100 awesome Baltimore-area events this fall

Lloyd Fox / Baltimore Sun

Where else can you hobnob with the likes of such authors as Carl Hiaasen and Terry McMillan, learn how to create an allergy-free lunch and get a face lick from your new best friend? The 21st annual Baltimore Book Festival, being held at the Inner Harbor, will offer hundreds of author appearances and book signings, writing workshops, cooking demonstrations, street theater and hands-on projects for kids. New this year is the Paws & Pages Stage, where festival-goers can interact with and adopt new pets. 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sept. 23-25. Free. baltimorebookfestival.com

Terry Wyatt / Getty Images

Little Big Town, Rodney Atkins, Locash (with Towson native Chris Lucas), Chase Bryant, Granger Smith and Runaway June are just some of the country acts twanging it up over two days. Starts 1 p.m. Oct. 15-16 at Merriweather Post Pavilion, 10475 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia. $55-$175. 877-435-9849, merriweathermusic.com

Robb Cohen / Robb Cohen/Invision/AP

Brooklyn, N.Y.'s Kevin Devine has quietly amassed a catalog full of singer/songwriter-style gems filled with vivid details, characters fit for intricate novels and a healthy share of curse words for good measure. Also: Don't miss Pinegrove, the New Jersey band whose latest album, "Cardinal," should wind up on some critics' best albums of 2016 lists. Petal also performs. Nov. 1 at Baltimore Soundstage. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. $16-$20. 410-244-0057, baltimoresoundstage.com

Joan Marcus / AP

Winner of the 2014 Tony Award for Best Musical, "A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder" makes a welcome visit to Baltimore. The show's gimmick may be familiar — a guy seeks to eliminate relatives ahead of him in line to inherit a family fortune — but the execution is remarkably fresh. Dec 27 to Jan. 1 at the Hippodrome Theatre, 12 N. Eutaw St. 800-982-2787, france-merrickpac.com

Jordan Strauss / AP

Towson University's funniest alum (she's also among the funniest people on the planet, but let's stick to what's important) returns to Baltimore for a homecoming that should be as raunchy as it will be funny. And it'll be plenty funny. 8 p.m. Nov. 12 at Royal Farms Arena, 201 W. Baltimore St. $42-$112. royalfarmsarena.com

Unknown / AP

In the late 1970s, eminent playwright/actor Sam Shepard and the late actor/director Joseph Chaikin collaborated on a series of poems about intimate human relationships, their variety of emotions, rewards and dangers. Members of the ever-inquisitive Single Carrot Theatre will delve into these works, while adding some touches of their own. Oct. 26 to Nov. 20 at Single Carrot Theatre, 2600 N. Howard St. 443-844-9253, singlecarrot.com

Nate Pesce / Baltimore Sun Media Group

Ellicott City's Decorator Show House will open the doors of this 19th-century gem with a preview party, 6:30-10 p.m. Sept. 22 ($85). Runs Sept. 24 through Oct. 23 at 4824 Montgomery Road; hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, closed Mondays. $20 in advance; $25 at the door. 410-461-6908, historicec.com/show-houses

Lloyd Fox / Baltimore Sun

"Five Friends in Art" will put Bel Air's Liriodendron mansion on display. The friends — Robin Capecci, Barbara Kirchner, Alexandra Kopp, Barbara Love and Sandra Norris — will share their experiences in art and travel during a series of presentations. 1 p.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 2, 9, 16 and 23; 4 p.m.-7 p.m. Oct. 5, 12 and 19 at Liriodendron, 502 W. Gordon St., Bel Air. 410-879-4424, liriodendron.com

Nate Pesce / Baltimore Sun Media Group

Much missed in 2015, the holiday staple returns refreshed, with 250,000 bulbs replaced by LED lights. New this year: laser show, skate rink and 3-D video. It all supports Howard County General Hospital. Starts 4 p.m. daily, Nov. 20-Jan. 2. Symphony Woods, Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia. $20-$25 for cars; see site for more prices. facebook.com/symphonyoflightsfestivities

Lloyd Fox / Baltimore Sun

As befits the city where Kunta Kinte, the enslaved hero of Alex Haley's "Roots," was brought to these shores, Annapolis celebrates its black heritage with a festival dedicated to showcasing the "perseverance, education and cultural heritage of people of African descent." Includes music, dance, storytelling and crafts. 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Sept. 24 at Susan Campbell Park, off Dock Street, Annapolis. Free. 240-801-5543, kuntakinte.org

Brendan Cavanaugh / BALTIMORE SUN

AA County puts its best feet forward with five days of food, music, games, carnival rides, livestock, agricultural exhibitions and — thankfully — the return of "Arundel's Got Talent." 4 p.m.-10 p.m. Sept. 14, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Sept. 15, 4 p.m.-11 p.m. Sept, 16, 9 a.m.-11 p.m. Sept. 17, 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Sept. 18 at the county fairgrounds, 1450 Generals Highway, Crownsville. $5-$7 (free for 5 and younger). 410-923-3400, aacountyfair.org

MATT BUTTON AEGIS STAFF, Patuxent Homestead

Harford County welcomes autumn each year with the Fall Harvest and Crafts Festival at the Steppingstone Farm Museum in Havre de Grace. There are activities and exhibits — from crafts to historic re-enactments of farming techniques — for all ages. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 24 and 25 at 461 Quaker Bottom Road, Havre de Grace. Admission is $10; children 12 and younger free. 410-939-2299, steppingstonemuseum.org

ANDY BUCHANAN / AFP/Getty Images

One of the last shows on Pier Six Pavilion's 2016 schedule won't go quietly. With decades of experience between the acts, ZZ Top and special guest Gov't Mule know how to put on a rock show as it should be — loud, dirty and fun. Sept. 13 at Pier Six Pavilion, 731 Eastern Ave., downtown. Doors open at 6 p.m. $40-$175. 410-783-4189, piersixpavilion.com.

Alexis Gutter/Capital News Service

The public has been slow to realize it, but Peabody Opera Theatre adds a great deal to each season with its annual production off campus at the historic Lyric Opera House. The company's choice this year is Humperdinck's endearing, exquisitely orchestrated treatment of the gingerbread-filled fairy tale "Hansel and Gretel." 7:30 p.m. Nov. 18, 3 p.m. Nov. 20 at Peabody Institute, 17 East Mount Vernon Place. Free. 667-208-6620, peabody.jhu.edu.

Kim Hairston / Baltimore Sun

Sure, the Baltimore Marathon is the headline event; watching as hundreds of athletes set off on their 26-mile run through the streets of Baltimore is a spectacle not to be missed. But for runners (and walkers) not quite up to that level, there's also a half marathon, 5K, team relay and kids Fun Run. Live music and refreshments afterward, so everyone can cool down. The marathon and team relay kick off at 8 a.m. Oct. 15 at Russell and Camden streets, preceded by the 5K at 7:30 a.m. (Paca and Pratt streets) and followed by the half marathon at 9:45 a.m. (Conway and Light streets) and Fun Run at 9 a.m. (Eutaw Street, near Oriole Park at Camden Yards). Prices to participate range from $125-$145 for the marathon to $15 for the Fun Run. Free to watch, though. baltimoremarathon.com

Kenneth K. Lam / Baltimore Sun

The Baltimore-born host of CNN's "Somebody's Gotta Do It" returns to where it all began — according to his website bio, his first performing gig was in a 1984 Baltimore Opera Company production of "Rigoletto." Which had to be preferable to all the dirty jobs he's had to sample on America's TV screens in the years since. Hear him talk about how miserable they were (we're promised "the dirty truth about the dirtiest show on TV"), followed by a Q&A. 8 p.m. Sept. 24 at the Modell Performing Arts Center at the Lyric, 140 W. Mount Royal Ave. $25-$95. lyricbaltimore.com

Kaitlin Newman / Baltimore Sun

Sure, there's moussaka, spanakopita and even the occasional ouzo — which alone should be enough to attract anyone with a tastebud. But there's also music, dancing and other celebrations of Greek culture, plus vendors offering all sorts of cool stuff of Hellenic origin. And if you wanna wear your fustanella, that's OK, too. 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Nov. 6-7, noon-6 p.m. Nov. 8 at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Annunciation, 24 W. Preston St. facebook.com/BaltGreekFestival

MATT BUTTON AEGIS STAFF / Patuxent Homestead

The holiday season unofficially begins the first weekend in December in Harford, as the county's three municipalities present a series of events. Havre de Grace hosts its Christmas parade at 7 p.m. Dec. 2, in the 100 block of N. Washington St. Aberdeen hosts a day of holiday events Dec. 3, culminating with its parade along West Bel Air Avenue at 3 p.m. Bel Air's parade along Main Street begins at 3:30 p.m. Dec. 4, followed by its tree lighting ceremony.

Amy Davis / Baltimore Sun

In a story that spans Nazi plunder, neuroaesthetics, Elvis and forged art, Baltimore's one and only Gary Vikan will describe the challenges of running the Walters Art Museum for nearly two decades. Vikan watchers will recall that last year, he landed a publishing contract for his memoirs after besting five other contestants in a pitch week. This is that book. Two days after the Sept. 20 publication date, Vikan will do a free reading and book signing of "Sacred and Stolen" in his old haunts, and other readings are being scheduled locally this fall. 6:30 p.m. Sept. 22 at the Walters Art Museum, 600 N. Charles St. Free. thewalters.org/events

Jordan Strauss / Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP

From Severn native to R&B sensation to reality TV star to 2015 Grammy winner — Toni Braxton's publicized ups and downs made a full-length Lifetime drama seem inevitable. ("Unbreak My Heart" premiered in January.) But she returns home this fall to deliver what she does best — sensual and emotional R&B hits. Oct. 29 at the Modell Performing Arts Center at the Lyric, 140 W. Mount Royal Ave., Mid-Town Belvedere. Doors open at 7 p.m. $50-$80. 410-900-1150, lyricbaltimore.com

DEA / A. DAGLI ORTI / De Agostini/Getty Images

A remarkable success story since it arrived in 2009, Baltimore Concert Opera keeps conjuring up enticing seasons of well-known and barely known works. This season opens with a rarity by Rossini, "Tancredi." The tuneful 11th-century tale of Byzantines and Saracens, love and danger is one of the composer's earliest masterworks. 7:30 p.m. Sept., 3 p.m. Oct. 2 at Engineers Club, 11 W. Mount Vernon Place. 443-445-0226, baltimoreconcertopera.com

Associated Press

Adam Levine's celebrity eventually eclipsed the vehicle that got him to Hollywood, but here's Maroon 5, still going strong 15 years after its debut album, "Songs About Jane." At this headlining show, expect plenty of hits throughout the catalog, from 2007's "Won't Go Home Without You" to last year's disco-sounding "Sugar." Tove Lo and R. City will also perform. Sept. 16 at Royal Farms Arena, 201 W. Baltimore St., downtown. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. $30.50-$126. 410-347-2020, royalfarmsarena.com.

Nicole Munchel / Baltimore Sun Media Group

The juried exhibit features works in practically any medium and style by Maryland artists who live within 100 miles of Ellicott City. Winners will be announced at a reception 6 p.m.-8 p.m. Runs Oct. 28 to Dec. 9 at Howard County Center for the Arts, 8510 High Ridge Road, Ellicott City; hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. 410-313-2787, hocoarts.org/exhibits.php

Amy Harris/Rex Shutterstock / TNS

The Lumineers The "Ho Hey" indie-folk quintet finally followed up its 2012 breakout debut with April's "Cleopatra." The wait didn't matter, as the album debuted No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart, showing that fans were still on-board with their intersection of folk, pop and rock. BORNS and Rayland Baxter will also perform. Sept. 10 at Merriweather Post Pavilion, 10475 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. $39.50-$59.50. 410-715-5550, merriweathermusic.com

KRISTIN ROBERTS PHOTO FOR THE BA / Baltimore Sun

Eight days of festivities, Oct. 10-17, celebrating "the rich naval traditions of the Chesapeake Bay and the contributions of Marylanders to the defense of the nation." Hey, we're all in on that! Includes the air show itself, from 1 p.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 15 and 16 in the skies over Fort McHenry, with participants including the U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Coast Guard, Royal Canadian Air Force, Geico Skytypers and Scott Francis Airshows, concluding with a 45-minute demonstrations by the Navy's Blue Angels (a guaranteed show-stopper); an open house at Glenn L. Martin State Airport, 701 Wilson Point Road in Middle River, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 15 and 16; and the commissioning of the destroyer USS Zumwalt, set for 5 p.m. Oct. 15 at the port of Baltimore's Pier 4. visitmaryland.org/things-to-do/fleet-week

DAVE MUNCH / Carroll County Times

Scores of Maryland's finest craft beers will be available throughout the day. Which should be enough for anyone, but you also get to explore the Union Mills Homestead, a national historic site dating back to the 19th century. This marks the festival's 11th edition, so clearly they're doing something right. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sept. 24. 3311 Littlestown Pike. 410-848-2288, marylandmicrobreweryfestival.com

jonathan mount / Baltimore Sun

Call it an emo revival or just refreshing, angst-and-guitar-driven rock. Whatever the label, these acts are some of the most exciting young bands touring today. Massachusetts' the Hotelier made major strides with "Goodness" in May, while California's Joyce Manor will come to Baltimore fresh off the release of its new album, "Cody" (due Oct. 7). Crying, a New York trio that utilizes video game sounds, will also perform. Oct. 23 at the Ottobar, 2549 N. Howard St., Remington. Doors open at 8 p.m. $16-$18. 410-662-0069, theottobar.com

MATT BUTTON AEGIS STAFF / Patuxent Homestead

In its 51st year, the biggest annual arts event in Harford County is the Bel Air Festival for the Arts. Tens of thousands of people flock to Shamrock Park on the third Sunday each September to see the works of more than 350 exhibitors. 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. rain or shine Sept. 18 at 30 Hickory Ave., Bel Air. Free. 443-616-6708, belairfestival.com

Baltimore Sun

With Shuffle, the listener conducts the show: Audience members choose from a menu of works — spanning baroque, Broadway, classical, jazz, pop and romantic genres — and the six-member chamber ensemble performs. 8 p.m. Dec. 3 at the Gordon Center for Performing Arts, 3506 Gwynnbrook Ave., Owings Mills. $15-$30. 410-356-7469, jcc.org/event/shuffle-concert

Julio Cortez / AP

The biggest rock star on the planet is actually a rapper, so Kanye West self-proclaims. But he's more than that — music genius, fashion designer and trendsetter, husband, father, provocateur. He also has one of the best albums of the year. Watch him perform cuts from it on the "Saint Pablo Tour" when it hits D.C. Sept. 8 at Verizon Center, 601 F St. N.W. Washington. Doors open at 7 p.m. $29.50-$165. 202-628-3200, verizoncenter.com

Amy Davis / Baltimore Sun

Artisans from all over the country will bring hundreds of handmade, one-of-a-kind creations for this annual festival, which also features food, live entertainment and children's activities. Runs 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 11 at 924 Frederick Road. Free. 410-744-4169, catonsville.org