Guide To Spring Festivals This Weekend In Maryland
45th Annual Towson Town Spring Festival
44 West Chesapeake St
Towson, Md. 21204
(410) 825-1144
towsontownspringfestival.com
Dates: Saturday, May 5 - 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday, May 6 - 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Price: Free admission; $2 entry fee to beer gardens for 21 and over
Opening ceremonies begin at noon on Saturday and include bagpipes accompanying a dedication to the men and women who serve our country, with Yolanda Pelzer singing the National Anthem. Come for the artsy vendors but don't forget to visit Baltimore's favorite radio station Mix 106.5 at the beer gardens. There will also be a petting zoo, face painting, magicians and carnival games for the kids.
2012 Flower Mart
Mount Vernon Place
699 Washington Place
Baltimore, Md. 21201
(410) 274-5353
flowermart.org
Date: Friday, May 4 and Saturday, May 5
Price: Free admission
As made clear by Shakespeare's greatest love story, "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet." Much to the same token, this festival, by any other name, would still smell as fragrant with the massive amounts of flowers and plants for sale. Whether you prefer sunflowers, violets, daisies, tulips or hydrangeas, all varieties can be found here. Food vendors include the popular Lemonstick, where you drink a lemon through a mint stick, and look for an appearance by everyone's favorite library on wheels, the Enoch Pratt Bookmobile.
Related: The Floral Studio of Baltimore Offers Flower Arranging Classes
31st Annual Decoy & Wildlife Art Festival
Havre de Grace Decoy Museum
215 Giles St
Havre de Grace, Md. 21078
(410) 939-3739
decoymuseum.com
Dates: Friday, May 4 - 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday, May 5 - 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday, May 6 - 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Price: $8 for all three days
The 31st Annual Decoy & Wildlife Art Festival is a unique event that cannot be missed. Not only can you view some of the most intricate decoys, but wildlife artists, hunting suppliers and merchants will be on hand to showcase their crafts. With carving competitions, retrieving dog demonstrations and both live and silent auctions, you are sure to walk away with an appreciation for the carving and hunting tradition.
Naptown BarBAYq Festival
Anne Arundel County Fairgrounds
1520 Crownsville Road
Crownsville, Md. 21032
Various Contacts
barbayq.com
Dates: Friday, May 4 - 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday, May 5 - 11 a.m. to 10 p.m
Price: $5 admission; Free for children under 12; $25–35 VIP tickets include unlimited water/soft drinks and 2 adult beverages
What could be better than enjoying ribs, chicken, beef and pork (not to mention all those delicious side dishes) with that special smoky flavor achieved only through a good barbecue? Purchase a VIP ticket to help judge the best dishes as cooking teams compete for cash prizes. Otherwise kick back, relax and enjoy live music from 25 bands. Vendors include local artists, photographers, craftsmen and children's entertainment.
Related: Baltimore's Ethnic Festivals
2nd Annual Baltimore Urban Book Festival
Frederick Douglass-Isaac Myers Maritime Park
1417 Thames St
Baltimore, Md. 21231
(410) 685-0295
baltimoreurbanbookfestival.com
Date: Sunday, May 6 - 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Price: $5; Free for children and college students with ID
Come to the only book festival which focuses on African-American literature. Attend a meet-and-greet with authors Jimmy DaSaint, T Styles and Miss KP, as well as many others. Children's activities include face painting, storytelling, games and a free book drive to encourage the young readers to be more active in literature. Networking with leading figures in the publishing industry is also set to take place Saturday, May 5 at Teavolve Cafe and Lounge.
