7 Baltimore Festivals for Family Fun

A line-up of colorful festivals throughout summer and fall makes Baltimore a good destination for family travel. Here are some of the most popular events on the 2023 calendar:

Fourth of July Fireworks
More than fireworks, the annual July 4 festival includes concerts by the United States Navy band and other groups, along with street performers and kid-friendly activities. Events fill the entire promenade of Inner Harbor, as well as West Shore and Rash Field parks, and evening fireworks are visible from Federal Hill and various points along the waterfront.

Baltimore Washington One Caribbean Festival
Also in mid-July, the Baltimore Washington One Caribbean Festival brings the spirit of Trinidad to the city, with a parade of drummers, stilt walkers, floats, performers and steel bands, followed by a lively street fair with Caribbean food, music and entertainment.

AFRAM
Baltimore celebrates Juneteenth with the weekend AFRAM festival, the East Coast’s largest celebration of African American culture. Druid Hill Park comes alive with music, food and family-friendly events like African drumming and carnival mask-making.

Hampdenfest
The annual Hampdenfest in September celebrates the lively neighborhood of Hampden with blocks of vendors, local foods, kids’ craft activities, contests and entertainment.

Madonnari Arts Festival
Also in September, the Madonnari Arts Festival fills Baltimore’s Little Italy neighborhood with color and Italian traditions, including bocce, al fresco dining and roving opera singers. International street artists are invited to decorate sidewalks with colorful chalk paintings.

Fell’s Point Fun Festival
At Fell’s Point Fun Festival, the six-block harborside area becomes an outdoor market of foods, craft beers and works by local artists and artisans, all set to live music performances. This year’s festival runs Oct. 6–8.

Great Halloween Lantern Parade and Festival
In late October (this year, Oct. 22) more than 12,000 spectators and participants join an evening procession, carrying handmade lanterns and marching among lighted floats, stilt walkers, dancers and performers in the Great Halloween Lantern Parade. The entire day is filled with fun, including hayrides, a costume contest, food trucks, children’s activities and a beer garden.