July 16-19, 2026
What to Expect This Edition:
🍦 The $1 ice cream deal almost everyone misses
🛟 You gotta try tubing here
🏈 The Ravens just opened a new venue
💦 My favorite tubing spots before this weekend's heat wave
🍨 A frozen dessert festival worth driving for
Hey Locals! 👋🏽
Did you know movie theaters used to advertise how cold they were more than what movie was playing? Before home A/C, families bought tickets just to cool off. The movie was the bonus. With temperatures pushing 100° this weekend... honestly, they may have been onto something. 😂
Things you should know this week:
🚂 The B&O Railroad Museum is officially changing its name.
I'll be honest... I'm still getting used to it too. 😂 Read more
🏈 The Ravens finally opened their brand-new entertainment venue... and every game ticket gets you in. Think restaurants, live music, bars, and indoor tailgating. Take a look
🍦 National Ice Cream Day is Sunday! There are 20+ deals and freebies.
🎡Which carnivals are you going to this month? See the ones coming up.
Working moms...
This is your reminder. ❤️ I'll be speaking this weekend, and tickets are BOGO with code.
- I'd love to meet you there!
If you're trying to survive this heat...
This week's pick is one of my favorite ways to cool off.
All White Party!
Here are the events I'd actually recommend if I were making weekend plans.
👨👩👧 FAMILY & ALL AGES
🎲 Jul 14 | Board Game Speed Dating — (Ages 25–39) | Baltimore, MD
Meet new people over board games at one of Baltimore's best tap houses — a fun twist on speed dating. Ages 25–39 only.
🎷 Jul 15–19 | Lake Arbor Jazz Festival | Oxon Hill, MD
One of the DMV's most beloved jazz festivals — multiple nights of live jazz, R&B & soul in an outdoor setting. ✅ FREE
💧 Jul 17 | Waterpalooza 2 | YMCA Bethesda-Chevy Chase, Bethesda, MD
Family swim night, live music, games, water safety demos & an outdoor movie under the stars. 6–8pm swim & activities, 8:30pm movie. YMCA membership required.
🌿 Jul 18–19 | Howard County Whispering Winds Pow Wow | West Friendship, MD
Annual celebration of Indigenous culture, dance, music & heritage — a beautiful and educational experience for the whole family. ✅ FREE
🌍 Jul 19 | International Food & Craft Festival | Veterans Plaza, Silver Spring, MD
A multicultural one-day outdoor celebration of diverse cultures — food, crafts, performances & community vibes. Pet friendly. ✅ FREE
🏃 Jul 18 | Kids Field Day | Owings Mills, MD
A classic field day experience for the kids — games, races & summer fun.
🎡 Jul 18 | DMV Summer Escape: Kings Dominion Edition | Departs Clinton, MD
Roundtrip bus from the DMV to Kings Dominion — park admission, all-day dining pass & roller coasters included. Every Saturday all summer long. Bus departs 9:30am sharp.
👑 Jul 18 | Mirror Me Beautiful | Craft-Tabulous Studio, Pikesville, MD
A girls empowerment experience for ages 6–12 — affirmation bracelets, custom mirror crafts, confidence-building activities, lunch & a swag bag. 10am–2pm. $35/girl.
🧒 Jul 18 | Kids Summer Takeover | Grounded Coffee, Perryville, MD
Kid entrepreneurs, vendors, 10 fun games, prizes & family activities — the moms had their turn, now it's the kids' time to shine! 1–3pm. Tickets required.
📚 Jul 18 | 4th Annual African American Cultural Expo & Children's Book Fair | Waldorf, MD
A celebration of Black culture, authors & literacy for all ages — a must for book-loving families. Tickets required.
🎨 Jul 18 | Heart of the 4th Music & Arts Festival | Dewees Park, Baltimore, MD
2nd Annual 4th District Summer Festival by Motor House & Councilman Conway — music, art, food & community. 12pm–11pm. ✅ FREE
🎪 Jul 18 | South Baltimore 4th Annual Friends & Family Fun Day | South Baltimore, MD
Mechanical bull, moonbounce, DJ, face painting & food trucks on site. A true community celebration. 2–6pm. ✅ FREE
🍦 Jul 18 | Meltdown 2026 | Peabody Heights Brewery, Baltimore, MD
A frozen dessert food festival — popsicles, ice cream, snowballs & sweet treats plus 40+ arcade games & craft drinks. All ages, clean music & free parking. 2–8pm. ✅ FREE
🍷 ADULTS ONLY (21+)
🎤 Jul 17 | Afro Beats x Karaoke | Wheaton-Glenmont, MD Afrobeats music meets open mic karaoke — drinks, dancing & nonstop Friday night vibes. 7pm–1am. Tickets required.
🚢 Jul 16 | Voyages: Chapter 8 | Baltimore, MD
21+ Adult Night at the aquarium
🌿 Jul 18–19 | Summer Reggae Festival at Linganore Winecellars | Mt. Airy, MD
Two days of reggae music, wine tastings & summer vibes at one of Maryland's most beautiful wineries. Worth the drive! Tickets required.
🏳️🌈 Jul 18 | BIPOC Hotties: Queer Quality Dating! | Baltimore, MD
A curated queer dating experience centering BIPOC community — intentional, fun & full of good energy. Tickets required.
🎤 Jul 18 | BRENCORE Presents: A Tribute to Jill Scott, Stephanie Mills & Teena Marie | Columbia, MD
Three legends, one night — a live tribute concert that's going to have you on your feet the whole time.
📖 Jul 18 | Black Authors Expo | Baltimore, MD
Discover, shop & connect with Black authors across genres — a literary celebration worth supporting.
🍺 Jul 18 | Racers Cafe Beer Festival | Parkville, MD
Craft beers, good food & racing vibes at Racers Cafe — a solid summer festival for beer lovers.
🥃 Jul 18 | Cigars, Wine & Whiskey Festival 2026 | Randallstown, MD
The grown folks' festival — premium cigars, wine tastings & whiskey flights in one elevated experience.
🎨 Jul 18 | DMV Peace & Soul Picnic: Paint & Vibes | American Legion, Owings Mills, MD
Outdoor painting, live DJ spinning R&B, Neo Soul & Afrobeats, local vendors & mindful community energy. BYO blanket, food & BYOB wine. Paint supplies included. 11am–5pm
🖤 Jul 18 | Summer Black XI | Baltimore Peninsula Pier, Baltimore, MD
Baltimore's signature All-Black Experience returns for year 11 — dress code in effect, waterfront vibes, 21+. 6–10pm.
🎭 Jul 19 | Stilettos Dinner Theater Gospel Experience | Capitol Heights, MD
Dinner, live gospel with the Russ Ice Colab Band, comedy & a full theater experience. 21+ Doors 6pm, Show 6:30–9:30pm.
🎶 Jul 19 | Biddy on the Water: 90s Edition | Canton Waterfront Park, Baltimore, MD
All your favorite 90s jams on the water at Canton Waterfront Park — a full 8-hou
A “date” on your calendar for fun with your mate, friend or even solo
Need an easy date night?
The Dugout at Peabody Heights Brewery
Somewhere fun with the kids that doesn't involve melting outside?
This arcade has 40+ games, unlimited play, food, drinks, and A/C.
Weekend tickets are $20.
Also on 🍦 Jul 18 check out Meltdown 2026
A frozen dessert food festival — popsicles, ice cream, snowballs & sweet treats plus 40+ arcade games & craft drinks. All ages, clean music & free parking. 2–8pm. ✅ FREE
Thanks for being one of the Locals. Send this to someone who needs a plan for the weekend.
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!