Your Family Will Love These 5 Baltimore Fall Festivals

When the summer heat subsides, it’s time to get outside and enjoy the changing season. One of our favorite ways to enjoy the autumn is going to a few Baltimore fall festivals. These 5 festivals in and around Baltimore cover all the bases, from the rock n’ roll vibe of The Shindig Music Festival to the costumed fun of the Maryland Renaissance Festival. Whatever your Baltimore fall festival speed, we’re sure you‘ll find at least one to fit your family.

The Shindig Music Festival

September 19

1500 Washington Blvd.
Baltimore, MD 21230
Located in Historic Pigtown
1.5 Miles from Camden Yards, M&T Bank Stadium, I-95, and I-395

A “Shindig” is defined as “a large, lively party celebrating something.” In this case, the “something” is the blue-collar, rock & roll spirit which makes up the very core of the city of Baltimore. Last year’s Shindig attracted over 10,000 live music fans—the most ever gathered at Carroll Park for an event. It’s easily the most popular of the Baltimore fall festivals.

The all-day festival will feature two identical main stages with no overlapping sets of music.

The Vending Village in The Woods offers a variety of Baltimore’s most popular restaurants options with plenty of seating and shade to enjoy. The Woods is also home to the Ripley’s “Believe it or Not” Side Stage featuring an array of rare talent including a performance by local shock-rock troupe Dingleberry Dynasty, plus Sword Swallowers, Fire Breathers, Aerial Acrobats, Burlesque performances, Tattoo Contests, and many other visually captivating oddities.

The Baltimore Book Festival

September 25-27

11am-7pm
Baltimore Inner Harbor

The Baltimore Book Festival features hundreds of appearances by local, celebrity and nationally known authors, book signings, more than 100 exhibitors and booksellers, nonstop readings on multiple stages, cooking demos by top chefs, poetry readings, workshops, panel discussions, storytellers and hands-on projects for kids, live music, and a delicious variety of food, beer and wine.

Although this is the most bookish of the Baltimore fall festivals, you’ll absolutely get a feel for the fun and flavors of autumn.

Das Best OktoberFest

October 10

Noon – 2pm VIP Admission Session, 2PM – 6pm Regular Admission Session
M&T Bank Stadium Lots

It wouldn’t be fall if there wasn’t an OktoberFest, and this hugely popular version fills that place in the Baltimore fall festivals lineup. All the features are under cover, so rain or shine, you are totally wunderbar! As you enter the show, you’ll receive a souvenir tasting glass for “all you care to taste” sampling.

All of your favorite craft beers and perfectly paired wines will be served to highlight the great Beer Hall theme—with more than 150 international, domestic and local Maryland beers, domestic wines and schnapps available.

As always, drinking responsibly is key to having fun. And keeping in mind the cause this OktoberFest supports: A portion of event proceeds go to Spirit of Hope Children’s Foundation.

7th Annual Cockeysville Fall Festival

October 17, 2015

10am-4pm
594 Cranbrook Rd, Cockeysville, MD 21030

Live music, games, moon bounces, free balloon animals, appearances by Ronald McDonald, and other fun characters, raffles, local vendors, and plenty of family fun all await at the Seventh Annual Cockeysville Fall Festival. This is the most charitably minded of the Baltimore fall festivals, donating all proceeds to local charities.
This year’s festival is benefiting Ronald McDonald House Charities of Baltimore.

Honorable mention:

Maryland Renaissance Festival 

August 29-October 25 (see website for full list of hours)

Although the Maryland Renaissance Festival is held near Annapolis, it’s just a short drive from the Baltimore area, and it’s definitely worth including in a list of Baltimore fall festivals.

The Maryland Renaissance Festival begins its 39th season August 29th and runs Saturdays and Sundays and Labor Day Monday through October 25th for nine weekends of thrills, feasting, handmade crafts, entertainment, and merriment.

The 27 acre Village of Revel Grove comes to life each autumn with more than 200 professional performers on ten stages, authentic combat armored jousting on magnificent steeds, and streets filled with village characters. Join His Most Royal Highness King Henry VIII in the forests and glades with over 140 artisans exhibiting crafts in their own renaissance shops, five taverns featuring cool libations, 42 food and beverage emporiums providing a vast array of succulent and sweet treats to sate even the most hearty of appetites.

 

We know you’ll have a great time at any of these Baltimore fall festivals, but we’re also sure your visit to the area would only be enhanced by choosing Wayside Inn for your accommodations. To book accommodations at Wayside Inn, click here.

To learn more about the area, check out our vacation guide.