Baltimore, Maryland
June 6, 2026 - Took a stroll on the Avenue in Hampden for a quick peek at the Hampden Highlights Festival
Aiming to bring the Hampden community together for a day of celebration, neighborhood investment, and fund raising for local nonprofits, Hampden Highlights bring a fresh and new vision to the neighborhood for a day of festivities that only Hampden can create." - hampdenhighlightsfest.com
where's the funnel cake
Hampden Highlights Festival is not anything like the much beloved Honfest nor the hipster music filled Hampden Fest. I still know quite a few of the business owners in Hampden and after speaking with a few, it didn't sound like they were all that thrilled with the festival, organizing etc. Two quotes stand out from business owners on the Avenue, "They didn't even ask me" and "I didn't see anything about it". Only a single business owner I spoke to was aware that the Hampden Highlights Festival was the ONLY festival scheduled in Hampden for 2026. Most thought this festival was the fill in for old HonFest time slot and that HampdenFest would take place sometime in September. Leaves you wondering how could that be?
artists, craftsman and vendors
A nice variety of Arts & Crafts, music and food vendors at Hampden Highlights Festival. From paintings to tee shirts to house plants, from beer to margaritas made on the spot to liquor tastings, from Underground Pizza to Festival Foods, it was all there to enjoy and take in. A good cross section of local vendors throughout the festival. Music was available at either end of the Avenue between Chestnut Ave and Falls Rd with a third stage at Roland Ave and 36th Street. The artist that stood out for me was Anisa Haas, follow her Instagram @anjohaas and check out her website, really like her painting style plus she recycles skateboard decks!
Not enough people took advantage of the great music!
toto, i've a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore
Organizing a festival means more than just clearing the street, setting up music stages or helping vendors find their spots or even having the porta-johns in the right place at the right time. Creating enthusiasm and excitement from the shop owners on the Avenue is job number one, believe it or not, they are the ones that make Hampden Hampden! A noticeable number of shops and stores were closed during the festival, maybe it was the heat wave, maybe impending thunderstorms, IDK.
All I know, during the previous week I was going back and forth between whether to attend the Hampden Highlights Festival or the Charles Street Promenade. "I could've had a V8!" Comments or Questions
