Labor Day weekend. Boyz II Men play a free show at War Memorial Plaza on Saturday, the Cigar Box Guitar Festival runs two stages at Union Craft in Hampden, and the Orioles are home at 1:35 on Monday. Wednesday has three music rooms going at once.
Top Pick: Charm City Live 5
Saturday, September 5 · 12:00 PM to 9:00 PM ET · War Memorial Plaza, 100 Holliday Street · Free
Boyz II Men, Estelle and Case, outdoors, no ticket. It is city-produced, with a Baltimore City government hiring fair running alongside the vendors during the day. No set times posted yet. Event page
The Week Out
Maryland Cigar Box Guitar Festival · Saturday, September 5 · 1:00 to 11:00 PM ET, doors 11:00 AM · Union Craft Brewing, 1700 W 41st Street · Free A whole festival built around guitars made from actual cigar boxes — two stages of them, all day. Free parking, with beer and food for sale. Festival page
Claudio Silva Quartet · Wednesday, September 9 · 7:00 PM ET · An die Musik Live, 409 N Charles Street · $10 to $25 Table-seated jazz upstairs on Charles Street. Silva is a Peabody-trained drummer. An die Musik calendar
Doggie Paddle · Tuesday, September 8 · 5:00 to 7:30 PM ET · Middle Mill Social Pool, Owings Mills · $20 per family Dogs in the pool before it closes for the season. Proceeds to the Baltimore Humane Society, pay at the gate. Rain date Wednesday. Event page
10th Annual Baltimore Comedy Festival at BIG · Sunday, September 6 · 8:00 to 10:00 PM ET · The BIG Theater · 18+ A full local showcase, not a single headliner — eight comics in one night: Chris Von Clap, Kaelin Clements, DPK, Mudit Verma, Jake Leizear, McKelle Jokesword Barksdale, and Brandon Wooten, hosted by Jay Dante. Tickets
Book Now
Lost Ship · Thursday and Friday 7:30 PM ET, Saturday 4:00 PM ET, Sunday 2:00 PM ET · Baltimore Theatre Project, 45 W Preston Street · $15 to $25 Immersive theater, four performances including two matinees. Tickets
Wine in the Wilderness · Saturday, September 5 · 5:30 to 9:00 PM ET · The Maryland Zoo · 21+ After-hours zoo with unlimited wine sampling. Three full-glass vouchers and a souvenir glass included; members $5 off. Event page
Myles Smith · Wednesday, September 9 · 8:00 PM ET · Pier Six Pavilion The British singer-songwriter behind 'Stargazing,' out on his debut-album tour, on the Pier Six waterfront. GoldFord opens. Tickets
Kehlani · Sunday, September 6 · Merriweather Post Pavilion The Grammy-winning R&B star brings her world tour to Merriweather; tickets through Ticketmaster.
Free and Cheap
The BMA and the Walters · Wednesday to Sunday, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM ET · Free Both free every day, a twenty-minute walk apart. BMA · Walters
America 250: Aberdeen Family Fun and History Day · Saturday, September 5 · Festival Park, Aberdeen · Free Freedom 5K from 8:00 AM, Family Fun Day 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Revolutionary Route march at 11:30 AM. Aberdeen is in Harford County, about 35 to 40 minutes from downtown. Schedule
Free Trivia Night · Thursday, September 3 · 8:00 PM ET · Max's Taphouse, Fells Point · Free Cash prizes for the top three teams. Max's Taphouse
Hop Dog Pop Up · Monday, September 7 · 12:00 to 5:00 PM ET · Sapwood Cellars, Columbia · Free entry Hot dogs cooked in Sapwood beer, plus all-day draft discounts. Sapwood Cellars
Live Irish Music · Wednesday, September 9 · The Judge's Bench, Ellicott City · Free The Judge's Bench
Run Club · Thursday, September 3 · 6:30 PM ET · Charm City Run Columbia, finishing at Black Flag Brewing · Free Two to three miles, any pace, brewery discount at the end. Charm City Run Columbia
After Dark
Salsa Sunday with Hermanos Galván y Orquesta · Sunday, September 6 · Lesson 7:30 PM ET · The Original Cancun Cantina · $15 cover A partner-taught lesson to start, then a live orchestra takes the floor with a separate DJ room running late. Cancun Cantina
Annual Labor Day White Party · Saturday, September 5 · The Garden Rooftop · From $23.18 · 21+ All-white dress code on the Garden's rooftop with a DJ, from late afternoon into the night. Tickets
Girls Night Out: Thunder from Down Under · Friday, September 4 · 7:00 to 11:00 PM ET · Zen West, Towson · 21+ The touring Australian male revue. Zen West
Serial Killer Speakeasy · Friday, September 4 · La Familia Soundstage Ninety minutes of true-crime storytelling, four cocktails included. Tickets
Get Moving
Tuesday Night Bike Club · Tuesday, September 8 · 6:00 to 7:00 PM ET · Forward Brewing, Eastport · Free Ten miles, no registration, ends at the brewery. Bring lights. Forward Brewing
First and Third Friday Pub Run · Friday, September 4 · 6:00 to 7:00 PM ET · Pickett Brewing Company · Free Run around the stadiums, finish at the taproom. Walk-in. Pickett Brewing
First Friday Nature Exploration · Friday, September 4 · 4:00 to 7:30 PM ET · Masonville Cove · Free Self-guided sunset walk with wildlife watching. Masonville Cove
Dancin' Under the People Tree · Friday, September 4 · 7:00 to 8:00 PM ET · Columbia Lakefront · Free An hour of outdoor dancing, all ages, no partner needed. Columbia Association
Miles for Mimosas Run Club · Sunday, September 6 · Morning · Victoria Gastro Pub, Columbia Sunday run, mimosas after. Start time is on the venue page. Victoria Gastro Pub
Culture Corner
Somewhere Over the Rainbow of Row Homes, opening reception · Thursday, September 3 · 6:00 to 8:00 PM ET · UMBC Performing Arts and Humanities Building · Free Intergenerational exhibition on Baltimore's cultural landscape, with an artist panel. UMBC
Garrison Keillor with Robin and Linda Williams · Saturday, September 5 · 2:00 PM ET · Rams Head On Stage, Annapolis The longtime Prairie Home Companion host brings his storytelling, with the folk duo Robin and Linda Williams. Reserved seats, matinee. Rams Head On Stage
Gunhild Carling and The Wonderful World of Louis Armstrong · Wednesday, September 9 · 7:00 PM ET · Keystone Korner Baltimore · $35 to $40 plus fees A full-ensemble Louis Armstrong tribute from the Swedish multi-instrumentalist who closes by playing three trumpets at once — singers, dancers, even juggling. Table seating. Tickets
Worth It Solo
Jeopardy Bar Trivia · Tuesday, September 8 · 7:00 to 9:00 PM ET · Zen West, Towson · Free · 21+ Play solo or in a team of up to six. Zen West
MAX LVL Chess Club · Tuesday, September 8 · 6:00 to 9:00 PM ET · Max's Taphouse, Fells Point · Free, drop-in Open games all night, every level. Max's Taphouse
Art Hive · Friday, September 4 · 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM ET · Baltimore Museum of Art · Free, drop-in Open-studio art-making, no registration. BMA calendar
Open Hack · Thursday, September 3 · 7:00 to 9:00 PM ET · Baltimore Node · Free, RSVP Weekly open house at the hackerspace. Baltimore Node
Silent Book Club · Thursday, September 3 · 6:30 to 8:30 PM ET · Old Major · Two-item minimum Read in silence, then talk if you want. Old Major
Worth the Trip
Call the Midwife: Charlotte Small, a Colonial-Era Annapolis Midwife · Saturday, September 5 · 1:30 to 2:30 PM ET · Museum of Historic Annapolis · $7 Living-history talk with an out-of-character Q&A after. Free for members, military and under-7s. Event page
Summer: The Donna Summer Musical, matinee · Wednesday, September 9 · 10:30 AM ET · Toby's Dinner Theatre, Columbia Dinner theatre with the meal included. Reserved tables, so better with company than alone. Toby's Dinner Theatre
Labor Day Monday
Orioles vs. Cleveland Guardians · Monday, September 7 · 1:35 PM ET · Camden Yards The O's close out the long weekend with a 1:35 first pitch at Camden Yards — an afternoon in the sun before summer's out. Tickets
Manor Hill Beer Garden, Labor Day session · Monday, September 7 · 12:00 to 6:00 PM ET · Manor Hill, Ellicott City · Free entry Farm-brewed beer, canned wine, food, dogs welcome. Manor Hill Beer Garden
The Marcus Johnson Experience · Monday, September 7 · 11:00 AM ET · Busboys and Poets, Columbia · Ticketed Live jazz brunch from a Billboard-charting artist. Event page
Collective Minds Closing Party, Patio Sessions · Monday, September 7 · 3:00 PM ET · Safari Club End-of-summer patio party. Tickets
Sapwood's Hop Dog pop-up is under Free and Cheap.
Mark Your Calendar
Crab Feast at Milkhouse Brewery · Sunday, September 13 · 12:00 to 5:00 PM ET · Milkhouse Brewery at Stillpoint Farm, Mount Airy All-you-can-eat crabs and a cookout menu. Price not listed yet. Tickets
Also coming: Valerie June at Maryland Hall on the 13th, Bear Family Weekend at Morgan State from the 11th.
Everything worth doing in Baltimore. Curated, not corporate.