Fort McHenry marks the Battle of Baltimore's anniversary with a free Friday parade and Saturday fireworks; the All Blacks play the Springboks Saturday at five, and a vegan block party fills Center Plaza that afternoon. Also this week: Kenny Garrett, the Seafood Festival, Janet Echelman, and free books Saturday.
Top Picks
Defenders' Day at Fort McHenry · Friday-Sunday, September 11-13 · Fort McHenry, Locust Point · Star Fort $15 (under-16 free); Friday parade free The 1814 Battle of Baltimore's anniversary weekend: a free Friday parade through Locust Point, then Saturday's 7:00 PM Maryland Military Band concert, an 8:00 flag-raising recreation and fireworks at 8:01. Schedule
All Blacks vs. Springboks · Saturday, September 12, 5:00 PM ET · M&T Bank Stadium · from ~$110 plus fees New Zealand and South Africa, the fourth match of their 2026 series, at the Ravens' stadium. Pickett Brewing runs a free watch party all day. M&T Bank Stadium · Pickett Brewing
Bmore Vegan Block Party · Saturday, September 12, 3:00-8:00 PM ET · Center Plaza, downtown · Free Fifth year: vegan food vendors, live music and local makers take over Center Plaza for the afternoon, run zero-waste. Event page
The Week Out
Wine On The Water · Sunday, September 13, 12:00-6:00 PM ET · Middle Branch · $40 (souvenir glass and tastings included) R&B and neo-soul acts and DJs all afternoon, regional wineries, food trucks. No outside alcohol. Tickets
Crying Laughing record release with Deakin (Animal Collective) · Saturday, September 12, 7:00-10:00 PM ET · 2640 Space · $15 at the door 2640 Space
Maryland Seafood Festival · Friday 5:00-9:30 PM, Saturday 11:00 AM-7:30 PM, Sunday 11:00 AM-6:30 PM ET · Sandy Point, Annapolis · Sat $25 ($30 week-of); Sun discounted; under 12 free; parking $12-20 Festival site
Reisterstown Festival · Sat-Sun, September 12-13, 11:00 AM-10:00 PM and 11:30 AM-5:00 PM ET · Hannah More Park, Reisterstown · Free Festival site
Made in Maryland Festival · Sunday, September 13, 11:00 AM-4:00 PM ET · Kurtz's Beach, Pasadena · $15 at the gate Festival site
Book Now
Crab Feast at Milkhouse Brewery · Sunday, September 13, 12:00-5:00 PM ET · Milkhouse Brewery, Mount Airy · $51.99 all-inclusive, $36.99 cookout only, beer extra Frederick County, fifty minutes out; ticket sales end Friday at noon. Tickets
Kenny Garrett · Fri-Sat, September 11-12, 6:00 and 8:30 PM ET sets · Keystone Korner, Fells Point · $45-$55 plus fees Tickets
Maybe Happy Ending · September 13-19; Tue-Wed 7:30 PM ET (Sun time TBA) · Hippodrome Theatre · check the link for pricing Hippodrome
All Things Equal: The Life & Trials of Ruth Bader Ginsburg · Wednesday, September 16, 7:30 PM ET, through Saturday · M&T Bank Exchange, downtown · from $55 Event page
Leslie Liao · Fri 7:00 & 9:15 PM, Sat 6:30 & 9:00 PM ET · The Port, Fells Point · $25-$30 · 21+ Tickets
Free and Cheap
Gillespie Gallery Reception · Thursday, September 10, 6:00-8:00 PM ET · Chesapeake Arts Center, Brooklyn Park · Free, drinks included Photographer Paul W. Gillespie's show "Every Picture Tells a Story, Don't It?" opens with the artist present. Event page
The Book Thing · Saturday, September 12, 9:00 AM-5:00 PM ET · 3001 Vineyard Lane · Free, timed-entry slots Book Thing
Half-Price Friday Night · Friday, September 11, 5:00-9:00 PM ET · National Aquarium · $24.95 Aquarium
Revolutionary Walking Tour · Saturday, September 12, 2:00-3:30 PM ET · William Paca House, Annapolis · $20, $15 members/military Historic Annapolis
Unwind & Align yoga · Sunday, September 13, 11:00 AM ET · Stem & Vine · from $17.85 Stem & Vine
After Dark
Glow Night · Friday, September 11, lesson 6:30 PM ET, DJs after · Cancun Cantina, Hanover · $10 cover · 21+ A partner-dance lesson opens the night, then two rooms of DJs take over. Cancun Cantina
New Jack City 35th Anniversary Ball · Friday, September 11, 9:00 PM ET · 316 Guilford Avenue · check the link for pricing Tickets
Tear Keeper and four more · Friday, September 11, 7:00-11:00 PM ET · Zen West, Towson · cover not listed Zen West
Karaoke · Friday, September 11, 9:30 PM-1:00 AM ET · Max's, Fells Point · Free · 21+ Max's
Get Moving
Mueveton 5K and Health Expo · Saturday, September 12, 9:00 AM-12:00 PM ET · Patterson Park Observatory · Free A 5K, kids' dash, Zumba and yoga, health screenings and a clothing swap. Patterson Park
Run Club · Wednesday, September 16, 6:00 PM ET · Forward Brewing, Eastport · Free Forward Brewing
Tuesday Night Bike Club · Tuesday, September 15, 6:00 PM ET · Forward Brewing, Eastport · Free Forward Brewing
Community Fishing Day · Saturday, September 12, 8:00 AM-12:00 PM ET · Masonville Cove · Free, registration required Masonville Cove
Culture Corner
Todd Marcus Quintet: John Coltrane 100th Birthday · Saturday, September 12, 7:30 PM ET · An die Musik Live · $10-$35 Bass clarinet and Tim Warfield's saxophone, table-seated, for Coltrane's centennial. An die Musik
"100 Miles and Runnin'" opening · Saturday, September 12, 6:00-8:00 PM ET · Eubie Blake · registration; check the link for pricing A visual-arts exhibition for Miles Davis's centennial, through October 18. Eubie Blake
An Artist Responds to War · Tuesday, September 15, 7:00 PM ET, doors 6:30 · Black Cherry · $15 A 45-minute documentary on Bread & Puppet, panel after. Black Cherry
All Signs Point North: Lantern Sisters crankies · Sunday, September 13, 7:00 PM ET, doors 6:30 · Black Cherry · sliding scale Black Cherry
Natural Herstories opening reception · Thursday, September 10, 5:00-9:00 PM ET · Maryland Art Place · Free Maryland Art Place
Worth It Solo
Cryptids & Cheers · Thursday, September 10, 7:00-9:00 PM ET · Nepenthe Brewing, Hampden · Free, RSVP · 21+ B'More Brew'd's monthly meet-people night, built around walking in solo. Register
Comedy Showcase · Saturday, September 12, 8:00 PM ET, doors 7:00 · Max's, Fells Point · Free · 21+ Max's
MAX LVL Chess Club · Tuesday, September 15, 6:00-9:00 PM ET · Max's · Free, drop-in, all levels Max's
Captain's Quarters · Monday, September 14, 7:30 PM ET · The Port · Free The Port
Worth the Trip
Janet Echelman: Radical Softness · Monday, September 14, 5:00-6:30 PM ET · UMBC · Free, advance registration required The sculptor behind building-scale knotted-fiber pieces, on her own work. Register
Our Town · Friday and Saturday 8:00 PM, Sunday 2:00 PM ET · Colonial Players, Annapolis · $26, $21 seniors/students/military, +$2 fee Tickets
Mark Your Calendar
Orioles vs. Brewers · Friday, September 18, 7:05 PM ET · Camden Yards Six-game homestand opener; Toronto follows. Schedule
Annapolis Baygrass Festival · September 19-20 · Sandy Point State Park · two-day pass $257 Little Feat, Béla Fleck, Sam Bush. Festival site
1920s Mafia Wedding murder-mystery dinner · Friday, September 18, 7:30 PM ET · M8 Beer · $69, three courses Tickets
Carroll Book Festival with Jodi Picoult · Saturday, September 19 · Carroll County Farm Museum, Westminster · ticketed author events Event page
Everything worth doing in Baltimore. Curated, not corporate.