# Baltimore's best weekend events right now

> From a massive book festival to goat herds and German beer, here's what to do in Maryland this weekend.
- Title: Baltimore's best weekend events right now · The Banner
- Summary: From a massive book festival to goat herds and German beer, here's what to do in Maryland this weekend. Baltimore and the surrounding region have dozens of…
- Keywords: baltimore, maryland, weekend events, baltimore book festival, anne arundel county fair, goats on the slope, annapolis baygrass music festival, african american cultural festival, oktoberfest, festival of india, laura benanti, jake blount
- Source: The Banner — https://thebanner.com/culture/things-to-do/maryland-events-baltimore-book-festival-3BU62XQQVJFCZAAEU67LWTTJQY
- Author: Andrea Appleton
- Published: 2026-09-17T10:30:00+00:00
- Read time: 3 min
- Topics: baltimore, maryland, weekend events, baltimore book festival, anne arundel county fair, goats on the slope, annapolis baygrass music festival, african american cultural festival, oktoberfest, festival of india, laura benanti, jake blount
## Anne Arundel County Fair
Funnel cake, pig races, chainsaw carving, a live T-Rex encounter, and a smoke house for kids. The carnival midway runs all weekend with unlimited ride wristbands for $15 on Thursday.
## Historic Ellicott City Decorator Showhouse
Local designers transformed a 19th-century house called Valhalla with killer decor. You can buy the lamps, rugs, gifts and art on display while supporting Historic Ellicott City's preservation efforts.
## Maryland's blue crab history
Artist Nia Hampton shares her film about Black female crab pickers on the Eastern Shore, with live music by Styles Bond and soft crab sandwiches from Ekiben. Historian Kate Livie discusses crabbing's legacy.
## Goats on the Slope
Watch a herd of goats clear the steep slope at Wyman Park Dell while enjoying bluegrass concerts, movie night, kids story time and yoga. Limited-edition T-shirts designed by local illustrator Alex Fine are available.

> We've been pleasantly surprised by the number of people who just want to see goats eating.
## Jake Blount performs
The Black folk musician and banjo virtuoso blends genres with electric guitar and synthesizer. He's performed at Carnegie Hall and worked on Ken Burns' "The American Revolution" soundtrack.
## Laura Benanti's solo show
The Broadway actress and comedian, known for her Melania Trump impersonations on The Late Show, performs her 65-minute show "Nobody Cares" about aging, motherhood and people-pleasing.
## Baltimore Book Festival
Local stars like Lawrence Brown and D. Watkins join national figures including Tarana Burke, Ibram X. Kendi and Molly Crabapple. Nine stages feature African storytelling, romance, poetry and more.
## Book Festival dance party
Saturday night ends with a dance party featuring DJ Oji. The festival runs 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, and it's free.
## Annapolis Baygrass Music Festival
On the Chesapeake shores, swim, eat crab cakes, learn to shuck oysters and catch Little Feat, Sam Bush, Béla Fleck and Yonder Mountain String Band. Single-day passes run $161 to $217.
## African American Cultural Festival
Baltimore County's festival typically draws thousands. A historical village teaches African American history through oral history, artifacts and cultural demonstrations. It's free.
## Voices of History Street Fair
Pair with the free Voices of History Street Fair celebrating Black history and culture, featuring gospel and dance hours at the National Great Blacks in Wax Museum.
## Oktoberfest at Guinness
Drink outside while it's still warm with oompah bands, German breakfast and six new beers. Play traditional games and get a commemorative stein. Tickets are $28.
## Wiener Dog Wunderdash
At Heavy Seas Beer Taproom's free Oktoberfest, watch the second annual Wiener Dog Wunderdash. Sign up your dachshund, corgi or other short dog to race.
## Mortified Baltimore storytelling
Brave locals share embarrassing teenage stories from diary entries, poems and love letters. This month's theme is Back to School. It's the "most loving cringefest in town."
## The Budos Band
The New York instrumental group blends funk, afrobeat, psychedelic and doom rock. One review said they sound "as if Quentin Tarantino was the music supervisor for a Bond film."

> as if Quentin Tarantino was the music supervisor for a Bond film
## Festival of India
Some 20,000 people visit this festival featuring Indian art, music, dance, clothing, jewelry, henna and rangoli. Cuisine from all over India, Bollywood dancers and a fashion show are on tap.
## Key takeaway

Baltimore and the surrounding region have dozens of free and affordable events this weekend, from the Baltimore Book Festival featuring national figures like Tarana Burke to family-friendly activities like watching goats clear a hillside.