It’s pretty safe to say that almost everyone loves the Fall season. The air is crisp. The leaves are vibrant. The weather is getting just about perfect for spending more time outside. That is why this week – we’re throwing together 5 of the best things you can do in October. Yes, it’s still only September, but you’ve got to have things to look forward to, right? From festivals, to beer gardens, to good old costume contests…here are 5 of the best things to do in Baltimore this October:
#1 Fells Point Fun Festival –October 7-8, 2017
Located at Broadway and Thames Street, the Fells Point Fun Festival celebrates the preservation of its historically rich Main Street. Expect a weekend chock full of bands, vendors, and of course…fun! The festival is a great way to support your local businesses. Festival attendees can enjoy the large assortment of food and crafts vendors, view historical hotspots, and visit the festival’s beer gardens. There is also a Kids Zone with lots of performances, games, and free crafts for the little ones. Parking can sometimes be trouble for events like this, so you may want to consider carpooling or taking an Uber.
#2 Harbor Harvest Festival –October 15, 2017
Located in Inner Harbor at Rash Field, the Waterfront Partnership will be hosting its 10th annual Harbor Harvest Festival. The partnership invites families to come and celebrate the changing seasons by spending a day filled with performances, science experiments, crafting, a petting zoo, pony rides, a hay bail maze, and more. Most of the activities are geared towards children, like an urban pumpkin patch, pony rides, a hay maze, petting zoo, trackless train, fall crafts, food trucks, and live entertainment. The festival is free to attend but pony rides, the trackless train, and Kid’s Pass including pumpkin patch, cost extra. This year they even have a kid’s costume parade and contest! See Facebook event here: https://www.facebook.com/events/981283785344647
#3 Baltimore Beer Week – October 13-22, 2017
This one is for the adults! Head out and celebrate the 9th Annual Baltimore Beer Week this October and sample some of the greatest brews in the state. Beer week kicks off over 350 beer events, including a local favorite: Das Best Oktoberfest. Opening Tap Celebration will take place on Saturday October 14th, 2017 and will once again coincide with the Das Best Oktoberfest held at M&T Bank Stadium Parking Lot H. Everywhere you go in Baltimore this week will likely have some sort of beer-related celebration. Even the Maryland Zoo celebrates with Oktobearfest on Saturday, October 21st. The zoo will feature unlimited sampling of 60+ seasonal brews. Plus, enjoy live music and German-inspired food and fare from local vendors and artisans. Go ahead, get wild. Other events include Heavy Seas Friday at Padonia Ale House and specials at Mahaffey’s, Of Love and Regret, Wharf Rat and more.
#4 ZooBooo! – October 23-25th, 2017
The Maryland Zoo has even more events this October including the wildly popular ZooBooo! This event features keeper chats and special animal enrichment activities, including the Elephant Pumpkin Smash. Zoo guests can watch as many animals receive their own Fall treats at different times during the weekend. Some more of the events the zoo offers includes: Halloween trick-or-treating, visits from Animal Ambassadors, daily costume contest, carnival games, crafts, hay maze, and more.
#5 Great Halloween Lantern Parade and Festival – October 25, 2017
Looking for something to do the Saturday before Halloween? This year’s annual event, dubbed “Kaleidoscope,” will showcase over 1,000 colorful lanterns made by your local neighbors and friends. The festival at Patterson Park will be loaded with food trucks, lantern workshops, hayrides, crafts (you can make your own lantern for the parade that night), vendors, live bands and a of course a children’s costume contest. That night you’ll be able to watch floats, stilt walkers, dancers and your neighbors walk the parade into Annex Park on Eastern and Linwood avenues. Most of this event is free, however at 9 p.m. there will be an adults-only dance party and costume contest called the Glow Ball. So there – a little something for everyone!
