Looking for some fun? Find a festival
Article History
There are updates to this article.
The Maryland Renaissance Festival gives kids and parents a chance to dress up and be someone else for a day.
(Courtesy art)
The Maryland Renaissance Festival gives kids and parents a chance to dress up and be someone else for a day.

BALTIMORE (Map, News) - From Native American dance competitions to jousting matches, Baltimore’s summer festivals promise to bring cool entertainment to the summer heat.

The Polish Festival on Friday officially kicked off the Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts’ (BOPA) 12 ethnic festivals, the Showcase of Nations, which features several different world cultures to Baltimore’s backyard.

“I think the festival gives you a chance to enjoy another cultures,” said Tracy Baskerville, communications director of BOPA. “It’s a chance to see not only great food from other cultures, but also arts and crafts and entertainment.”

Ethnic festivals aren’t the only way to have fun this summer. The Great Grapes Wine Arts and Food Festival in Cockeysville provides entertainment for adults by offering 150 types of Maryland wine, and face painting and sand art for the children, said Kat Arnold, event manager.

“It’s unique because it’s a brand in itself,” Arnold said, referring to the different types of wine and entertainment from local bands. “There are so many different features of the festival.”

Columbia’s Festival of the Arts has also continued to expand, and this year the festival will feature “Columbia: The Opera,” which presents the history of Columbia by providing archive footage, interviews with residents, and music from local bands. It celebrates the festival’s 20th anniversary as well as Columbia’s 40th anniversary, said Lisa Miles, marketing director.

The variety of visual arts, like music, dance, theater and comedy, attract the nearly 30,000 visitors over the 18 days of the festival, Miles said.

“I think art impacts everything we do in life,” Miles said. “It impacts everyone’s life in a positive way.”

The Maryland Renaissance Festival will be returning in its 31st year and will provide entertainment through jousting competitions, magicians and sword-swallowing, as well as an opportunity to dress up as a favorite Renaissance character, said Jules Smith, vice president general manager.

“It’s easy; it’s fantasy,” Smith said. “It doesn’t require a lot of thinking. You can easily transform to a different, simpler, less stressful period. It’s escapism for people.”

Smith said the Renaissance Festival sees about 290,000 visitors over the 18 days. “The Renaissance era evokes the notion of chivalry,” he said. “People dress up as lords and ladies, wenches and scoundrels and henchmen.”

FIND A FESTIVAL

LatinoFest

June 23 (noon to 10pm) -24 (noon to 9pm)

Patterson Park, Baltimore

410-783-5404 

African American Heritage Festival

July 6 (Friday 5pm to Midnight) - July 8 (Sat and Sun 12 noon to Midnight)

Oriole Park at Camden Yards

410-235-4427

Caribbean Carnival Festival

July 13 (5 to 10pm) -15 (Sat and Sun noon to 9pm)

Druid Hill Park, Baltimore 

410-230-2969

International Festival

July 28-29 (noon to 9pm)

Poly/Western High School at Falls Road and West Coldspring Lane

410-396-3141

Paetec Jazz Festival

Aug. 9-11

Downtown Baltimore 

Harve de Grace Seafood Festival

Aug. (11am to 7pm) to 12 (11am to 6pm)

Tydings Memorial Park, Havre de Grace

410-939-1525

NAIJA Fest

Aug. 11-12 (noon to 8pm)

Patterson Park, Baltimore 

PowWow Native American Festival

Aug. 24 (noon to 8pm), Aug. 25 (10am to 9pm), Aug. 26 (10am to 6pm)

Patterson Park, Baltimore

410-675-3535 

Maryland Renaissance Festival

Aug. 25 to Oct. (10am to 7pm)

Crownsville in Anne Arundel County

1-800-296-7304

North Beach Bay Fest

Aug. 26 (noon to 6:30pm)

North Beach, Calvert County

410-257-9618 

Ukrainian Festival

Sept. 8 (noon to 10pm) -9 (10am to 9pm)

Patterson Park, Baltimore

410-687-3465

Maryland Seafood Festival

Sept. 7-9

Sandy Point State Park, Anne Arundel County

410-266-3113

Bel Air Festival for the Arts

Sept. 16 (10am to 5pm)

Shamrock Park, Bel Air 

Korean American Festival

Sept. 22 (10am to 10pm)

War Memorial Plaza at Fayette and Gay Streets

410-625-2442

Baltimore Book Festival

Sept. 28 (5 to 9pm), 29 and 30 (11am to 7pm)

Mount Vernon Place, Baltimore

410-752-8632

Russian Festival

Oct. 19 and 20 (noon to 9pm) and 21 (noon to 6pm)

Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Church East Fairmount Avenue

410-276-6171

See our Events Calendar for a complete listing of festivals and other events in the Baltimore region. 

kseith@baltimoreexaminer.com


Name
Comments

characters left


Comments from Examiner Readers

12:57 PM MST on Wed., Jul. 2, 2008 re: "Fourth of July to be rescheduled after riots in Havre de Grace"

Examiner Reader said:
How sad that things have to be changed because certain scum bags can't keep it together. The Havre de Grace pardade is something my family has done for years and now can't even feel safe to come there. S. Ward Joppatowne

0 agree | 1 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree

4:05 PM MST on Wed., Apr. 16, 2008 re: "Eight days of carnival rides, hot dogs, funnel cakes and fun"

Examiner Reader said:
wow thats amazing but why would that many people actually come to one single carnival

5 agree | 4 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
1:44 PM MST on Fri., Jul. 27, 2007 re: "Book fest gives writers public voice"

Vita M. King said:
The city of baltimore is growing,in what manner?Some people don't welcome the change,the new condos.The prices the go with them the rebuilding,yes the areas look great looking at the big picture.And the people that have to move,out of there surroundings,well some know no other way of life.What will happen next only time will tell,my self I welcome the wonderful condos,the picture book look,but that is only my eyes.The new things that will come about,that have been over due for some.New people out front now new faces that are of old.Get ready Baltimore hold on for the ride.The city already looks like another place,and where are some of the old faces,they have faded.

522 agree | 223 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
4:24 PM MST on Fri., Jun. 1, 2007 re: "This weekend, it's all about the Polish"

Melanie said:
Nice to see Polish pride alive and thriving in Baltimore!

285 agree | 229 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
3:43 PM MST on Fri., Jun. 1, 2007 re: "This weekend, it's all about the Polish"

Examiner Reader said:
Found this on Examiner.com's Event Calendar: Polish Festival Jun 1, 2007 - Jun 3, 2007 At Patterson Park's Pulaski Monument (Eastern Avenue at Linwood Avenue), join The Polish Community Association of Maryland for ethnic music, dance and perogis. Admission ranges from $2-$4. Children under 12 are free with paying adult. Specific scheduling information can be found on the Web site. Location: Patterson Park, Eastern Avenue, Baltimore 21231

226 agree | 263 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
3:42 PM MST on Fri., Jun. 1, 2007 re: "This weekend, it's all about the Polish"

Examiner Reader said:
Yes, what if we're not Polish but want to attend this fesetival? The food sounds great. Please help us know where to go for the festival.

222 agree | 272 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
1:55 PM MST on Fri., Jun. 1, 2007 re: "This weekend, it's all about the Polish"

Mel Lingerman said:
You never give the location of the event in the article.

268 agree | 263 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
 
 

(page generated in 0.13 seconds)