Nearly every autumn since 1965, Bolton Hill neighbors have gathered for an all-day celebration, our Festival on the Hill. Held in the 1300 block of Bolton Street and the 200 block of W. Lanvale Street, the festival offers food, crafts and activities for folks of all ages. It benefits those neighborhood organizations that sponsor booths. This year, the Oct. 4 event’s additional proceeds will support the neighborhood Arts in the Parks music program.
Louie Wilder, co-chair of the festival with Lee Tawney, describes it as “an all-day neighborhood party with great entertainment, delicious food and something for everyone.” And of course, volunteers are needed. If you can spare an hour or two, contact festival@boltonhillmd.org.
The festival kicks off with a pet parade at 10 a.m., followed by continuous entertainment until 5 p.m. on the main stage at the intersection of W. Lanvale and Bolton streets. Not to be missed is the Midtown Academy Chorus. Claire Noonan and Friends will perform Irish tunes, and the Craig Austin Syndicate will provide jazz. A perennial favorite is Mombo Combo, whose Latin beat gets folks up on their feet to dance. This year, the Catonsville High School Steel Band adds Caribbean flair to the afternoon. Street-level activities include Pepito the mime, a balloon twister; a caricaturist; Abu the Flutemaker; and hula hoops from Baltimore Hoop Love. Traditional Baltimore screen painting demonstrations will be held throughout the day.
Chessboards are there for matches, and ponies will be available to pet. The Kids Zone on Lanvale opposite Bolton Hill Nursery School should keep children occupied with games and play toys.
Food booths and their sponsors include chili (The Oratory at Corpus Christi), tacos in a bag (Barracudas Swim Team), brownies and sweets (Brown Memorial Presbyterian Church), hot dogs (Mt. Royal Elementary/Middle School), and sodas (Midtown Academy). Other offerings include oysters on the half shell, lentil soup, jerk chicken, traditional lemon sticks, snow cones and beer and wine.
Craft vendors will display and sell their wares, a great opportunity to get a head start on holiday shopping. Plein-air artists from the Baltimore Painting Club have been working in the neighborhood over the last several weeks and will have paintings and drawings for sale. To add color to your yard, purchase pansies by the flat or half flat from the Bolton Hill Garden Club booth. There will be 18 booths with information about neighborhood and city organizations and educational institutions.
Treasures abound at the festival. Browse recycled household treasures at the Juniquities Booth sponsored by Memorial Episcopal Church. Neighbors can drop off donations the morning of the festival, starting at 8 a.m. at the corner of Bolton Street and Lafayette Avenue.
A huge selection of used books – mysteries, bestsellers, history, biographies, children’s books, and cookbooks – will be on display and available for purchase at the Book Table in front of 1308 Bolton Street. Donations can be dropped in the vestibule of 1308 Bolton until Oct. 2. Want to get first dibs on the books? Come to the 6th annual First Edition Party on Friday , Oct. 3, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. for a wine and cheese gathering inside 1308 Bolton Street, where you can peruse and purchase on festival eve. The suggested donation to attend First Edition is $25, with proceeds benefiting the festival. R.S.V.P to Kristine Smets if you will attend.
–Sallye Perrin
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