ARBUTUS, Md. – Baltimore County’s premier cultural event is back to kick off summer! Rain or shine, the 2024 Arts & Drafts Summer Music & Arts Festival takes place June 22 and 23 at Guinness Open Gate Brewery (5001 Washington Blvd., Halethorpe, MD 21227).
More than 7,000 people are expected to gather for this free two-day festival presented by the nonprofit Baltimore County Arts Guild (BCAG) and featuring curated artist vendors, live music, fun activities for all ages, and specialty food & beers from host sponsor, Guinness Open Gate Brewery.
Guests can view and purchase unique art pieces from more than 40top and diverse craftspeople –from Maryland, Delaware, the District of Columbia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Virginia – specializing in glass, acrylic and watercolor painting, photography, pottery, mixed media, 3D, jewelry, sculpture, woodworking, furniture and much more.
“We anticipate that this year’s festival will be the biggest and best yet,” said BCAG President Arkia Wade. “As we continue to grow our signature event, the more we can support BCAG programs, exhibits and other activities that greatly benefit the artists community in Baltimore County and beyond.”
In addition to the various works of art, guests can enjoy picturesque pints – two specialty beers that Guinness has created for Arts & Drafts, available on draft and in cans:
- Blueberry Lime Ale (5.9% ABV) is brewed with a giant addition of fresh blueberry puree, giving it a light purple hue, and lime puree for a touch of balanced acidity. A simple beer, but as delicious as they come.
- Harmonic Haze (7.5% ABV) gives their Hazy IPA an artistic update! This hazy golden beer features a moderate bitterness balanced by a huge citrus aroma, using a slightly different hop blend, showcasing Citra, Mosaic, Galaxy, El Dorado and Amarillo hops.
“Guinness Open Gate Brewery is proud to host the Arts & Drafts Festival for the fourth year in a row,” said Brand Manager Oliver Gray. “It’s always special to see the brewery lawn come alive with art and music, and we look forward to hosting our community and coming together in celebration of the many incredible artists, vendors, and musicians – and hopefully inspiring folks with our own creativity through the art of experimental brewing.”
Artful performances will take place throughout the festival – jazz from the Kevin Howard Band, Reggae/Soul/R&Bfrom Brian Cunningham Project, Eclectic Rock/Funk/Rock & Roll from the Pineapple Band and Skies in Chaos, and Irish dance tunes from The Pilgrims of Deep Run.
Additional event highlights are as follows:
- Painting life size art for special photo ops
- Designing magnets and other hands-on art activities
- Exploring two levels of Guinness history
- Pairing Baltimore-brewed beer with food from Guinness’ seasonal menu
- Learning to pour the perfect pint of Guinness Draught
- Personalizing your pint of Guinness Draught and making it picture perfect with a selfie
- Lawn games
Festival hours are June 22, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and June 23, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free (no tickets or registration required) and open to all ages, but children must be accompanied at all times by an adult of legal drinking age.
Ample parking is available at Guinness Open Gate Brewery. For those traveling or wanting to take a short Lyft/Uber/taxi ride to the brewery, the MARC Halethorpe and BWI Amtrak stations are close by.
Arts & Drafts is made possible through a grant from Baltimore County and financial/in-kind support from sponsors, including The Baltimore Museum of Art, Patapsco Heritage Greenway, Charlestown Retirement, Universal Windows Direct & The Bath Authority, Shore United Bank and Loverde Family Community Fund.
For more information about attending, sponsoring or volunteering at Arts & Drafts, please visit https://artsanddraftsfestival.org, email info@artsanddraftsfestival.org or call 410-247-0260. Or, follow @artsand_drafts & @bcartsguild on Instagram or @bcartsguild on Facebook.
About the Baltimore County Arts Guild
As the managing entity of the Baltimore County Arts & Entertainment Districts, the nonprofit Baltimore County Arts Guild shapes communities through the transformative power of art. In addition to community-based creative projects, the Guild provides arts experiences through concerts, exhibits and programs at its newly acquired arts center, the Clubhouse, in Catonsville. In the truest sense of a guild, the organization continues its decade-long mission to support local artists by providing affordable studio space in a nurturing environment. For more information, visit www.bcartsguild.org.
About Guinness
The Guinness brand was established in 1759, when Arthur Guinness signed a 9,000-year lease on St. James’s Gate Brewery in Dublin. Brewed using four main ingredients, water, barley (malted & roasted), hops and yeast, Guinness is the world’s most popular stout brand. The iconic beer is brewed in 49 countries worldwide and sold in over 150 with almost 9 million glasses of Guinness beers enjoyed every day around the world. The most GUINNESS is sold in Great Britain, Ireland, USA, Nigeria and Cameroon. More information can be found at www.guinness.com.
