For Morgan State’s Magnificent Marching Machine, the Rose Parade will be the second of the three “jewels,” as in 2019 they marched in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade — another first for the university. The next presidential inauguration will be held in January 2025.

“There’s no bigger event in the marching band world than the Rose Parade. When you perform on New Year’s Day, the eyes of the world are watching,” said Dr. Reid. “It is an honor for our university to be invited, and a great opportunity for our students and marching band program to be highlighted globally. We look forward to our turn to participate in what’s known as ‘The Granddaddy of Them All.’”

The Rose Parade began in 1890, when Valley Hunt Club members sponsored the first Tournament of Roses. The abundance of flowers in the middle of winter gave them the idea to add a parade of carriages decorated with colorful blooms before the competition. It was also a late 19^th-century bit of friendly west coast-east coast rivalry about the weather.

“In New York, people are buried in snow,” announced Professor Charles F. Holder at a Club meeting. “Here our flowers are blooming and our oranges are about to bear. Let’s hold a festival to tell the world about our paradise.”

Get into an autumnal mood and spooky spirit with an array of fun Baltimore events this weekend.

From a festival dedicated to Edgar Allan Poe, to a witchy concert, explore it all in our weekend events roundup:

Schooner Race, Thursday, Oct. 3, 12 p.m., Chesapeake Bay. Catch a glimpse of the ships competing in the Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race.

Medieval Monsters, Thursday, Oct. 3, 6 p.m., Guilford Hall Brewery. What better way to start spooky season than with a talk about the monsters that scared people in the past — and that might just haunt the present. This installment of the “Profs & Pints” series will be led by Lilla Kopár, a Catholic University professor of medieval literature and culture who teaches courses on medieval monster lore and Norse mythology.

Seasons of the Witch, Thursday, Oct. 3, 6:30 p.m., George Peabody Library. Kicking off the 2024/25 In the Stacks Concert Series, enjoy musical performances about the history of witchcraft and the persecution of women who were called witches.

New/Next Film Festival, Thursday, Oct. 3, through Sunday, Oct. 6, The Charles Theater. Enjoy four days of features, shorts, and other films at the New/Next Film Festival.

Charm City Fringe Festival, Thursday, Oct. 3, through Sunday, Oct. 6, The Peale Museum. Charm City Fringe Festival continues this weekend with theatrical, musical, and other performances.

Billie Eilish, Friday, Oct. 4, doors open at 5:30 p.m., event begins at 7 p.m., CFG Bank Arena. Birds of a feather will be flocking to the Billie Eilish concert at CFG Bank Arena on Friday. She will be making a stop in Baltimore as part of her “Hit Me Hard and Soft” tour to celebrate her album of the same name.

Zoo Boo, Friday, Oct. 4, through Sunday, Oct. 6, Maryland Zoo. With fall upon us, it’s time for the return of Zoo Boo. The series of events will kick off this weekend and run through Oct. 27. Navigate a hay maze, enjoy hay rides, watch an elephant smash pumpkins, meet animal ambassadors, trick or treat through the zoo, and more.

Edgar Allan Poe Festival, Friday, Oct. 4, through Sunday, Oct. 6, Edgar Allan Poe House & Museum. Celebrate one of the fathers of horror writing during the International Edgar Allan Poe Festival & Awards. This weekend also marks 75 years of honoring Poe’s legacy at the Edgar Allan Poe House & Museum.

Victorian-Era Walking Tour, Saturday, Oct. 5, 11 a.m., Seton Hill. Historian Emma Katherine Bilski will lead a walking tour of Baltimore’s Seton Hill neighborhood, where attendees will hear stories about Baltimore’s Black Catholic history, student pranks, asylums, and America’s oldest Gothic Revival masterpiece.

Peace and Wellness Festival, Saturday, Oct. 5, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Ruscombe Mansion Community grounds. Embrace peace and wellness with a drum circle, qi gong, healthy cooking demonstrations, a botanical beverage bar, and more.

Plants and Prints, Saturday, Oct. 5, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., BMA Lexington Market. Vonne Napper will lead this workshop about exploring plant life through relief printmaking. Participants will be able to make their own stamp and use it to create nature-inspired prints.

Sabrina Carpenter, Saturday, Oct. 5, doors open at 6 p.m., event begins at 7 p.m., CFG Bank Arena. If you have good judgement and good taste, you might find yourself at the Sabrina Carpenter concert this weekend. Known for her hits like “Please Please Please,” “Espresso” and “Taste,” Carpenter will perform in Baltimore on Saturday.

Brad Williams, Saturday, Oct. 5, 7 p.m., Lyric Baltimore. With multiple comedy specials and frequent guest appearances in TV and film, comedian Brad Williams will next take the stage in Baltimore this Saturday.

Fell’s Point Fun Festival, Saturday, Oct. 5, and Sunday, Oct. 6, Fells Point. Enjoy food, drinks, shopping, live music, and fun for the whole family at the Fells Point Fun Festival.

Blockbuster Broadway, Saturday, Oct. 5, and Sunday, Oct. 6, Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall. New York’s top vocalists will perform a selection of songs from “Wicked,” “The Phantom of the Opera,” “Annie,” “Jersey Boys,” “The Sound of Music,” “Chicago,” “CATS,” “The Lion King,” and “A Chorus Line.”

The season’s final Baltimore by Baltimore festival’s theme is “Voting is a Vibe,” and the event takes place on Oct. 6.

The Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore is partnering with voter advocacy groups Black Girls Vote and Baltimore Votes to celebrate the power and impact of using one’s voice during this election season.

The musical lineup for the October festival includes DJ Quicksilva; Rufus Roundtree and Da B’more Brass Factory; TheVibe Band; Trinidad & Tobago Baltimore Steel Orchestra; Top 5 featuring Baltimore’s own Isaac Johnson; and more.

Community and advocacy groups will also be on hand to educate and engage festivalgoers, including Interfaith Power and Light, Young Gifted and Green, Baltimore City Public Schools, and more.

Vendors and makers will be at the festival for attendees to enjoy shopping and getting to know the creators that make Baltimore great. They include Love More Bmore, Pottillo & Co, The Historian Threads, Five O’ Clock Co, Holmes Hydration, and From Baltimore with Love. Naturally there will be food and drinks available from local vendors, like soul food from Waiting to Oxtail, seafood from Fishnet, ice cream from Taharka Brothers, drinks from Bar Movement, and more.

Some of the activity times are as follows:

• 12:15 p.m.: I Run, But I Vote Tew! (Baltimore runners meet-up hosted by Big Fred, Mr. Jay Hill, & Riot Squad Running)
• 2 p.m.: I Ride, But I Vote Tew! (Baltimore Bike Party meet-up)
• 3 p.m.: A Voting Conversation with Black Girls Vote and Baltimore Votes
• 4 p.m.: DJ Protocol and Chey Parker
• 6 p.m.: Top 5 Band featuring Isaac Johnson

For the full schedule, list of performers, artists, makers, and vendors, click this link.

Baltimore by Baltimore is a series of monthly festivals that run every year from June to October on the first Saturday of each month (though this month’s event will take place Sunday). Organized by Waterfront Partnership, the series began in 2022, with the Inner Harbor serving as the backdrop for Baltimore’s leading artists, makers, creatives, and musicians showcasing the city’s diversity and talent.

“[E]ach festival features a different local producer who selects the best representation of artists and makers in their network to curate a one-of-a-kind experience that fills the Inner Harbor with locally produced goods, music, art and food, and amplifies the vibrant and inspiring arts and culture community from across the entire city,” reads the press release.

Baltimore by Baltimore will offer discounted parking at Harborplace Premium Parking Garage at 101 S. Calvert St. Use the app or book online for garage 2331. Guests/visitors will use the code “BXB24” for $10 parking for up to 12 hours.

“Voting is a Vibe” Baltimore by Baltimore festival takes place on Sunday, Oct. 6 from noon – 7 p.m. at the Inner Harbor Amphitheater. The address is 201 E. Pratt St., Baltimore, MD. The festival is free and open to the public.

Buy, sell, trade, and repair guitar shop Galactic Guitar Exchange opened this month at 1133 Light St. in Federal Hill. Galactic Guitar Exchange relocated from Joppatowne and fills a vacant space that was previously Minuteman Press.

Owner Ryan Ellis started Galactic Guitar Exchange three years ago at the Joppa Grand Market. Ellis has a background in jazz music and plays standup bass and guitar.

Read more at SouthBmore.

If you’re lookin’ for a festival this weekend, Baltimore has plenty of ’em!

From oysters to pig races, there’s a little something for everyone.

Check it all out in our weekend events roundup:

Charli XCX and Troye Sivan, Thursday, Sept. 26, doors open at 6:30 p.m., event begins at 7:30 p.m., CFG Bank Arena. A pair of rising musical stars, Charli XCX and Troye Sivan are coming to Baltimore on their “Sweat” tour. Whether you’re a brat or you just got him started, you’re bound to have a good time. The concert will also feature special guest Shygirl.

World is Your Oyster Festival, Thursday, Sept. 26, 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., The B&O Railroad Museum. Enjoy local oysters, seafood, and drinks; learn to shuck oysters and cheer for professionals in a shucking competition; and learn about why oysters are important to restoration of the Chesapeake Bay.

& Juliet, Thursday, Sept. 26, through Saturday, Sept. 28, Hippodrome Theatre. Watch a musical based on one of William Shakespeare’s most famous plays, “Romeo & Juliet,” but with a major twist: what if Juliet didn’t die? What life would she go on to live? The music weaves modern pop songs, like Kelly Clarkson’s “Since U Been Gone” and Britney Spears’ “Baby One More Time,” with the reimagined Shakespearean classic.

Heritage of Tattooing, Friday, Sept. 27, 6 p.m., Guilford Hall Brewery. In this latest edition of the Profs & Pints lecture series, learn about the “world heritage of tattooing.” Hear from Lars Krutak, a Washington D.C.-based anthropologist, research associate at the Museum of International Folk Art, author or editor of books about tattooing, and former host of the Discovery Channel’s “Tattoo Hunter.”

Stoop Storytelling, Friday, Sept. 27, 7 p.m., The Green Room (underneath the Bluebird Cocktail Lounge). Hear stories about “Friends, Foes, and the Fences in Between” in this Stoop Storytelling event. The event will also include musical guest Caleb Stine.

Neon Disco Bike Party, Friday, Sept. 27, meet at 6:30 p.m. St. Mary’s Park. Bicyclists are encouraged to put on their best and brightest for this neon disco-themed ride.

Charm City Fringe Festival, Friday, Sept. 27, through Sunday, Sept. 29, The Peale Museum. Charm City Fringe Festival kicks off this Friday and runs through Oct. 6, featuring a range of funny, funky, and fringe performances and events.

Lauraville Fair, Saturday, Sept. 28, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Harford Road and Parkside Drive. Shop vendors and mix & mingle with Lauraville community members at the 38th Annual Lauraville Fair.

Asia in a Bite Festival, Saturday, Sept. 28, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Rash Field Park. It’s the final Asia in a Bite Festival of the year. Enjoy flavors from various Asian cultures.

Vino in Vogue, Saturday, Sept. 28, 12 p.m., Harbor East. Visit Aliceanna Street for an afternoon of wine tasting and shopping.

Pigtown Festival, Saturday, Sept. 28, 12 p.m., Pigtown Main Street. You’ve heard of the Preakness, but what about the Squeakness? Cheer on your favorite swine in the pig races at the 22nd Annual Pigtown Festival. The festival will also include live music, food and drinks, a kid zone, and more than 70 arts and crafts vendors.

Science Arcade, Saturday, Sept. 28, 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., Maryland Science Center. Make a cardboard pinball machine, turn yourself into an 8-bit video game character, and more when the Maryland Science Center becomes a Science Arcade for the afternoon.

Tellerfest, Saturday, Sept. 28, 12 p.m. to 9 p.m., Patterson Park Observatory. Enjoy this free music, arts, and wellness festival while raising funds for the Baltimore Office of Promotion & the Arts. The event will feature performances by Seven Teller, Gordon Sterling & The People, Uncle Kunkel’s One Gram Band, 5 Spot, and Walsh Kunkel.

Rat Race, Saturday, Sept. 28, 5 p.m., The Ottobar. Participate in a short foot race and scavenger hunt. Costumes are encouraged. Prizes will be awarded.

Charm City Cross, Saturday, Sept. 28, and Sunday, Sept. 29, Druid Hill Park. Participate in amateur and professional Cyclocross races through Druid Hill Park. The event is free to spectators. In addition to races, there will be food trucks, a beer garden, and and expo area.

Lyric Baltimore is transitioning away from their current ticket provider, Ticketmaster, and entering a new partnership with independent ticket provider Etix.

Etix’s web-based ticketing system sells admissions both online and on-site.

“As an historic independent venue, we’re always looking for ways to stay closely connected with our patrons,” said Steve Palmer, Chairman of the Lyric Foundation Board of Trustees, in a statement. “This exciting partnership will make it easier for customers to access tickets and engage with us. Etix provides the personalized, seamless experience that our audiences deserve.”

Collaborating with Etix is latest effort by Lyric Baltimore to improve customer service. In early 2024, the Lyric installed a $500,000 sound system that matches its amplification and sound technology with the historic venue’s unique acoustics, giving patrons the best possible sound quality.

“Etix’s dedication to supporting and uplifting independent venues perfectly aligns with our core mission to provide world class entertainment to the people of Baltimore and beyond,” said Chris Heacock, general manager at the Lyric. “As we continue to elevate our role in Baltimore’s arts community, our partnership with Etix will enable us to better serve our patrons by streamlining ticket access and ensuring a convenient, user-friendly experience.”

In May 2024, Maryland joined 28 other states, the District of Columbia, and the Justice Department in an antitrust lawsuit against Ticketmaster and Live Nation Entertainment (Ticketmaster’s parent company.) The lawsuit claims Live Nation has violated federal and state laws, including Maryland’s. Ticketmaster and Live Nation are alleged to hold a monopoly in the live entertainment industry that hurts fans and concertgoers, in addition to engaging in unscrupulous business behavior in Maryland regarding Oak View Group, which owns and operates Baltimore’s CFG Bank Arena.

Starting Oct. 1, all ticket sales for Lyric events and performances will be processed through Etix and available online at lyricbaltimore.com and etix.com.

If a customer has already bought tickets through the Lyric’s previous ticketing system through Ticketmaster, they will be notified directly with instructions on how to obtain their new tickets within the Etix platform.

“Etix is deeply committed to preserving the legacy of independent venues, and fundamentally understands the need for agile technology that doesn’t sacrifice the core mission and values of historic community spaces,” said Etix CEO and founder Travis Janovich in a statement. “We are excited and proud to partner with the Lyric and its long-standing tradition of bringing unforgettable performances to the Baltimore community.”

September is Underground Railroad Month, and the B&O Railroad Museum is honoring this history with a concert by the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (BSO) during which Wordsmith will perform his original song.

Fifth and eighth graders from Baltimore area schools will be special guests at the concert, titled “Network to Freedom.” The concert is part of a larger launch of an online educational tool that will be available to all children in the United States to help bring the story of the Underground Railroad to life.

“Legacy of the Underground Railroad” is a website that brings original source material from the Museum’s “The Underground Railroad: Freedom Seekers on the B&O Railroad” exhibit into classrooms and homes. The exhibit is housed in historic Mt. Clare Station and includes an immersive 180-degree multimedia experience. Visitors can hear a recording of Henry “Box” Brown’s song, produced in collaboration with Howard University’s Department of Music.

Central to this new website is “Network to Freedom,” which is a musical telling of the B&O’s Railroad’s history and its role in the Underground Railroad. The musical was composed by Baltimorean and lyricist Wordsmith, who will perform it with a string trio from the BSO on Sept. 26 at 1 p.m.

All are invited to celebrate the launch of this new educational tool and commemorate Underground Railroad Month by attending the live concert and immersing yourself in the stories of freedom seekers who used the railroad on their path to freedom.

The concert is free and begins at 1 p.m. Doors open at 12 p.m., and attendees are invited at that time to tour the Underground Railroad Exhibit before the concert begins.

The B&O Railroad Museum is located at 901 West Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD.

Learn more about the museum and concert, along with other museum upcoming activities by clicking this link.