Eat
Oct. 11-12: Baltimore Taco Festival
Power Plant Live. 34 Market Pl. VIP: 12-2 p.m. GA: 2-8 p.m. $10-60.
This past Taco Tuesday, Oct. 7, was also National Taco Day. If you (like us) totally missed the memo, you can still celebrate at this massive two-day food fest downtown—which will be filled with mariachi music, massive marg bars, a tequila expo, chili pepper-eating contests, piñata smashing for kids, and, of course, tacos from more than 30 purveyors. Fill up on tortillas from the likes of Old Goucher’s Elevated Kitchen & Grill, local pop-up Emmanuella’s Cuisine, and visiting vendors from across the Mid-Atlantic.
DRINK
Oct. 10-11: OktoBEARfest
Maryland Zoo, 1 Safari Pl. Fri: 6-10 p.m. Sat: 1-6 p.m. $35-250.
At the zoo’s annual fall sipping event, you can sample seasonal beer, cider, and seltzer from more than 30 producers, all while saying hey to its furry and feathered inhabitants. The weekend kicks off with 21-and-over festivities on Friday night, featuring live music by local faves Nelly’s Echo and Charm City Junction. On Saturday, feel free to bring the cubs to enjoy vendors and explore the exhibits. Brewers and distillers to look out for this year include Maryland’s own Dogfish Head (Punkin Ale), Flying Dog (Apple Pie Face), Raven Beer (Tell Tale Heart), The Brewers Art (Penguin Pils), and Charm City Meadworks (Elderflower Pumpkin).
SEE
Oct. 10: Motor House’s 10th Anniversary Celebration
Motor House. 120 W. North Ave. 6 p.m. -1 a.m. Free admission.
Ten years ago, arts nonprofit Baltimore Arts Realty Corporation (BARCO) debuted Motor House as a nexus for performance and community on North Avenue. To mark the milestone, the team is throwing a big birthday bash that honors the wide array of disciplines that have found a home at the venue throughout the years. Highlights on the evening’s packed itinerary include the debut of the new Art in Overdrive collective gallery, interactive art-making in Graffiti Alley, an unveiling of the redesigned showroom, a screening of a new documentary on Motor House’s impact, a live performance by Afrofuturistic theater and music collective Funktopia, and a late-night future house and R&B dance party.
HEAR
Oct. 10-12: Subscape
Station North Arts & Entertainment District. Locations & times vary. Free.
Back for round two this year, this completely free music fest amplifies Baltimore’s ever-thriving DIY scene. Organizers Michael Habif of Baltimore Showplace, Kim Te of Natural Velvet (also The Crown’s former head of booking), and Andy Phillips of Wax Atlas are presenting more than 50 punk, metal, and experimental bands across three days in Station North. The venues—Metro Baltimore, Mobtown Ballroom, and Ema’s Corner—are all within walking distance, so peep the full lineup to plan out your weekend. Our can’t-miss set suggestions: Hardcore acts like Muscle and Doubt and Black Lung; genre-benders like Landis Harry Landis and Glorian; and headliners like Animal Collective’s Deakin.
See also: United Way Centennial Benefit Concert ft. Common
DO
Oct. 10-12: Fells Point Fun Festival
Thames St. Fri. 5-9 p.m., Sat.-Sun. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Free.
It’s (arguably) the best weekend of the year in Fells Point. The beloved tradition with a storied past—it began as a fundraiser for locals to protest the city’s proposed federal highway expansion in 1966—draws thousands to the Thames Street waterfront for eats, drinks, live music, shopping, and family fun. New this year, the fest will kick off Friday with its first-ever Night Market, giving attendees the chance to shop around after dark while grooving to live tunes by Charm City pop princess Enslow. View the weekend’s full program—which features magic shows, marching bands, balloon art, and the raved-about Sunday-afternoon pet parade—here.
See also: Cromwell Valley Fall Harvest & Arts Festival; Mr. Trash Wheel Music Video Shoot; Maryland Renaissance Festival
If you’re hoping to savor the season with a trip to your local fall farm this weekend, check out our Ultimate Baltimore-Area Pumpkin Picking Guide and roundup of local apple cider destinations.