September 10 - 13, 2026
with
Hey Locals! 👋🏽
👀 WHAT’S INSIDE THIS WEEK
🎡 Last call for the Maryland State Fair + the day K-Pop & Pop Princess fans should go
🍂 My Maryland Fall Bucket List so you can stop searching for what to do this fall
🍽️ I put 20+ strangers at dinner tables together… and something happened I wasn’t expecting
❤️ Come volunteer with the Locals at the Maryland Food Bank
🦷 FREE dental cleanings + extractions this Saturday at a Community Health Fair
🎟️ Ravens tickets up for grabs for the October 4th game
📍 A little Ellicott City spot I’m going back to when I need a quick escape
I thought summer being over meant things were about to slow down… apparently Maryland didn’t get the memo. 😂
The Maryland State Fair has ONE weekend left, and after going last weekend, I have a few thoughts. 👀 If you like fair food, rides, animals or just walking around at night when everything lights up, this is your last chance. Keep scrolling because I’m sharing what I’d actually eat again below.
Raven’s season is underway and I found out Constellation Home is giving tickets for the Titans game on October 4th here.
Also, I found a spot in Ellicott City that made me realize I need to start doing this more often as the weather cools down. Waterfalls, a quick hike and a little time to myself. I’ll show you where below on the video.
But first...getting out the house that morning with the kids was a STRUGGLE. 😩 I needed gas, breakfast AND coffee before we did anything. I stopped at Dash In and knocked out all three without making multiple stops. Plus, their kitchen is open 24 hours and you can order ahead in the app.
Basically, one less thing to figure out before the fun starts. 🙌🏽
🟦 I was scared this might be a terrible idea…
Last week, I hosted my very first Somewhere with Locals Dinner in Catonsville.
The idea sounded good in my head: put strangers at tables together, send them to different restaurants and hope they actually connect.
But would people really show up? And even worse...what if they had nothing to talk about? 😩
Well...more than 20 people came.
And the question I kept hearing all night was:
“HOW did you know who to sit us with?!”
That part made me so happy because I didn’t. 😂 Everyone took a quick quiz when they registered, and the system matched them with their restaurant and table.
By the end of dinner, people were exchanging numbers, making plans to hang out again and 4 people had already signed up for the next dinner.
So yeah...I think we’re doing this again. 🥹
Baltimore + Bethesda are up next.
🟦 I realized there’s one thing I actually miss about corporate life…
Volunteer days.
When you work from home or work for yourself, you don’t really have those days where your whole team gets out of the office and does something good together.
So this week, I decided to create my own.
September is Hunger Action Month, which is what inspired me to spend a few hours volunteering at the Maryland Food Bank. And and y’all…I was blown away by how much goes into getting food to our local communities. We packed boxes, had music playing, and the 2.5-hour shift FLEW by.after doing it, I thought…why should the action stop when September ends?
I know I can’t be the only one who wants to volunteer more but doesn’t always have a group to go with. So I set up our next Somewhere with Locals meetup at the Maryland Food Bank!
We’re keeping the momentum going on Friday, October 2 from 1–3:30 PM.
Come by yourself or with a friend because you won’t be volunteering alone. Your Locals are your team for the day. ❤️
Spots are limited so we can really chat and work together, so grab yours below!
Did You Miss My Top Fall Picks?
🍎 It’s time for fall
I went looking for apple orchards and pumpkin patches and somehow ended up making an entire Maryland fall bucket list. 😂
Apple picking. 🍎
Pumpkin patches. 🎃
Corn mazes. 🌽
Fall festivals. 🍂
And because I know somebody is going to ask “But which ones are actually worth going to?” I put my picks together in one place.
Save yourself the Googling. I already did it for you. 👇🏽
There’s ONE weekend left for this… 🎡
The Maryland State Fair wraps up this weekend, and if you haven't made it yet, this might be the weekend to go.
Because besides the rides, animals and all the food, there are a few things happening that I think some of y'all are going to LOVE...
Especially if you have a K-pop or Pop Princess fan in your house. 👀
K-pop fans: this is the day I'd plan around.
And for my little Pop Princess fans, they have something for you too.
Best of all, purchase of a show ticket gives you entry to the fair included!
Plus, I went last weekend and already figured out what I'm eating again if I go back 😂: cheese curds, pork sundae + lemonade.
🎡All Ages & Family Friendly Events
🖌️ Sep 10 | Bromo Art Walk | Bromo Arts District, Baltimore, MD
Free multi-block evening of open studios, galleries, live performances & installations. 5–9pm.
🌃Sep 11-12 DC Art All Night - DC
Citywide celebration of creativity, culture and community 7pm-3am
😂 Sep 11 | Block Party! Baltimore's Best Black Improv Comedy | Maryland Art Place Inc, Baltimore, MD
Monthly showcase of Baltimore's best Black improv — music, games & audience participation. BYOB, doors at 7:30pm, show 8–9:30pm.
🌊 Sep 11–13 | Watersedge Fall Festival | Watersedge Park, Dundalk, MD
A family-friendly weekend of carnival rides, food trucks, live music & a classic car show to kick off fall.
🍁 Sep 12 | Cockeysville Fall Festival | Cranbrook Shopping Center, Cockeysville, MD
A delightful blend of entertainment, crafts & seasonal treats to enjoy autumn vibes with family and friends.
🌱 Sep 12 | Bmore Vegan Block Party | Center Plaza, Baltimore, MD
5th annual celebration of plant-based food, live music & local vendors. Free general admission, 3–8pm.
🎪 Sep 12 | Harbor Point Summer Festival | Harbor Point's Central Plaza, Baltimore, MD
A community event hosted by N.L. McLaughlin, drawing strong interest from the neighborhood.
🎨 Sep 12–13 | Bethesda Row Arts Festival | Bethesda, MD
An outdoor art fair featuring nearly 200 artists in the heart of Bethesda. ✅ FREE
🍎 Sep 12 | 51st Johnny Appleseed Festival | Weber's Farm, Parkville, MD
Family-friendly activities, fresh cider & hayrides at Weber's Farm — a fall tradition in Baltimore County.
🎵 Sep 12 | Reisterstown Festival | Hannah More Park, Reisterstown, MD
Live music featuring Dean Crawford and The Dunn's River Band — a community festival favorite. ✅ FREE
⛵ Sep 12 | River Days | Fort Smallwood Park, Pasadena, MD
Free water activities and boat rides along the Chesapeake Bay watershed. ✅ FREE
🌍 Sep 12 | Community and Culture Day | Emancipation Community Park, Laurel, MD
Parade of flags, food trucks & live music celebrating Laurel's diverse community. ✅ FREE
🎪 Sep 12 | Piney Orchard Street Festival | Odenton, MD
Arts, crafts & food vendors in a charming neighborhood street festival setting. ✅ FREE
🎪 Sep 12 | In The Streets | Downtown Frederick, MD
A free community festival with live entertainment, food, art, local organizations & family-friendly fun. Market Street Mile starts at 9AM, the main festival runs 11AM–5PM, Craft Beverage Experience noon–5PM, and Up The Creek Party 5–9PM. ✅ FREE
🦂 Sep 13 | Made in Maryland Festival | Kurtz's Beach, Pasadena, MD
Artisans, crafters, live jousting, food vendors, local wineries & breweries, live music & kids activities along the Chesapeake Bay. Proceeds support the Chesapeake Bay Trust. 11am–4pm. $12–$15.
🎶 Sep 13 | Saturday Morning Tunes: K-Pop Party & Pop Princess | Baltimore, MD
A morning K-Pop and pop princess themed event, check link for details.
🏈 Sep 13 | Ravens Opening Party ft. Soulja Boy | Baltimore, MD
Kick off Ravens season with Soulja Boy performing live, check link for venue & ticket details.
🍷 Adults Only (21+)
⛺️ Sep 12–13 | Adult Camp Night | Druid Hill Park, Baltimore, MD
Remember summer camp? Rock wall, silent disco, owl prowl, inflatable obstacle course, movie under the stars & more, overnight at Druid Hill Park. 21+ from $100.
🎺 Sep 13 | North After Dark: An Evening of Live Jazz | North (in the Garment Factory), Baltimore, MD
Intimate live jazz with Chloe Clarke Smith & Kevin Brewster, light bites & ice cream from Mishmish. 7–9pm.
🍇 Sep 13 | Wine On The Water (R&B & Neo Soul) | Middle Branch Waterfront, Baltimore, MD
Outdoor wine & arts festival with R&B/neo soul music & wineries like Boordy Vineyards. Rain or shine, noon–6pm. $40/person GA.
Thanks for being one of the Locals. Send this to someone who needs to go out in September they'll thank you later.
Hope to See You.…….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!