Celebrating Baltimore's Rich African-American Heritage: A Guide to the Most Popular Street Festivals

Baltimore is a city that loves to honor its African-American heritage through a variety of street festivals and events. From the Fringe Festival, which showcases independent and marginal plays, music, art, dance, and unclassifiable forms of live performance and visual arts, to the Nicholas Greek Folk Festival, one of the largest and longest-running annual Hellenic events in the Mid-Atlantic region, there is something for everyone. Artscape is the largest free outdoor art festival in the United States and has been celebrating the cultural heart of Baltimore since 1982. The Maryland Film Festival, which occupies the extraordinary Mount Vernon Place, has been a harbinger of spring in Baltimore since 1911. The SoweBo Arts & Music Festival is a three-day Memorial Day weekend event that has become one of the most successful due to its strong ties to local Baltimore communities. The Flower Mart at Mount Vernon Place Conservancy is the oldest festival in Baltimore City and is held every May in Mount Vernon.

DelFest is another great Maryland music festival held at the beautiful Allegany County Fairgrounds in Cumberland. Finally, The Little Italy Festa is an annual celebration of Italian culture, food, and entertainment in the heart of Little Italy in Baltimore Maryland that attracts thousands of music lovers from all over the United States and more than 25 countries around the world. No matter what your interests are, there is something for everyone to enjoy when celebrating Baltimore's rich African-American heritage. From art festivals to music festivals, there are plenty of opportunities to show your pride in Baltimore with t-shirts, hats, and sweatshirts featuring the Visit Baltimore logo.

Artscape is the largest free art festival in the country, with an average attendance of 350,000 people. In addition to live art, the event includes outdoor dining, craft beer, petanque, craft vendors, activities for children, and performances by traveling opera singers and wandering magicians. The Maryland Film Festival brings cutting-edge films to the streets and theaters of Baltimore. The SoweBo Arts & Music Festival has become one of the most successful due to its strong ties to local Baltimore communities.

The Flower Mart at Mount Vernon Place Conservancy is a great way to celebrate springtime in Baltimore. DelFest is an enormous and surprising festival that spans a wide swath of Baltimore around the Maryland Institute of Art College and pays homage to art and artists of all kinds. Finally, The Little Italy Festa is one of the largest music festivals of its kind in North America.