Baltimore's Oldest Free Public Festival

The Best Things to Do in Baltimore This Weekend...

Author

Eating Baltimore
April 30, 2026

Hey Baltimore—

The Flower Mart is back in Mount Vernon, marking the return of Baltimore’s oldest free public festival. First launched in 1911, this springtime tradition surrounds the Washington Monument with local vendors, sustainable goods, and the iconic lemon stick.

🏠 For Sale: A historic 6-bed, 3-bath Victorian in West Towson. Wrap-around porch, Brazilian hardwood floors, 10-foot ceilings, a bright quartz-counter kitchen, a heated in-ground pool, and even a two-story bank barn. Priced at $1,150,000.

🦀 Menu Item: The Fried Green Tomatoes, Maryland style from Nick’s Fish House — local tomatoes breaded and fried crispy, then crowned with lump crab and lemon butter.

🎟️ Hot Ticket: Sour Fest returns to Max’s Taphouse June 5–7 — three (free) days of pucker-worthy pours at Maryland’s largest beer selection, with a draft list stacked with sours.

Here’s what we’ve got this weekend:

  • The 57th Annual Towsontown Spring Festival…

  • Mobtown Brewing Co’s 7th Anniversary Party…

  • And Dimples Bar & Grill is Doubling Down on Baltimore…

Scroll on, make plans, and eat well, Charm City.

P.S. Want your business in front of 8,000+ locals? Advertising with Eating Baltimore means growing your business and supporting a feel-good, homegrown newsletter that’s all about building community in the Baltimore area. Click here to partner with us!

Things To Do In Baltimore & Surrounding Areas This Weekend

Friday, May 1st

VEGGIE FEST at Second Chance Plants TIMONIUM, MD (Free)
📅 Friday, May 1 | 9 AM
📍 Second Chance Plants, 2200 York Rd, Timonium
Second Chance Plants is packing the weekend with 250+ varieties of spring and summer veggie plants. Swing through for the buy-four-get-one-free deal and leave ready to turn your garden into a tiny produce empire.

Demo Days at Harley Davidson of Baltimore (Free)
📅 Friday, May 1 | 9 AM
📍 Harley Davidson of Baltimore, 8845 Pulaski Hwy, Rosedale
Harley Davidson of Baltimore is rolling out a full weekend of demo rides and motorcycle fun. If you’ve been itching to test a new ride, this is your excuse to finally stop “just looking.”

Flower Mart at Mount Vernon Place (Free)
📅 Friday, May 1 | 11 AM
📍 Mount Vernon Place, 699 Washington Pl, Baltimore
Baltimore’s oldest free public festival returns to Mount Vernon Place for two days of flowers, plants, spring vendors, and peak May energy. Go for the blooms, stay because you suddenly need a lemon stick and three new plants.

BRB (Baltimore Record Bazaar) Vinyl Nite (Free)
📅 Friday, May 1 | 6 PM
📍 Peabody Heights Brewery, 401 E 30th St, Baltimore
Baltimore Record Bazaar takes over the Peabody Heights taproom with DJ Mikie Love and friends spinning and selling vinyl. Browse crates, sip local beer, and pretend you’re not about to buy “just one more” record.

Saturday, May 2nd

Garden Festival at Ladew Topiary Gardens ($)
📅 Saturday, May 2 | 8 AM
📍 Ladew Topiary Gardens, 3535 Jarrettsville Pike, Monkton
Ladew’s annual Garden Festival brings together specialty plants, garden ornaments, antiques, and plenty of spring inspiration. It’s basically a candy store for anyone who has ever said, “I’m just buying one plant.”

57th Annual Towsontown Spring Festival (Free)
📅 Saturday, May 2 | 10 AM
📍 Downtown Towson, Towson
The Towsontown Spring Festival returns with 300+ vendors, food, family-friendly fun, and live music across downtown Towson. Come hungry, wear walking shoes, and prepare to “just browse” your way into buying something.

Sip & Shop (Free)
📅 Saturday, May 2 | 11 AM
📍 So Pro, 3000 O'Donnell St, Baltimore
Sip & Shop is back at SoPro with local finds, vintage home goods, jewelry, plants, pie, and good-time browsing. It’s a low-stakes way to support local makers and accidentally discover your new favorite thing.

MOBTOWN 7th ANNIVERSARY PARTY (Free)
📅 Saturday, May 2 | 12 PM
📍 Mobtown Brewing Company, 4015 Foster Ave, Suite 400, Baltimore
Mobtown Brewing Company is throwing a block party to celebrate seven years in Baltimore. It’s free to attend, pet-friendly, kid-friendly, and loaded with the kind of brewery birthday energy worth building a Saturday around.

🎵 Big Truck Brews Beats and Bites Festival ($)
📅 Saturday, May 2 | 12 PM
📍 Big Truck Farms and Brewery, 19919 Cameron Mill Rd, Parkton
Big Truck is going full-throttle with an all-day festival of craft beer, food, and live music. Expect big flavor, loud tunes, and the kind of Saturday that does not believe in leaving early.

Belvedere in Bloom (Free)
📅 Saturday, May 2 | 4 PM
📍 Belvedere Square, 540 E Belvedere Ave, Baltimore
Belvedere Square is bringing together local artists, craft makers, merchant specials, and live music from Jimmy Solesky. It’s a breezy Saturday stop for shopping, snacking, and soaking up the neighborhood energy.

🎵 Nick's Fish House w/ The 19th Street Band (Free)
📅 Saturday, May 2 | 5 PM
📍 Nick's Fish House, 2600 Insulator Dr, Baltimore
Nick’s Fish House brings The 19th Street Band to the outdoor deck stage for a waterfront evening of live music. Grab a drink, claim a view, and let the spring deck-season comeback do its thing.

🎵 Fiesta de Mayo featuring TWINSICK ($)
📅 Saturday, May 2 | 8 PM
📍 POWER PLANT LIVE!, 34 Market Place, Baltimore
POWER PLANT LIVE! turns up the volume for Fiesta de Mayo with a set from TWINSICK. Grab tickets if your weekend plans need more bass, dancing, and “one more round” energy.

Sunday, May 3rd

Charm City Moon Market - May (Free)
📅 Sunday, May 3 | 12 PM
📍 Ministry of Brewing, 1900 E Lombard St, Baltimore
Charm City Moon Market pops up at Ministry of Brewing with vendors selling handmade goods, art, candles, ceramics, jewelry, and more. Come for the market, stay because shopping inside a brewery is a dangerously smart idea.

Headlines in the Community

Little Italy’s former Caesar’s Den building just sold for $932,800 — more than triple its opening bid — with a local buyer now set to take over the landmark S. High Street property. Read more…

Dimples Bar & Grill is already doubling down on Baltimore, bringing its loaded cheesesteaks from Locust Point to the former Riptide space in Fells Point by the end of summer. Read more…

Ébène Pilates has opened in a renovated former garage in Locust Point, adding a new wellness studio built around community care, movement, and making more bodies feel like they belong. Read more…

Cheesesteak & Co. is bringing its cult-followed shaved ribeye cheesesteaks, homemade egg rolls, and vegan options to Owings Mills this summer with its first Baltimore County location at Red Run Station. Read more…

The Silver Queen Cafe team is taking over the former Emma’s Tea Spot space in Hamilton to open Market at Hamilton, a neighborhood deli and market with muffalettas, artisan cheeses, tinned fish, and potential to-go charcuterie. Read more…

Baltimore Peninsula’s new Launchpad program selected 33 local small businesses for its first Rye Street Park kiosk residency, with women-owned and Black-owned businesses making up the bulk of applicants. Read more…

Federal Hill and Canton restaurateur Andrew Carter is turning the former Last Penny in Locust Point into Decatur Tavern, a family-friendly neighborhood bar built around brisket-short rib burgers, local beer, and craft cocktails. Read more…

Wine Village returns to West Shore Park from May 7–31 with 45 vendors, 30 wines, wine slushies, local makers, and enough waterfront snacks to make “just one glass” a bold-faced lie. Read more…

Real Estate Corner

Pet Of The Week

Have a furry, feathered, or scaly friend you’re proud of? Send a photo and a few fun facts, and we might feature them in an upcoming issue. It’s a fun way to share smiles with the community and discover local pet resources along the way.

This week’s reader submission is: Rufus

“Rufus is a 6 year old rescue from Mississippi! He is the silliest, sweetest, weirdest dog you will ever meet. He loves spending his day snuggled up on the couch and will never say no to a pup cup.”

Rufus, huge fan of pup cups!

Date Spot Of The Week

📍 3600 Hickory Ave, Baltimore, MD

Tucked just off the Avenue in Hampden, The Bluebird Cocktail Room is a cozy, reservation-only spot built for slow, intentional date nights. Inside, it’s all low lighting, vintage books, and a quiet, tucked-away feel that makes it easy to settle in and stay awhile.

The focus here is classic cocktails done right, alongside a rotating seasonal menu. You’ll find everything from well-executed staples to more creative, spirit-forward drinks—plus a solid selection of wine and beer.

The food menu leans elevated but approachable, with shareable plates like charcuterie, cheese boards, and thoughtfully prepared small bites that pair well with whatever you’re drinking.

If you’re looking for a quieter, more intimate alternative to a typical night out, this is one of those spots that feels like a find.

Thanks for reading Eating Baltimore today. Share it with someone who went to Towson U.

Have a great weekend!

Matt | Eating Baltimore

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