About “SoWeBo” – a blended name for Southwest Baltimore, a collection neighborhoods, including Hollins Market, Union Square, Pigtown, and Poppleton. Located just west of the Inner Harbor. Built for 19th-century workers, the area has a rich heritage defined by a bohemian arts scene, architectural preservation, and urban renewal.
Art, Music and Kid Friendly
Look no further, put it on your calendar, the Sowebo Art and Music Festival always falls on the Sunday before Memorial Day! You can find more info as a visitor or vendor on Facebook and Instagram
If you’ve ever been to Honfest in Hampden, Sowebofest covers about the same area. Not an overwhelming amount of food or beer vendors but just enough keep you happy along with a Food Truck or 2. Big bonus, there was a large area by the Market Stage complete with benches and picnic tables to enjoy your food, rest your legs complete with a playground for kids. I thought I visited all 3 music stages but just found out there were 4, need to get a map next time or less drink.
PARKING, a challenge almost anywhere in Baltimore. I took a Lyft to Sowebofest to avoid the potential “where to park” issue. From the looks of it, it is simply non-metered street parking where you can find it. For those non-city dwellers, practice your parallel parking or come in a 2 Dr Cooper, LOL. It’s not that bad but you’ll need to know the streets, maybe circle around a bit, but the parking is there.
Arts and Crafts
Here’s a weird thing, a friend, Adrian S and I had a studio space in Pigtown on West Ostend (Elemental Metals currently in space?) way way back when. It was a small foundry warehouse space located on a awkward corner, I think we were the first tenants by the looks of it. Cleaned it up and during football season had parties with easy drive in garage parking for friends. Only space I’ve had that I could weld in, I miss it! Anyway, I am almost sure I must’ve stopped by Umri Siki New Day Gallery because I ran into the store during Sowebofest with all the merchandise out on the sidewalk and I think it was the same way years and years ago. Won’t tell when but back then we partied like it was 1999! It’s a small world.
Back to the Arts and Crafts. Stopped by Sowebofest to specifically to support friend and fellow artist Adam Wilder with BmoreBware, super work buddy! Also a shout out to abstract paintings by Maggie Maed, fabric art by Moody Dear, stylistic paintings by Will Brown, t-shirts by Gnarly Artly and custom painted skateboard decks by Kannix. Good variety of arts and crafts throughout the festival, enough to satisfy your eye. I also love tent spots with Weirdoville and PUP444 Check them all out, all local and all talented!
Enjoy the photos, I’ve tried to include info and links on each…
Rick Santiago on Instagram and Feel free to message me at 443-390-6599