Nicknamed The Charm City, Baltimore could as easily be called The Fun City, especially in the summer. Festivals highlight each month, celebrating everything from Pride and Black culture to art and the city’s maritime heritage, all of which make Baltimore a good destination for family travelers.
Baltimore Pride, one of the oldest Pride celebrations in the country, kicks off the festival season June 10–16, with parades (the pet parade and high-heel parade are favorites) and block parties with music, entertainment and food trucks.
Maryland Fleet Week and Flyover celebrates the rich maritime traditions of the Chesapeake Bay and contributions of Marylanders to national defense. From June 12 to 18, Baltimore’s Inner Harbor and Fell’s Point neighborhoods are the places to go for ship tours, flyovers and family-friendly activities.
Juneteenth weekend (June 22–23) brings AFRAM, one of the largest free East Coast festivals celebrating African American art, music, food, history and culture. Druid Park is filled with music; entertainers; children’s activities; African drumming; carnival mask making; and a tribute to house music with performances by Busta Rhymes, October London, Alex Isley and Mya.
Fourth of July Fireworks is a long-standing Baltimore tradition, a day filled with free performances, music at Inner Harbor Amphitheater, food trucks at West Shore Park and kid-friendly activities at Rash Field Park. The spectacular fireworks show can be enjoyed from Federal Hill, Canton, Harbor East and Fell’s Point.
The Baltimore Washington One Caribbean Festival begins the weekend of July 12–14 with a dazzling parade of colorful floats, steel bands, performers, drummers, stilt walkers and elaborate costumes. A street fair brings more costumes, music, performers and plenty of Caribbean food.
The country’s largest free outdoor arts festival, Artscape, fills the Station North Arts & Entertainment District from Aug. 2 to 4. The full schedule of interactive arts exhibits, musical performances, poetry workshops and street dance also includes a showcase for the city’s best food vendors.
Summer festival season winds up Aug. 26 with Charm City Live, a free festival summing up all the city’s charms. The family-centric day includes music, art, performances, entertainers and plenty of local food specialties, as well as a lively kids’ zone filled with activities.
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