From today’s b, the paper

There’s something ingrained in our DNA that makes us yearn to travel during the summer (Must drive long distances. Must wear tropical shirts).This season, kick the habit and stay in town. There’s literally a different festival for every taste, every weekend, from art blowouts to Caribbean smorgasbords (minus Ambiguously Gay Pirates — we think). So don’t worry about fueling the car and stop MapQuesting. Here’s your summer guide:

Saturday + Sunday
honfest honfest.net
WHERE: The Avenue, 36th Street, Hampden
HOURS: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday, noon-6 p.m. Sunday
THE LOWDOWN: Bring out your inner Bawlmer! Equal parts block party, camp celebration and B-more culture shock, HonFest is known for its kitschy atmosphere — lots of feather boas and leopard print.
WHY YOU SHOULD GO: “You should only come to HonFest if you like to have fun,” says Denise Whiting, festival creator/owner of Cafe Hon/Hon extraordinare. “I look at HonFest as good if you like reality TV, because HonFest is a reality TV show. It just unfolds in front of your eyes.” Thankfully, there’s no skeezy hot-tub sessions/D-list celebs needing rehab.
NOT-TO-MISS: Whiting says it’s definitely the Best Hon contest, held this year on both days in beauty-pageant style. “It’s like the try-outs to be the next Elle Woods,” she says. “Bend and snap!” We’re not sure how that applies to HonFest, but … yay!?
DESCRIBE YOUR FESTIVAL IN ONE WORD: “Hon-believable.” Mr. Webster says it’s wrong, but it feels so right.

june 21-22
latinofest latinofest.org
WHERE: Patterson Park
HOURS: Noon-10 p.m. Saturday, noon-9 p.m. Sunday. Admission: $5
THE LOWDOWN: It’s all about the music. Everything from salsa to merengue to reggaeton will be represented. Also look for arts and crafts and dancing. It’s also about the food. “We try to be authentic as we can,” says festival vice-Chair Martiza Gonzalez, who particularly enjoys the Puerto Rican, Mexican and Venezuelan dishes.
WHY YOU SHOULD GO: “It’s a good place to see or have Latino culture well represented in terms of our diversity in countries’ food, culture and music,” Gonzalez says.
HOT-TIP: Gonzalez says not to miss two exhibition tours, one on the game of Dominoes and another about Latino legends of baseball.
DESCRIBE YOUR FESTIVAL IN ONE WORD: “Vibrant”

june 21-22
baltimore pride baltimorepride.org
WHERE: Mount Vernon, Druid Hill Park
HOURS: Parade is from 4-5:30 p.m. and block party is from 6-10 p.m. Saturday (Mount Vernon). Pride festival is 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday (Druid Hill Park)
THE LOWDOWN: Fun, fun, fun at one of the oldest pride events in the country. The parade is a blast and the block party features good food and musical performances. Expect more than 150 vendors at Sunday’s festival.
NOT-TO-MISS: Craig Wiley, Pride executive director, singles out the cocktail part at Gertrude’s June 20 as an exciting kickoff party. It starts at 8 p.m.
EXPECTED ATTENDANCE: 20,000-25,000
DESCRIBE YOUR FESTIVAL IN ONE WORD: “Family”

june 27-29
african american heritage festival
aahf.net
WHERE: Camden Yards, 333 W. Camden St., Baltimore
HOURS: 5-10 p.m. Friday, noon-10 p.m. Saturday, noon-8 p.m. Sunday
THE LOWDOWN: The hugely popular fest features history and food, but we’re most excited about the entertainment lineup, which includes Mario, Chuck Brown and the Sankofa Dance Company. The festival also has timely pavilions devoted to financial literacy, health and wellness and careers.

july 11-13
caribbean carnival festival
bmorecarnival.com
WHERE: Druid Hill Park
HOURS: 5-10 p.m. Friday, noon-9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
THE LOWDOWN: The highlight is the island costumed parade, replete with reggae and steel drum bands. And don’t forget the Caribbean cuisine selections. Mmm …
WHY YOU SHOULD GO: Again, the food. “There’s different foods from the different Caribbean islands,” said Elaine Simon, president of the Caribbean-American Carnival Association of Baltimore. “There’s something for everyone to eat. Which dishes are her faves? Seasoned rice, curry goat and jerk chicken.
NOT-TO-MISS: The camaraderie. “There’s always people to talk to,” Simon said. And the entertainment is top notch. “The music is usually really jumpy,” she said.
EXPECTED ATTENDANCE: Last year it drew 25,000 people. Simon expects more this year.
DESCRIBE YOUR FESTIVAL IN ONE WORD: “Exciting”

july 18-20
Artscape artscape.org
WHERE: Mount Royal, Cathedral and Charles streets in Bolton Hill and Mount Vernon
HOURS: oon-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, noon-8 p.m. Sunday
THE LOWDOWN: Concerts, opera, various art exhibitions and crafty vendors galore at Maryland’s largest arts explosion of the year.
WHY YOU SHOULD GO: Tracy Baskerville, of the Baltimore Office of Promotions & The Arts, says not to miss the outdoor film showings. Perfect for the summer.
DESCRIBE YOUR FESTIVAL IN ONE WORD: “Colorful”

july 17-20
whartscape whamcity.com
WHERE/HOUR/COST: They are still figuring out where the event will be held, determining when the event will take place and how much it will cost to go.
THE LOWDOWN: Wham City’s version of Artscape features numerous bands, both local and national (a complete list is being nailed down), as well as performance art. Get ready to dance.
WHY YOU SHOULD GO: “We wanted this year to focus on Baltimore bands,” said co-organizer Adam Endres. “There’s a lot of bands who get put in the mix.”
NOT-TO-MISS: “Any of it,” Endres said. Heh. Really? “Thursday is going to be the most unique night,” he finally allows. “Friday night will be quieter music.”
EXPECTED ATTENDANCE: Last year, Endres sold out the venues seating 500 each night. This year, he’s shooting for 700-800 a night.
DESCRIBE YOUR FESTIVAL IN ONE WORD: “I want to say something like ‘awesome’ or ‘crazy,’ but that seems really lame,” Endres said. We’ll let it go. Seems like you have some work to do, anyway.

aug 2-3
international festival
baltimorecity.gov/ifest
WHERE: Poly/Western High School parking lot, Falls Road and West Coldspring Lane
HOURS: noon-9 p.m. daily
THE LOWDOWN: Because it really is a small world after all, the International Festival celebrates a multitude of ethnicites with food and dance. It’s the best place to see Baltimore’s many colors represented.
WHY YOU SHOULD GO: “It brings all cultures and ethnicites together to celebrate those things we have in common and to learn our differences,” said festival chair Alvin Gillard. Sounds good to us. Tell us more about the ethnicites. “There’s really representatives from all ethnic communities — African American, Latino, Irish dancers, African dancers. It’s just really bringing folks together who normally do not have opportunities to come together.”
NOT-TO-MISS: Gillard is a fan of the semi-pro level soccer matches, but also the food. Plus there’s a fashion show featuring native garb.
EXPECTED ATTENDANCE: 15,000-20,000
DESCRIBE YOUR FESTIVAL IN ONE WORD: “Colorful.” “Part of our opening there’s an oath of allegiance, with folks becoming new United States citizens,” Gillard said. “There’s a parade of nations with folks carrying flags.”

aug 9-10
fest africa festafricausa.com
WHERE: Patterson Park
HOURS: Noon-8 p.m. both days
COST: $5
THE LOWDOWN: A look at the sights, sounds and flavor of different African countries, with food, dancers and arts and crafts.
WHY YOU SHOULD GO: “The dancers from Africa [are wonderful],” said co-organizer Ameze Aibangbee. “[We have] performers from Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe …”
NOT-TO-MISS: The ethnic food, Aibangbee said. There are also international and local African bands for a blend of traditional and contemporary sounds.
EXPECTED ATTENDANCE: 5.000
DESCRIBE YOUR FESTIVAL IN ONE WORD: “Exciting”

aug 22-24
powwow native american festival baic.org
WHERE: Patterson Park
HOURS: 2-9 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday, 10-6 p.m. Sunday
COST: $6 daily, $15 weekend pass
THE LOWDOWN: An American Indian gathering of multiple tribes, featuring dancers, drummers and artists.
WHY YOU SHOULD GO: “It’s great bringing people together and sharing things with others from over the states, said PowWow committee chair Jovina Chavis. “And the dancers have great regalia to reflect who they are.”
NOT-TO-MISS: A Native American Health Village will offer free public health services. Be sure to check out the dancing/drum contests on Saturday.
EXPECTED ATTENDANCE: 6,000-7,000
DESCRIBE YOUR FESTIVAL IN ONE WORD: “Fascinating”

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