Artscape Festival: Nations Largest Free Art Festival

Photo Credit: Kamau Collins

Attracting over 350,000 people over 3 days, ignoring Artscape as an activity for Maryland is impossible. Artscape is July 19-21 this summer. Held in the heart of Baltimore City on Mt. Royal Avenue, the Artscape Festival is crazy and awesome experience. It features hundreds of individual art vendors who come from all over the country to present and sell their works. You can find anything out there. I've been to Artscape for the past 4 years and each time is different and better than the last. The festival completely shuts down a huge section of streets in the city.

The art work on the streets are absolutely fantastic. The vendors compete and pay for spots all year because having the opportunity for hundreds of thousands of people to walk around and see and buy your products doesn't exactly present itself that often. Even if you don't consider yourself an artsy person (I don't) you can still find something that sparks your interest. The pieces vary drastically from sculptures, to pottery, to clothes, to paintings, to purses, to jewelry to who knows what. There are hands on activities you can participate in to make your own art works.

Another great part of the festival are the performances. Periodically throughout the streets you can catch a street performer, showcasing their interesting or usually strange talent. There are also 3 or 4 different musical stages with a wide variety of musical acts. Usually their is a pretty big name performer to headline the even with a bunch of other groups playing during the day. Another attraction this past year was added as the festival coordinators stepped it up with a Ferris wheel.

Photo Credit: Kamau Collins

Artscape also features delicious food from diverse international vendors and catering companies. The food is honestly some of the best I've ever had. Just like the art showcases, vendors come from all over to show off their special foods and make some money. One of the best parts of it all is that alcohol is served and you can walk around and casually drink all day.

Overall Artscape in Baltimore City is a great time and an experience anyone should be able to enjoy, so this summer bring the whole family or your friends out and have a good time! Below is a video showing some highlights from one of the days last summer! For more information about the event feel free to check out the Artscape Website as it will be updated regularly until the event.