Sizzlin Summer 2010

Sowebo music and Arts Festival, noon-9 p.m. May 30, around Hollins Market, soweboarts.org. This music and arts festival showcases the lively community just west of downtown. Performances this year includes Americana strummer Caleb Stine, the funky Higher Hands, and Southern rockers the Remnants. FYI: Bring your slicker 'cause it almost always rains.

Charles Village Festival, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. June 5, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. June 6, Wyman Park Dell, 29th and North Charles streets, charlesvillagefestival.com. Everyone lives in charming Charles Village at some point it seems, so go check out the gardens of those that stayed on the Garden Walk Sunday (tickets required) or run into the younger crowd at the Milkshake concert Friday night. Be sure and browse the vendors set up in the shady park.

Federal Hill Jazz and Blues Festival, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. June 6, East Cross Street, historicfederalhill.org. Enjoy an afternoon in the "historically hip" Federal Hill neighborhood while listening to the Kelly Bell Band and Eric Lindell from New Orleans. And like all good festivals, this one includes street food and kids' activities, although they'll probably be too busy dancing to care.

Honfest, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. June 12, noon-6 p.m. June 13, 36th Street (the Avenue) between Falls Road and Chestnut Avenue, honfest.net. Hampden's unique personality shines at this street festival celebrating the Hon--beehived and leopard-print-wearing in all her glory. With fruity drinks, local vendors, greasy food, music on the four stages, a live Maryland Lottery drawing, and entertainment on the Roosevelt Park stage (including Friday night, June 11).

Baltimore Pride, parade and block party starts at 4 p.m. June 19 in Mount Vernon, festival in Druid Hill Park 11 a.m.-6 p.m. June 20, baltimorepride.org. The high-heel race at 3:45 p.m. Saturday kicks off a rainbow-bright weekend of fabulous fun and family festivities. Well, technically, the Twilight on the Terrace kick-off party takes place June 11 at Gertrude's Restaurant at the Baltimore Museum of Art, but you can take Pride at your own pace, it's all good.

Hare Krishna Rathayatra Chariot Festival and Festival of India, noon-7 p.m. June 26, parade starts at the Maryland Science Center at 601 Light St., festival at McKeldin Square at the corner of Light and Pratt streets, baltimorekrishna.com. After the colorful parade, enjoy a free vegetarian feast and peruse the festival's gifts, books on yoga and meditation, and multicultural arts exhibits. With music and dancing, an area just for kids, and henna tattooing.

Pile of Craft, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. June 26, St. John's Church, 2640 St. Paul St., charmcitycraftmafia.com. A hyper-local crafty show where you can find the coolest crap made by the most creative folk and pay not a penny for shipping. With apparel for kids and grown ups, adornments for you and your home, things that smell good, and pretty paper goods.

Beyond the Boardwalk: On Tap, 4-7 p.m. June 26, National Aquarium of Baltimore, Pier 3, 501 E. Pratt St., aqua.org/beyondtheboardwalk, (410) 576-3800. The National Aquarium's tent along the Inner Harbor will be like a party at a beer farmers' market, with samples of sustainable, local craft beer and microbrews, plus live music. Must be 21 years or older.

African American Heritage Festival, June 18-20, M&T Bank Stadium lots B and C, 1101 Russell St., aahf.net. This huge annual festival fills the stadium with a health and wellness village; an arts, history, and education village; a children's corner; community row; a financial empowerment area; foods and beverage vendors; crafters and artists; and, always, freaking awesome musical guests.

Whartscape, July 22-25, locations around the city, whamcity.com. Baltiweird underground collective Wham City returns again with its celebration of all things underground. Expect performances from banner artists in noise, future-pop, punk, avant-garde, and "unclassifiable," on various stages around town.

Salsapolkalooza, 12:30-5:30 p.m. July 10, Creative Alliance at the Patterson, 3134 Eastern Ave., (410) 276-1651, free, creativealliance.org. Hot outdoor salsa and polka celebration with live music from Banda Kaliente, the Continentals, Love Peace Project, and the Shambara Boyz; traditional dances from Kalinka, Ballet Folklorico Mexico Vivo, Krakiowiaki, Bailes de Mi Tierra, and Baltimore break dancers; art activities for all ages; and a global marketplace. Plus, beer and international for purchase..

Artscape, noon-10 p.m. July 16-17, noon-8 p.m. July 18, Mount Royal Avenue and Cathedral Street, along with the Charles Street corridor, Bolton Hill, and Station North Arts and Entertainment District, artscape.org. The largest free arts festival in America, Artscape just keeps getting bigger and better with the addition of the Charles Street bridge corridor of performance arts.

Beyond Baltimore

KarmaFest, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. May 22, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. May 23, Oregon Ridge Park, 13555 Beaver Dam Road, Cockeysville, karmafest.com. Start off your season of drinking too much and eating street food at this holistic weekend aimed at promoting the good for you practices of yoga, meditation, etc. with vegan food, workshops, New Age vendors, and a two-hour trance-dance with the band Telesma Saturday night.

Bowiefest, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. June 5, Allen Pond Park, 3330 Northview Drive, Bowie, (301) 809-3078, cityofbowie.org. A celebration just 20 miles from Baltimore that highlights the city of Bowie with local businesses taking over the Ice Arena, organizations set up near Allen Pond, area craft and food vendors, and two stages of local entertainment.

Art in the Park, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. June 5, the grounds of the Westminster City Hall Park, (410) 848-7272, carrollcountyartscouncil.org. The works of 70 artists--many who will doing demonstrations--along with roaming musical entertainment and crafty activities for the kids.

Frederick Festival of the Arts, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. June 5, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. June 6, Carroll Creek Linear Park, Market Street, Frederick, (301) 662-4190, frederickarts.org. A juried art and craft festival with lots of live music, performances from the Maryland Shakespeare Festival on the grassy knoll by Carroll Street, and scheduled activities for the wee ones.

Cypress Festival, June 9-12, Cypress Park, pocomoke.com. The 35th annual festival in scenic Pocomoke City, along the banks of the Pocomoke River on the Eastern Shore, boasts a duck derby, boat rides, fireworks, bingo, and antique car and motorcycle shows, along with all the other regular outdoor festie stuff.

Mountain Heritage Arts and Crafts Festival, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sundays June 11-13 and Sept. 24-26, Sam Michael's Park, 1516 Job Corps Road, Shenandoah Junction, (304) 725-2055, jeffersoncountywvchamber.org/festival/info.html. OK, so no pets allowed at these shindig weekends, but come out to enjoy the sweet sounds of mountain music along with crafting traditions that go back generations. Plus, West Virginian wineries representing.

Columbia Festival of the Arts, June 11-26, venues in and around Columbia, including the Rouse Theatre and Howard Community College, (410) 715-3044, columbiafestival.com. Two weeks of a packed arts and performance schedule that kicks off with the LakeFest Celebration June 11-13 at the Columbia Town Center lakefront, including the 17th annual Kinetic Art Parade along Little Patuxent Parkway 11 a.m. June 12.

Annapolis Arts and Crafts Festival, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. June 12-13, Navy-Marine Corps Stadium, 550 Taylor Ave., Annapolis, (410) 263-4012, annapolisartsandcraftsfestival.com. It's the first year for this huge juried arts-and-crafts show that puts a focus on Maryland's growing wineries and tasty local delicacies.

DogFest, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. June 19, Maryland State Fairgrounds, intersection of York and Timonium roads, Timonium, dogfest2010.org. Benefiting the animals given loving shelter at the Baltimore Humane Society, the DogFest invites you and your pups for an afternoon of swimming, agility courses, a costume contest, and a doggie beach club.

Days End Farm Horse Rescue Spring Carnival, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. June 19, Days End Farm Horse Rescue, 1372 Woodbine Road, Woodbine, (301) 854-5037, defhr.org. A fundraising event for the neglected horses recovering at the Days End Farm, the afternoon includes pony rides and demonstrations on horseback, a petting zoo, and a yard sale.

A Mid-Summer Faire, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. June 20, Historic St. Mary's City, (240) 895-4990, stmaryscity.org. Enjoy olde-tyme good times at HSMC's living history sites, including a sawing contest, juggling, pig racing, music, and more merriment inspired by the colonial past.

Celebrate Lancaster, 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m. June 25, Binns Park, Lancaster, Pa., (717) 291-4758, lancastercityevents.com. Food, live music on the Moose stage, and fireworks after the evening's performance by the Lancaster Symphony Orchestra.

Howard County American Indian Pow-Wow, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. July 24, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. July 25, Howard County Fairgrounds, 2201 Fairgrounds Road, West Friendship, (410) 442-1022, myspace.com/powwow4life. With native dancing, arts and crafts, food, and cultural artifacts, plus storytelling, drumming, demonstrations, kids' activities, and music.

Kutztown Folk Festival, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. July 3-11, Kutztown Fairgrounds, 225 N. White Oak St., Kutztown, Pa. (888) 674-6136, kutztownfestival.com. A celebration of all things Dutch Pennsylvanian, including but not limited to quilts, Byers Choice figurines, timber framing, baby farm animals, Pinnacle Ridge local winery, and all-you-can-eat family-style ham and chicken dinners.

Augustoberfest, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Aug. 21, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Aug. 22, downtown Hagerstown's central parking lot, 23 N. Potomac St., Hagerstown, (301) 739-8577, augustoberfest.org. Modeled after the Oktoberfest celebrations in Bavaria, this ale-soaked festival under a huge tent features spätzle, scherenschuitte, and the sweet sounds of die Schlauberger.

Maryland State Fair, Aug. 27-Sept. 6, Maryland State Fairgrounds, intersection of York and Timonium roads, Timonium, marylandstatefair.com. Anyone watch the episode when Oprah taped her show from a state fair and her and Gayle judged a pie or some-such food competition after trying fried butter? We like fair food, too. And betting on the ponies (live horse racing Aug. 27-29 and Sept. 3-6).

Maryland Renaissance Festival, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. weekends Aug. 28-Oct. 24, 1821 Crownsville Road, Annapolis, rennfest.com. Dream of being a wench or princess for a day? Shrek or a prince? Do it in the woods with a smoked turkey drumstick at the Renn Fest, and buy some flowers for your hair, and quaff an ale while you're at it. Bonus: You can get married at the chapel, but you have to be dressed up.

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