On The Town

Fells Point Fun Festival preview

We give you a rundown on what to expect for the annual festival.

UPDATED: Musicians are rehearsing, beer is brewing, and food trucks are gassing up for the 47th annual Fells Point Fun Festival this weekend.

The Preservation Society, a nonprofit organization, first began hosting the event to raise funds to fight against building an elevated highway along the north shore of the Inner Harbor. Now, this outdoor street festival attracts more than 200,000 “funlubbers” for festivities that run along Thames Street on the water between Caroline and Wolfe Streets and north on Broadway to Eastern Avenue.

For the first time in decades, the overseeing organization has relaxed the policy on open containers. Alcohol is no longer confined to the borders of the four beer gardens that will be present this year.

The festival will be full sail ahead with four stages for music, street performers, more than 100 vendors (think art, photography, and crafts), a food-truck alley, more than 30 food vendors, a crab-picking block party, and plenty of kid-friendly activities that include magic shows and hula hooping competitions.

The festival kicks off at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, October 4, with an opening party on the Square, featuring live music. On Sunday, visitors can also pursue adventure by sailing aboard the Pride of Baltimore II. Tickets are $45 for adult and $35 for children under 12 years old.

The complete schedule for the weekend can be found here.