Carnival of Soul

After a brief respite following Artscape, festivals are back in full force around the city. The AFRAM Festival is in Druid Hill Park, while Moonrise touches down at Pimlico and the Baltimore Jazz Festival is at GAME sports bar near Horseshoe Casino. In Parkville, you can celebrate with a festival all about peaches and blackberries, and elsewhere there are crab feasts, block parties and outdoor concerts. Sounds like summer.

Friday, August 9

Pints in the Park: 5-8 p.m. at Center Plaza. Head (or stay) downtown for the outdoor happy hour with drinks, games, music and more.

First of All, Farewell: 6-8 p.m. at Cardinal. The gallery hosts an opening reception for works by John Ralston and Melissa Webb.

Corks and Cocktails: 6-9 p.m. at Scrap B-More. The event supporting Pigtown Main Street has food and drinks from the neighborhood in the future home of the creative-reuse haven.

Cosmic Nectar: Age of Enlightenment: 7-11 p.m. at a secret location. The Baltimore Rock Opera Society presents a party paying tribute to 18th-century discovery, with drinks from Baltimore Spirits Co., food and performances, including BROS’ next original work, “Glitterus.”

Johns Hopkins University Night: 7:05 p.m. at Camden Yards. The Blue Jays meet the Orioles as the O’s take on the Astros.

Twilight Swim: 7 p.m. at Patterson Park Public Pool. It’s the last 21+ swim of the season in Southeast Baltimore.

Songs of 1969: 50th Anniversary Show: 8 p.m. at Creative Alliance. Psych rock band Fractal Cat performs two sets—one featuring their own material, another turning to the hits of 1969.

Garage Night: 8 p.m. at Joe Squared. The show features music from Blood & Stomach Pills, an Upstate New York duo, plus Marylanders Church Grim, Vampire Beat and The Dead Ringers.

Moonrise Festival – Official Pre Party: 8 p.m.-2 a.m. at Baltimore Soundstage. The music starts downtown before the EDM festival gets underway on Saturday.

Crusade – a world premiere play by Bruce Bonafede: Through Aug. 18 at Baltimore Theatre Project. Rapid Lemon Productions presents the play set in a future when the government is taken over by Christian fundamentalists.

“Little Shop of Horrors”: Through Aug. 17 at Motor House. ArtsCentric performs the re-imagined edition of the sci-fi musical with gospel, pop and rock.

Saturday, August 10

AFRAM Festival: Aug. 10-11 at Druid Hill Park. The City of Baltimore’s celebration of African-American culture features food, shopping, family fun and live performances from Rick Ross, Teddy Riley, Dru Hill and others.

Moonrise Festival: Aug. 10-11 at Pimlico Race Course. The EDM festival features headliners Alan Walker, Tiesto, KSHMR and more.

Baltimore Jazz Festival: Aug. 10-11 at GAME sports bar. The festival features Chelsey Green & The Green Project, Snarky Puppy’s Larnell Lewis and plenty more.

Peach and Blackberry Festival: Aug. 10-11 at Weber’s Cider Mill Farm, Parkville. The event centers around treats made with the titular fruits, plus gem mining, live music and a craft show.

Volunteering Untapped: 10 a.m. at Fells Point. The volunteer day features work helping St. Vincent De Paul of Baltimore, with projects split between Beans & Bread and Headstart.

Union Square Crab Feast: 1 p.m. at Union Square. An afternoon of cracking crabs in Hollins Market raises money for school supplies for students at Steuart Hill Academic Academy.

Summer Plein Air Show: 3-6 p.m. at Crystal Moll Gallery. The opening reception for the 7th annual show features the work of 32 artists, with a painting demo and more.

Puppy Days of Summer Block Party: 4:30-8 p.m. at Creative Alliance. Head down to Highlandtown for the dog days and enjoy a block party with games for both humans and dogs, vendors and more.

Cherry Hill Fun at the Garden: 6-8 p.m. at Cherry Hill Urban Community Garden. The jazz festival has music from Clarence Ward III and chances to learn about the community garden’s work.

Blaqstar’s Gassed ‘n Electric: 8 p.m.-12 a.m. at the Peale Center. The Baltimore DJ leads a new dance party with Invisible Majority, with music and visual art.

Sunday, July 11

Brunch at The Dog Chef with Diablo Doughnuts: 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at The Dog Chef. Dog parents can indulge alongside their pets at a brunch for both canines and humans.

Free Second Sunday Admission: noon-5 p.m. at Maryland Historical Society. Get in free to the Maryland Historical Society downtown and browse the collections.

Crab Feast: 1 p.m. at Diamondback Brewing. The Locust Point brewery hosts Chesapeake Landing Restaurant for steamed crabs, plus sides.

Riverside Concert Series: 5 p.m. at Riverside Park. The outdoor concert series includes music from Desperate Measures and food from Smoking Swine food truck, Miss Twist Ice Cream and more.

Abdullah Ibrahim & Ekaya: 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. at Keystone Korner. Catch the South African jazz master for one of his two final shows in Baltimore.

Concert in the Park: 6:30 p.m. at Patterson Park. The Scotch Bonnets bring punky reggae to Pagoda Hill.

Chris Stapleton’s All American Road Show: 7 p.m. at Merriweather Post Pavilion. Country music singer-songwriter Chris Stapleton will be joined by Margo Price and The Marcus King Band for a stop in Columbia.

Opening Reception: on tender ground: 7 p.m. at Current Space. The group exhibition features work from nine artists, curated by Jacob Zimmerman.

Thunderpussy, Hollis Brown & Thunder Club: 7 p.m. at Metro Gallery. The all-female Seattle trio headlines a bill in Station North.

Runway Show No. II: 7:30-9:30 p.m. at Columbus Center. Close out Baltimore Fashion Week with a runway show near the harbor.

Upcoming:

• Maryland Vegan Restaurant Week returns Aug. 16-Sept. 1 with plant-free deals around the city and state.
• The Orioles host a crab feast on the field at Camden Yards on Aug. 17.
• Hot August Music Festival heads to Oregon Ridge Park on Aug. 17, with Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, Turkuaz, Billy Strings and more.
• The Maryland State Fair is back in Timonium from Aug. 22-Sept. 2.