October 8 - 11, 2026
Hey Locals! šš½
This week Iām helping you save some money, meet some people and figure out what weāre doing this weekend. šš¾
I donāt the weather has changed a bit too fast for early Octoberā¦.I went ahead and updated the wardrobe from summer to fall last weekend before I saw that itās going to be 75 degrees today. š© Too soon I guess.
First, can we talk about this weather?! I already switched my closet over to fall and apparently Maryland said not yet. š
But we had the PERFECT weather for our first Somewhere With Locals volunteer day at the Maryland Food Bank! A few Locals came out with me, we packed snack boxes and actually got to know each other outside of this email. I loved it.
If you want to join our next volunteer event just keep an eye open for these emails because we will do something else prior to the year end!
And y'all spoke LOUDLY in last week's poll. Columbia won by a landslide for our next Dinner With Locals location! š So we're planning Columbia + Charles County next. I will work on another volunteer event before the end of the year so stay tuned!
Which would you prefer for December?
š¦ Five things locals should know this week
š Still have out-of-state tags?
Maryland is targeting residents improperly registering vehicles in other states. Owners get a 60-day warning before fines can reach $420.
šŗ One last Guinness trip?
Guinness Open Gate Brewery is closing for good November 1. If it's been on your list, this is your final month.
š Free Fall is back in Baltimore. You canāt say that you couldnāt go out because you were broke this month as Baltimore has over 100 events promoting arts & humanity in October for free! See a full line up of events here.
š¤¾š½Urban Air is giving away FREE Unlimited Play Paseses through 10/9. Just download the KidHub app, register and you have 45 days to use it anyday you want! There are 5 in Maryland (Laurel, Glen Burnie, Middle River, Largo and Frederick) perfect for their next day out of school! See more here
š¦Laurel has a dinosaur park and this week they added a new trail. Grand opening highlights here with dates and prices they are open.
I'm taking October 11th off. You should too.
October 10th is World Mental Health Day, but I recently learned October 11th is Black Girl Day Off, a day created specifically for Black women to pause, reflect and prioritize their mental health.
And whew...the timing.
My dog of 15 years passed away recently, and I've realized how quickly I try to keep moving instead of actually sitting in what I'm feeling. The house is quieter. I'm still expecting to hear him walking behind me or waiting for food to drop. It's been harder than I expected.
So October 11th, I'm taking the hint.
I'm going to do something just for me. Maybe a massage, binge TV, eat my favorite food...I haven't decided yet. But I'm giving myself permission to not be productive.
And if you've been running from one thing to the next too, I'm passing that permission to you.
Take your day. Even if it's only a few hours. š
Hit reply and tell me one thing you're doing for yourself this weekend. I may steal a few ideas. š
āļø SO...WHAT'S THE WEATHER GIVING?
Saturday looks like the winner. Sunday? Keep the umbrella nearby. āļø
š SO...WHAT ARE WE DOING THIS WEEKEND?
Top Picks:
āļø Oct 10 | Top of the Morning | Baltimore, MD
A 9AM party in Baltimore because apparently we donāt have to wait until nighttime to go out.
š® Oct 10ā11 | Baltimore Taco Festival | Baltimore, MD
30+ taco spots, lucha libre, mariachi, margaritas + free pumpkin patch.
šæ Oct 10ā11 | Autumn Reggae Festival | Mount Airy, MD
Reggae, Maryland wine + fall vineyard vibes. š¶š·
More Events:
š Oct 9ā10 | MD State BBQ Bash | Bel Air, MD
BBQ championship, live music + beer & wine garden. 4ā10pm.
š¬ Oct 9 | Halloween Outdoor Movie Night | Rockville, MD
Outdoor showing of Hocus Pocus + free popcorn & treats. 5:30ā9:30pm.
š¤ Oct 9ā10 | Stampede Rodeo & Bull Riding | La Plata, MD
Bull riding, barrel racing, trick riding, kidsā sheep riding + more.
š Oct 10 | Custom Hair Oil Experience | Crofton, MD
Create your own custom hair oil blend in a hands-on class. 4pm.
šŗ Oct 10 | Das Best OktoberFest | Timonium, MD
Craft beer, German food, oompah bands + Oktoberfest fun.
š Oct 10 | Parkville Carney Festival | Parkville, MD
Food trucks, vendors, live entertainment + car show. ā FREE
š Oct 10 | Germantown October Fest | Germantown, MD
Parade, food trucks, beer garden, kidsā carnival + Nappy Roots live. 11amā5pm. ā FREE
š Oct 10ā11 | World Oddities Expo | Baltimore, MD
Oddities marketplace, live entertainment + taxidermy, insect and terrarium classes.
š» Oct 10 | Morgan State Homecoming | Baltimore, MD
Homecoming parade, Alumni Tent City + noon football game vs. Robert Morris.
š Oct 10ā11 | Fiesta Baltimore | Baltimore, MD
Live music, food, cultural performances + heritage parade. ā FREE
š Oct 10ā11 | Fall Family Weekends at Homestead Gardens | Homestead Gardens, Davidsonville
Pony rides, tractor hayrides, hay maze, pumpkin patch, bounce houses, face painting, live music, craft beer, apple cider donuts & more.
š¦Ŗ Oct 10 | Westminster Oyster Stroll | Westminster, MD
Walk downtown sampling oysters + drinks from multiple stops.
ā Oct 11 | Latin Coffee Party | Baltimore, MD
Reggaeton, salsa, bachata + coffee party vibes. Noonā5pm. 21+.
š³ļøāš Oct 11 | Howard County Pride Festival | Columbia, MD
150+ vendors, live performances + Pride celebration. Noonā5pm. ā FREE
š Oct 11 | World Fare with Safeway | Ellicott City, MD
Global food samples, cooking demos + international flavors. 12ā4pm. ā FREE
š„ Oct 11 | RnB Mimosa Festival | Washington, DC
R&B, mimosas, food vendors + daytime party vibes. 12ā6pm. 21+
Tickets will sell out for this so adding it here so you can go! Only $27/PP for unlimited fun. Tickets here.
I accidentally found a $15 dinner hack
I went to the new Wonder in Columbia and I'm not gonna lie...at first I was confused. š
It's basically 20+ restaurants under one roof. So if you want Bobby Flay and your husband wants something completely different, nobody has to compromise.
You can mix restaurants in ONE order.
I built my own dinner with filet mignon from Bobby Flay + tacos from another restaurant and my total would've been about $30.
I paid $15. š
Because while I was there, I found a 50% off deal and obviously I wasn't going to keep that to myself.
Want 50% off too?
Use HICOLUMBIA for 50% off your first two orders at the Columbia location.
Already ordered Wonder before? Use COLUMBIAEATS for 25% off your next two orders.
Then change that button from:
Thanks for being one of the Locals. Send this to someone who needs to go out in October, they'll thank you later.
Hope to See You.ā¦ā¦.Somewhere Local!
Lisa Summers
Disclaimer: I do not host any of these events or have any affiliation with them.
*There are affiliate links on this page that I can make a small profit from so thank you for purchasing through those links to support the time it took to make this newsletter and continue to bring you the videos/reels you love!