As the weather warms, the SOWEBO Arts Music Festival is celebrating its 43rd year of festivities on Sunday, May 24, returning to Southwest Baltimore with live music, local vendors, and the family-friendly Kids Alley. The free-to-attend community festival will take place from noon to 8 p.m. in the historic Hollins Market neighborhood. Organized by community members, the festival stands as one of Baltimore’s longest-running free community events.  Meghan Cardoso, a Southwest Baltimore resident and member of the SOWEBO Fest planning committee, said in a statement that “what started as a laid-back Memorial Day weekend hang has grown into a Baltimore tradition, bringing thousands to Hollins Market to celebrate local creativity.” According to a press release from the SOWEBO organizers, the festival celebrates the Hollins Market Neighborhood’s vibrant art and music scene, and its long history of creative resilience. Attendees can expect musical performances spanning genres from indie-rock to soul and jazz to hip hop, an array of food vendors, and local visual artists. “This year’s SOWEBO Arts Music Festival is shaping up to be one of our most vibrant yet. We’re expecting between 3,000 and 6,000 attendees to fill the streets around Hollins Market for a full day of art, music, and community,” said Laura Dykes, spokesperson for the SOWEBO Arts Music Festival. “With more than 200 local artists and makers — including longtime favorites like Far I Fashions’ Mama Saray, Mole Lady Arts, Misty Stained Glass, and Legendary Bowties — there’s creativity at every turn.” Alongside the other festivities, families can enjoy the return of Kids Alley. The children-oriented area will include hands-on activities such as Tattered Hatters, an interactive station where attendees can make their own hats from recycled materials, and performances by Black Cherry Puppet Theater, where attendees will be invited to participate in a puppet parade.  In an effort to promote an inclusive festival space for young attendees, the Kids Alley will also host the festival’s first Calming Corner. Designed with neurodiverse children and youth in mind, the calming corner will include sensory-friendly seating areas, noise-cancelling headphones, fidget toys, and individual pop-up tents.  “SOWEBOFest continues to grow, but it remains what it has always been: a community‑built celebration of Southwest Baltimore’s talent, culture, and spirit,” Dykes said. More information about the festival can be found at sowebofest.org. ...read more read less