Summer Festivals Make Baltimore the Place to Be

Summertime is festival time in cities around the country, and Baltimore, Maryland, makes the most of the season with great events designed to introduce family travelers to the culture. You may be heading to Baltimore for its great attractions like Fort McHenry National Monument or the National Aquarium, but you’ll definitely want to check out some of these incredible festivals while in town. Not only are they a great way to get to know different parts of the city, but they also let you discover the heritage of the city and the people that live there.

This month, Baltimore hosts the AFRAM at Druid Hill Park during the weekend of Juneteenth (June 21 and 22). The festival, free to attend, is geared toward family entertainment celebrating the African-American heritage of Baltimore. The entertainment lineup features musical acts for every generation of the family, from Patti LaBelle to Saweetie and, throughout the weekend, you can enjoy African drumming, mask-making and plenty of great food.

The music continues throughout the summer with Baltimore by Baltimore, a musical festival taking place along the city’s historic waterfront at Inner Harbor Amphitheater. This monthly musical event celebrates music and the music makers, with curated lineups designed to showcase a different type of music each month.

The Baltimore Washington One Caribbean Festival is an annual event that has been happening for more than 40 years. Starting with a parade that is followed by a festival and concert, this event is modeled after a typical Trinidadian street fair. This year’s event, which will take place at Druid Hil Park, will run from July 11 to 13.