Baltimore has a festival for just about every interest this weekend. Whether you love kite-flying, Irish music and dance, reading and writing, street food, gospel music, or just about anything else, you’re bound to find some way to make it memorable. Check it all out in our weekend events roundup: GospelFest: A Tribute to Richard Smallwood, Thursday, April 9, 7:30 p.m., Meyerhoff Symphony Hall. GospelFest returns for a one-night tribute to gospel legend Richard Smallwood, featuring HBCU choirs with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. Words, Wings, and Wine, Friday, April 10, 7:30 p.m., MT Bank Exchange. Enjoy a poetic evening with spoken word artists Chev and Sol. A live painting will be created during the show and raffled off to a lucky attendee. Grown Up Field Trip Throwback, Friday, April 10, Maryland Science Center. Throw it back to the ’90s with this retro “school field trip”-themed party. Attendees can make their hair stand on end with the Van de Graaff generator, watch expert educators perform a retro science show, design your own pogs, and more. Disney’s Encanto In Concert, Friday, April 10 through Sunday, April 12, Music Center at Strathmore and Meyerhoff Symphony Hall. Experience the magic of “Encanto” as the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra performs the award-winning score. The Heidi Chronicles, Friday, April 10, through Sunday, May 3, Vagabond Players. From the 1960s through the 1980s, this play chronicles feminist art historian Heidi Holland’s journey through the women’s movement, career ambition, and more. The work remains relevant for a society still navigating gender roles, work-life balance, and other challenges. Baltimore Irish Trad Fest, Friday, April 10, and Saturday, April 11, various locations. Enjoy two nights of Irish music concerts at Creative Alliance, featuring performances by Matt Molloy and John Carty on Friday, Seán Gavin and Caoimhín Ó Fearghail on Saturday, and other music makers throughout the festival. There will also be a ceili dance at Mobtown Ballroom, and more to enjoy this weekend. CityLit Festival, Saturday, April 11, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Maryland Center for History and Culture. This year’s theme is Bearing Witness: Literature as a Revolutionary Act, and the day will feature author readings, book signings, panel discussions, hands-on workshops, and a Literary Marketplace with books available for purchase. Learn more in this Baltimore Fishbowl article. Kartacze Cooking Class, Saturday, April 11, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Polish Home Club, 512 S. Broadway. Polish food expert Krystyna Osowska will teach participants how to make kartacze (large meat-stuffed dumplings) and kluski śląskie (Silesian dumplings) with mushroom sauce. There are two sessions that attendees can register for. Punks Potions Market, Saturday, April 11, 12 p.m., Peabody Heights Brewery. Presented by Willow Wisp Collective, the Punks Potions Market will feature a variety of fantastical vendors. Fantasy dress up is encouraged but not required, including elf ears, tiefling horns, orc teeth, fairy wings and other magical attire. The BIG Baltimore Kite Fest, Saturday, April 11, 12 p.m., Patterson Park Observatory. Gather near the Observatory at Patterson Park for a day of kite-flying fun. There will be a free Friendly Flyer workshop, kites for sale, food vendors, pop-up performances, a professional fly zone, and more. The Second Saturday S#!T Show feat. Bill Monaghan, Saturday, April 11, doors and happy hour at 7 p.m., show at 8 p.m., Ottobar. Join host Mike Quindlen for a night of stand up comedy featuring Ellie Summerling, Ashley Nimmo, Chris Peirce, and Jules Posner. Crimewave: A Goth, Post-Punk Darkwave Party, Saturday, April 11, 10 p.m., Ottobar. Dive into the shadows for a night of goth, darkwave, new wave, post-punk, and industrial music. 21+ Open Studios Tour, Saturday, April 11, and Sunday, April 12, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., various locations (see directory or map of individual artists’ studios). Ever wanted to take a peek behind the scenes of an artist’s creative process? Visit the studios of working artists during the 2026 Open Studios Tour. Participating artists can be found in this directory or on this map. Baltimore Street Food Festival, Saturday, April 11, and Sunday, April 12, Power Plant Live! Come hungry because the Baltimore Street Food Festival will have an abundance of foods to try from more than 30 vendors. Each food item is priced at $5 (and there are $10 giant portions for those looking to really indulge). Attendees will also enjoy eating contests, breakdancing shows, axe throwing, live music, and more. Fell’s Point Second Sunday Antique Market, Sunday, April 12, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., 800 S. Broadway. Shop furniture, pottery, jewelry, glassware, toys, folk art, sports memorabilia and more as the Fell’s Point Second Sunday Antique Market returns for its 34th year. Markets will be held on the second Sunday of each month through December. The Flavor Summit 2026, Sunday, April 12, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., The Garage at R. House. Designed for DJs, producers, collectors, artists, and hip-hop fans, this one-day summit will feature awards honoring champions in music, art culture, live MCs DJs spinning everything from classic breaks to future-forward beats, a Producer Showcase featuring Loopdiggaz The Machinists, hip-hop art exhibitions showcasing visual storytelling from the culture, a Vinyl Record Market, and curated local artists, makers, and creative vendor. Yom HaShoah Commemoration 2026, Sunday, April 12, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., Chizuk Amuno Congregation. Join the Baltimore Jewish Council for an annual community commemoration of Yom HaShoah. Andrist-Daglar-Falkner Faculty Chamber Music Concert, Sunday, April 12, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., Earl and Darielle Linehan Concert Hall at UMBC. Three members of UMBC’s music faculty — pianist Audrey Andrist, violist Renate Falkner, and oboist Fatma Daglar — present an afternoon of chamber music featuring works by Claude Debussy, Rebecca Clarke, Margaret Bonds, Earl Wild, and Charles Martin Loeffler. ...read more read less