World Premieres and Folk Traditions: What's On in Baltimore Today

Theater and Performance

The local spotlight is on the Everyman Theatre today for the world premiere of DAWN, a powerful new play by Tuyết Thị Phạm. This production explores the intricate legacy of a mother and daughter confronting historical trauma and love. Today's performance is a special 2:00 PM matinee, which includes childcare services for parents, ensuring the theater remains accessible to the whole community.

Over at the Creative Alliance, the annual Baltimore Crankie Festival concludes its weekend festivities. Known as the largest event of its kind in the nation, the festival celebrates the traditional art of "crankies"—hand-cranked scrolled panoramas. At the 3:00 PM session today, artists will use these moving folk-art illustrations to accompany live music and oral storytelling, bringing a unique, low-tech magic to the Highlandtown neighborhood.

For those seeking late-afternoon entertainment, the Baltimore Soundstage is hosting The Sweet Spot Burlesque at 5:00 PM. Celebrating two decades of performance art, this 21-and-over event features a variety of acts, games, and prizes in a lively cabaret atmosphere.

Museum Highlights and Curator Tours

The Walters Art Museum offers a rare educational opportunity today with a specialized Curator Tour: Decorative Arts and Design at World’s Fairs. Starting at 2:00 PM, the museum’s decorative arts curator will lead a tour focusing on the 19th-century international exhibitions that served as the debut venues for some of the world's finest art. Visitors can learn the history behind extraordinary objects in the collection, including works by Tiffany and Company and Sèvres Porcelain.

• Paws on Parchment: Also at the Walters, this whimsical exhibition is a must-see for animal lovers. It explores the presence of cats in medieval manuscripts, featuring 15th-century illustrations and even real feline paw prints preserved in ink from centuries ago.
• Amy Sherald: American Sublime: The Baltimore Museum of Art is currently hosting a significant exhibition of Amy Sherald’s work. This collection of portraits offers a profound look at the Black experience through her signature style of gray-toned skin and vibrant, symbolic costuming.

Community Meetups and Seasonal Fun

Outdoor enthusiasts can head to the Irvine Nature Center for Maple Magic. This seasonal tradition allows participants to join naturalists in the woods to identify and tap sap-producing trees. After the outdoor exploration, guests can gather by the fire to learn the evolution of the syrup-making process and sample the results.

Finally, the Baltimore Tattoo Museum is holding its Tats for Tails fundraiser from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Local artists are providing tattoos for a cause, with proceeds going directly to the Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter (BARCS). This community meetup is an ideal way for residents to support local animal welfare while enjoying one of the city's most unique cultural institutions.