We stopped by the Italian festival on Saturday afternoon to see what was happening after driving…read moreby! So glad that we stopped in, there was so much to take in! The live music and dancing was so fun, there were even hula hoops all around! We tried fresh pizza slices, salads and the best calamari I've ever had with a lemonade and Italian iced tea to wash it all down. As someone who is not Italian, it was super cool to stop in and enjoy pieces of Italian culture and support an awesome Baltimore community! We will definitely be back next year!

Italian Festival in lil' Italy in Baltimore provides a wonderful experience for us who are not…read moreliving in Baltimore and want to get out of bubble of the usual, mundane things. It has free parking, free entertainment, visit to a National Historic landmark (1881 ornate Italian style church), a lot of great vendors and amazing foods. The "gladiators" pass you by on your way to watch a game of bocce ball. People are friendly as this is a block party festival that gives you a feeling that you are one big family. Very easy to start conversation and harder to end it. I learned today that the meat is not what makes calzone but the dough that hosts the meat inside. The meet was good but the dough was memorable. Speaking about the dough - how about delicious sweet fried dough for $3 that is impossible to finish by one person - even if you are a true Italian. I was advised by two elderly Italian ladies, "take real sugar because the powder sugar is too messy, and have sugar on both sides." I am sorry that I did not try meatballs but I can testify that calzone and pizza were the first class and worth the trip. I am very tempted to repeat the experience on a similar event - August 19 and 20, 2017 - this time just a saint will be different (St Gabriel in August).

Stopped by the Wine Village yesterday. It was a great day weather wise. This was my first time at…read morethis event. It's an annual event that only lasts about a month. It will be ending June 1st so you have a few weeks. It's kid and pet friendly. It's free admission. Parking is tricky but not impossible. There are seats available - you can bring your own chairs but on weekends it's packed. Get there right at opening time (1 pm on weekends, 3 pm on weekdays). We didn't bother bringing any chairs and really don't need it. We were able to get a table. There's international and local wines and spirits available. They don't really offer tastings. You just have to buy a glass or a bottle. I think it would be beneficial to offer tastings at a small cost that way you can know what you may like and want to purchase. The wines were a bit pricey. One of my favorite local wineries was here, Boordy's! The wine slushies in the pouches were popular. We tried the red wine sangria and agreed it was just ok. We stopped by the kebab spot. I tried the steak kebab in a pita and it was ok. Had to pay separately for the sauces. Way overpriced for what you get honestly. It's a cute event and something that was on my bucket list. I may possibly visit again before it's gone but if I miss it, oh well!

Super cute little German wine celebration. It's essentially the Christmas Village but wine from…read morelocal wineries!

Really fun (and free admission!) carnival to take the kiddos to. Ride wristband for unlimited rides…read more$25 each and if I had to guess, there are probably about 15+ rides varying from little kid rides to rides that are fun for older kids and adults. They have a lot of typical carnival games like ring toss, they have clowns and face painting, etc. Also they sell food and drinks - pit beef, fries, Italian sausage, cotton candy, funnel cakes, beer, etc. And the food prices aren't bad at all. They did start a little later than their posted opening time of 3:00 when I went (6.1.19) and unfortunately the operator of the bumper cars was very obviously under the influence, but aside from that we had a fantastic time and definitely plan to make this an annual tradition.

Christmas Village in Baltimore - A Chilly, Charming Detour with a Few Caveats…read more The Christmas Village in Baltimore is, quite literally, cool, both in atmosphere and in temperature. On a brisk winter evening, the open-air market delivers exactly what it promises: twinkling lights, the hum of seasonal music, the scent of spiced wine in the air, and a festive energy that makes for an easy, if brief, holiday escape. One of the more curious aspects of the experience is its sponsorship and structure. Chase Bank sponsored a secluded, interior section of the village, an enclosed, tent-like space that requires a $5 per person admission fee. Inside, shoppers find higher-end, European-style goods such as wooden nutcrackers and specialty imports not available in the main village. While one could argue the intent is to manage crowd flow or provide warmth and exclusivity, the execution feels more transactional than magical. I spoke with several families exiting the space, groups that had paid admission for multiple people, only to leave empty-handed. Their consensus was candid: the section is worthwhile if you already know exactly what you're looking for, but therein lies the problem, you can't preview the offerings without paying to enter. For most, including myself, the value proposition didn't quite justify the cost, and I opted to move along. What does deliver unequivocally is the food and drink. The Glühwein is well-executed, warming, and flavorful, served in a souvenir mug (pictured). While carrying it around the rest of the evening is mildly inconvenient, the practical upside is that refills drop to $8, compared to the $14 initial purchase, making it a solid value for those lingering longer. In scale, the village is modest certainly not a full immersion into a European Christmas market, but it succeeds as a curated, bite-sized experience. Numerous small stalls offer enough food and drink options to comfortably sustain a visit, and the area around the Christmas trees provides a particularly pleasant focal point. That's also where I stumbled upon the standout of the evening: a toffee vendor. The Italian cappuccino toffee, in particular, deserves special mention. Rich, balanced, deeply flavorful, and not cloyingly sweet, it was without exaggeration one of the best toffees I've ever had. And that's coming from someone with both a pronounced sweet tooth and a well-earned reputation as a food connoisseur. It alone nearly justifies the visit. Bottom line: The Christmas Village in Baltimore may not fully replicate the charm of its European counterparts, and some elements feel more commercial than festive, but it remains a pleasant seasonal diversion. Come for the atmosphere, stay for the Glühwein, and absolutely do not leave without the cappuccino toffee. All in all, a solid holiday experience with a few memorable highlights.

Charming little Christmas Village along the water in Baltimore. Went on a Saturday evening, it was…read morepredictably packed with people. But the holiday music and the twinkling lights made it feel like I was living Silver Bells. Wandering among the stalls of thw outdoor market, there are a disproportionate number selling jewelry, but there are cool things to be found, like Bigfoot socks, and cool hats. To enter the indoor sale tent, you have to buy a $5 "season ticket," which seems odd. But inside that tent is the large Kathe Wolfhardt store with cute German Christmas decor. I bought ornaments and a blown glass tree. My biggest issue was that the signage for the village food options were not well lit. We went with the intent of eating giant soft pretzels and apparently the entire festival was sold out. I did greatly enjoy my raclette sandwich, hot chocolate with Bailey's in an adorable boot mug, and some grilled sausage. The process of ordering abd paying, them waiting a while to get my food order was frustrating but expected. This was a nice way to be filled with some holiday spirit.

Apparently Feet on the Street is in a new location, right next in front of the courthouse and there…read moreis now a cover charge. $3.50 in advanced online, $5 on-site (Cash only). I did not have cash so they graciously let me on free . Nice outing to get out the house and enjoy the weather and people watch. Suggest they diversify the music/bands and maybe have a DJ when the band takes a break.

A Towson summer tradition! Every Friday night in the summer…read more(weather permitting) this is a great place to hangout. There's a different band every week playing family friendly music. Bring the kiddos and let them get that summer energy out in the bounce houses or dancing and hula hooping. Parents and adults can have a beer on the street and relax. Bring your camp chairs so you can stay a while. And come hungry. The surrounding restaurants are great and a few extra vendors and food trucks mix it up. Hope to see you there next week :)

Such a terrific annual event! Lots of vendors and such a terrific variety of talent. There's always…read moresomething to see or buy. There's a great food area as well with many things to select from. This is a kid and pet friendly event. They do have lots of outhouses and handwashing stations. There's live music to enjoy as well. There is a bus station that will bring you into town to make parking and arrival to the event much more convenient.

It was so great to go to this event. I haven't attended the festival since 1980! There were all…read morekinds of vendors: photography, watercolors, designer T-shirts, jewelry, wreaths, and pottery. They even had live music. Some choral group called Sweet Adelines sang a beautiful cover of "I Hope You Dance." At any rate, a good time was had by all, and the festival is free! Plus, shuttle buses are available, as thousands swarm to this event; which makes parking difficult. It only happens on one weekend day, each year, in September. So, mark your calendar! Lastly, I only gave this event 4 stars because (I felt) it lacked a good selection of food. One gets hungry when browsing in the hot sun; and the cuisine pickings were pretty slim!

It was better than expected. Entertainment was great. Food was delicious and it was a friendly…read moreatmosphere

Awesome, Awesome, Awesome…read more For it's 1st showing, the BWF had a great array of food & drink, ample space and awesome vibes. My only critique would be to educate some of the vendors on the different tickets that were floating around from the various deal outlets (Groupon, Living Social etc.) It was a bit confusing to purchase something in advance and to then be told that the tickets were not accepted. I eventually just went to the next vendor but, yeah. Also, I don't know what can be done about the sale of actual bottles of wine. I know that if I go to a wine festival and I try a wine I like, I typically want to purchase more than a glass or cup full.

There's not much I love more than books so the book festival is an annual favorite of mine…read more I am just not sure about the location change to the harbor. The location is breathtaking and there area ton of vendors!!! Make sure you set aside at least 2-3 hours to go through all of the tents and check the calendar to find book readings and such!

What a wonderful event! If you're looking for a good time with another nerdy friend or a nice event…read morewith family this event doesn't disappoint. Tons of books to choose from .. old National Geographic's and life magazines.. fairy tale books and best sellers. Word games, live music, amazing food and more! It's a must!