It’s nearly autumn and almost time for Bolton Hill’s Festival on the Hill. Volunteers and contributions are needed to assure the success of the annual neighborhood block party that dates back more than 65 years. It’s free and open to all, in the 1300 block of Bolton Street and nearby from 9 a.m. until day’s end.
As usual there will be a wide variety of fun: art exhibits, basketball hoops, a major book sale, a chess tournament, a raffle and auction, a sale of flea market stuff properly called “Juniquites,” lots of kid’s activities, a pet parade, live music and probably dancing, oysters, shrimp and other food, beer, wine and soft drinks, tarot cards and more.
So how can you contribute? Money is always helpful (more than $6,500 has been raised from sponsors so far) but also these things:
- Volunteers to staff booths, set up early and clean up late. Contact festival@boltonhillmd.org.
- Donate used or new books (children’s and adult, fiction, non-fiction as well as cooking and travel books), vinyl records and jig-saw puzzles. No college texts, Readers Digests collections, encyclopedias or 8-track recordings, please. Drop them at 1308 Bolton St. or email Kristine Smets.
- Bring those interesting old things that take up storage space (no clothes, please) to be part of Juniquities, the antique junk sale. Drop off items on Oct. 5 between 7:30 – 9 a.m. at the corner of Bolton and Lafayette, or the day before at 128 W Lanvale St. Contact Doug Kelso or John Leith-Tetrault.
- Join the Pet Parade. Bring your pets and gather at the corner of Mason St. and West Lafayette Ave. at 10 a.m. Contact John McLucas.
- And if you can’t do any of those things, make a contribution and earmark it for FOTH, here: https://boltonhillmd.org/donate/. And enjoy the festival!
This year’s planning committee includes Nathan Arnold, Jake Boone, Yoni Doron, Doug Kelso, Chris Kingsley, Avendui Lacovara, Kristine Smets, Yulia Suslova, Lee Tawney and Louie Wilder.
Here’s what else is on the near-term neighborhood calendar:
- Wed., Sept. 18: Midtown Connect networking breakfast, Baltimore Unity Hall, 8:30-10:30 a.m. Details at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/midtown-connect-networking-breakfast-tickets-991059865737?aff=oddtdtcreator
- Tues., Sept. 24: Celebrate F. Scott Fitzgerald’s birthday (born 9/24/1896) near where he lived in Bolton Hill, 6:30-8 p.m., Fitzgerald Park; gin drinks and live music.
- Sat., Sept. 28: Alumni Art Market at MICA 11 a.m.-5 p.m. 1301 W. North Ave.
- Sat., Sept. 28: First installation of a Dorman/Mazaroff donated sculpture, 10 a.m., Next to MICA Art Store, 1501 Mount Royal Ave.
- Tues., Oct. 1: BHCA monthly meeting. All invited, 7:30 p.m. Memorial Episcopal Farnham Hall.
- Thurs., Oct. 3: Arts in the Parks final concert: Charm City Junction, 6-7:30 p.m., Sumpter Park.
- Fri., Oct. 4: First Friday at the Fountain. Bring drinks and snacks to the median park, 1600 Park Ave., 5-7 p.m.
- Fri., Oct 4: First Edition wine & cheese party to preview books being sold at Festival on the Hill. Buy your selections in advance. 6-9 p.m., 1308 Bolton St., $25 contribution.
- Fri., Oct. 5: Festival on the Hill.
- Tues., Oct. 8: Midtown is exploring adding public art to Eutaw Place through community engagement sessions, Baltimore Unity Hall, 5-6:30 p.m.
- Sat., Oct. 26: Fall Dumpster Day. The City provides a dumpster between the medians on Park Ave. at Wilson St. starting in the morning and lasting four hours. Get rid of stuff you can’t recycle or put out with your trash (but no toxics).
- Sat., Nov 2: Fall Bolton Hill Tree Planting, hosted by Midtown, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. meet at Fitzgerald Park.
- Tues., Nov. 5: BHCA monthly meeting, 7:30 p.m. Memorial Episcopal Church Farnham Hall.
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