Events
The List: August 2018
The hottest happenings around town this month.
Maren Hassinger: The Spirit of Things
Aug. 1-Nov. 25. The Baltimore Museum of Art, 10 Art Museum Drive. Wed-Sun 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. In this collaboration between The Baltimore Museum of Art and Los Angeles-based arts and education foundation Art + Practice, take in a broad range of works that explore the relationship between the industrial and natural worlds by New York artist Maren Hassinger. Through abstract compositions, documentary photographs, and videos, Hassinger has transformed everyday objects such as newspapers, plastic bags, and wire rope into evocations of beauty.
Lady Antebellum and Darius Rucker
Aug. 2. Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia. 7 p.m. $56-345. Two of the most dynamic acts in country, Southern trio Lady Antebellum and singer-songwriter Darius Rucker, have finally joined forces on their all-new Summer Plays On tour. Sharing a combined eight Grammy Awards and dozens of boot-stomping hits including “Need You Now” and “Wagon Wheel,” respectively, their down-home sound is best enjoyed on Merriweather’s storied lawn, with a beer in hand and the sun setting over the Columbia woods.
Fluid Movement
Aug. 3-5. Patterson Park Swimming Pool 148 S Linwood Ave. Time Varies. $12. It’s not summer in Baltimore without a wacky and wonderful water ballet production by much-loved performance art group Fluid Movement. This month, the avant-garde troupe will dive into the thriling world of Alfred Hitchcock, the director known as the “master of suspense.” Watch in awe as these local water ballerinas use synchronized swimming and tons of glitter to transform the Patterson Park pool into a thrilling and dangerous world filled with murderous mothers and avian affectations.
The Shopping Mall Ball
Aug. 4. Baltimore Soundstage, 124 Market Place. Time Varies. $20. When someone as royal in the city’s music scene as dynamic rapper DDm drops a new album, we can guarantee that the release party will be the can’t-miss event of the summer. To tie into his new record, Soundtrack to a Shopping Mall, the inimitable artist is throwing an ’80s and ’90s-themed ball at the Baltimore Soundstage, hosted by acclaimed artist Abdu Ali with special appearances by Bmore Club maven TT the Artist, local rapper Kotic Couture, and DDm’s own hip-hop duo, Bond St. District, plus costume contests and more.
Puppy Days of Summer Block Party
Aug. 4. Outside Creative Alliance at East & Eastern Aves. 4:30 p.m.-8. Free. After months of filling hot days with trips to the dog park and the city’s walking trails, spice up your pup’s routine and celebrate the end of summer with the Creative Alliance’s annual block party dedicated to our four-legged friends. This street party includes tons of activities for furry attendees—free tennis balls and treats, a doggie obstacle course, and kiddie pools to help stay cool—as well as information about local pet charities and adoption agencies for their owners.
Maryland Latino Festival
Aug. 4. Timonium Fairgrounds, 2200 York Avenue, Timonium. 10 a.m.–9 p.m. Free-$30. Head to the Timonium Fairgrounds to celebrate our local Hispanic and Latino communities with this full-day fiesta—now in its seventh year—filled with kids’ activities, health and wellness resources, and plenty of cervezas to go around. Spend the afternoon sampling traditional Mexican and Salvadoran eats before heading to the main stage to hear performances by bachata singer Zacarías Ferreíra, duranguense band Montéz De Durango, and El Salvador-based group San Vicente Orchestra.
White Marlin Open
Aug. 6-10. Harbour Island Marina, Ocean City. 10 a.m.–9 p.m. Free-$1,400. Every August for the past 44 years, thousands of spectators have flocked to Ocean City to ogle this annual deep-sea fishing tournament. Over the course of five days, anglers of all experience levels will take to the open waters to catch white and blue marlins, tuna, sharks, and other fish in hopes of reeling in a prize-winning catch, while spectators can watch the high-stakes weigh-ins from the Harbour Island Marina dock.
AFRAM Festival
Aug. 11-12. Druid Hill Park, 900 Druid Park Lake Dr.. 10 a.m.–9 p.m. Free. Now in its 42nd year, Baltimore’s celebration of African-American community and culture will return to Druid Hill Park with a jam-packed schedule of family-friendly activities and events. Returning to its former glory as a two-day festival, this year’s event will feature headline performer Ella Mai, the British R&B singer taking over the airwaves with her summer hit single “Boo’d Up,” as well as up-and-coming Atlanta-based rapper Jacquees. In between sets by iconic local R&B group Dru Hill and gospel singer VaShawn Mitchell, stroll through the parkto check out informational booths on health and wellness, financial literacy, job training, and more.
Hot August Music Festival
Aug. 18. Oregon Ridge Park, 13401 Beaver Dam Road, Cockeysville. 11 a.m.-10 p.m. $63-199. It has been more than 25 years since Baltimore County’s biggest music festival descended on the rolling hills of Oregon Ridge Park, and this year’s lineup of local and national acts promises to be one to beat. Soak up the last days of summer along with the sounds of the locally loved Cris Jacobs Band, pictured, New Orleans rock band The Revivalists, fiery roots group The Marcus King Band, and many more at this must-see annual show.
Summer ’18
To Aug. 18. C. Grimaldis Gallery, 523 North Charles St. Tue-Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. For the past 41 summers, the C. Grimaldis Gallery in Mt. Vernon has filled its walls with a wide variety of contemporary paintings, sculptures, and photography to showcase the talents of its gallery artists. This annual exhibit features works by 15 artists, including photographs from 2018 Guggenheim Fellow Rania Matar’s SHE series, paintings by award-winning artist Beverly McIver, and a sculpture by Baltimore-based artist Colin Van Winkle.
St. Gabriel Festival
Aug. 18-19. 227 South Exeter Street, Little Italy. Sat-Sun. Noon-7 p.m. $1. Charm City’s rich Italian heritage is always worthy of celebration, especially when it includes overflowing amounts of vino, freshly made pasta, and a historic parade through Little Italy. Since 1928, this summer festival has brought thousands of Baltimoreans together to participate in bocce tournaments and sausage-eating contests, and this year’s 90th anniversary is no different, with carbs and community galore.
Aug. 22. Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia. 7 p.m. $50-349. No Shoes Nation, you’re in luck. Kenny Chesney is anything but a stranger to sunny sounds—”All the Pretty Girls” and “American Kids” are just a few of his trademark feel-good anthems—and this tour stop at Merriweather in support of his latest album, Songs for the Saints, is your chance to embrace the final throes of summer.
The Maryland State Fair
Aug 23-Sep 3. Maryland State Fair and Timonium Fairgrounds, 2200 York Road, Lutherville-Timonium. 1 p.m. $5-20. When Ruby Schwinn meets visitors passing through the U-Learn Food & Fiber exhibit at the Maryland State Fair, she always asks, “Do you think you could live one day without some kind of agriculture in your life?” Schwinn, who has been involved with the education center for the past 27 years, says that when people respond that they could, she reminds them that their leather belts and blue jeans are made from the pigs and sheep in that very barn. “Once you point out to them how agriculture is part of their daily lives, they understand its importance,” she says. During this year’s fair, from August 23 to September 3, the U-Learn Food & Fiber exhibit will feature furry friends of all shapes and sizes for fairgoers to learn about. “We incorporate a lot of hands-on activities so they leave with a better understanding of why agriculture is so important,” says Schwinn. “We still see a lot of kids who have never seen any animals other than a cat or a dog in real life.”
Maryland Renaissance Festival
Aug. 25-Oct 21. 1821 Crownsville Rd, Annapolis. 10 a.m.–7 p.m. Free-$150. Break out the bodices and body armor—the annual Maryland Renaissance Festival returns at the end of the month for another year of medieval revelry, jousting tournaments, and mead-swilling fun. During the festival’s nine-weekend run, satisfy your inner lord or lady by mingling with mock royalty, browsing arts and crafts vendors, and enjoying performances across 10 stages, including condensed Shakespeare plays, comedic sword fighting, and acrobatic acts. And yes, there will be plenty of turkey legs.
Letitia VanSant and The Young Novelists
Aug. 24. Creative Alliance, 3134 Eastern Ave. $15-18. Whether she’s playing in the corner of a bookstore or live on the local radio, folk songstress Letitia VanSant’s hearty vocals and acoustic chords have the power to make you stop to listen. Later this month at the Creative Alliance, hear the singer-songwriter perform ballads and boot-stompers from her latest album, Gut It to the Studs, with an opening set by Toronto-based roots-rock duo The Young Novelists.
Vegan SoulFest
Aug. 25. Clifton Park, 2801 Harford Rd. Noon-7 p.m. Free. Now in its fifth year, Vegan SoulFest is a city-wide celebration of all things animal-free. Whether you’re a lifelong vegan or just interested in learning more about the practice, spend the afternoon in Clifton Park sampling vegan cuisine from local vendors, picking up new recipes during cooking demonstrations, and learning about the lifestyle from keynote speakers including fitness guru John Lewis and acclaimed author Tracye McQuirter.
Le DÎner en Blanc
Aug. 30. Undisclosed Public Space. $49. Launched in Paris 30 years ago, this très chic affair returns to Baltimore for its second secret supper, which promises to be a night full of elegance. For one night only, thousands of dinner guests, dressed head to toe in white, will descend upon an undisclosed public space, revealed mere minutes before the meal, for a hip picnic feast with fellow revelers.
Baltimore Art, Antique & Jewelry Show
Aug. 30-Sep 2. Baltimore Convention Center, One West Pratt Street. 11 a.m.–6 p.m. $20. For those Antiques Roadshow fans among us, there’s no rush quite like discovering something old—and potentially worth a pretty penny. Enter the Baltimore Art, Antique & Jewelry Show, the country’s largest indoor antiques show, which will take over the Baltimore Convention Center during Labor Day weekend with more than 200,000 items from local and international exhibitors. Whether you’re a gawker or collector, you’ll enjoy this year’s event featuring treasures such as Norman Rockwell’s 1959 Boy Graduate, a first-edition printing of Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged, and a vase by the legendary Japanese artisan Hayashi Kodenji.