Baltimore’s busiest fall weekend lands right in front of Hurricane Isaias’ remnants: Fiesta Baltimore, the Maryland State BBQ Bash, ZooBOO! and the Annapolis Powerboat Show all run this weekend, and the National Weather Service expects a dry Saturday followed by an all-day soaking on Sunday. If you want to catch everything without getting drenched, the order you do it in matters.
Here is what is happening Friday through Sunday, Oct. 9-11, 2026, with times, prices and the day-by-day weather picture for each spot.
When will Isaias rain reach Baltimore this weekend?
Friday and Saturday look dry. The NWS forecast for Baltimore calls for partly sunny skies Friday with a high near 76 and a mostly cloudy Saturday with a high near 73. Rain arrives after 2 a.m. Sunday, with an 80% chance Saturday night, and Sunday brings showers all day with a 100% chance of rain and east winds gusting to 25 mph. Showers turn to thunderstorms Sunday night, and storms remain likely before 2 p.m. Monday.
The rain comes from Hurricane Isaias, which the National Hurricane Center expected to make landfall on the northern Gulf Coast Friday night or early Saturday before weakening inland. Our earlier report covers how much rain Isaias’ remnants could bring to Maryland.
| Event | Where | When | Cost | Weather outlook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland State BBQ Bash | Downtown Bel Air, Harford County | Fri.-Sat., Oct. 9-10 | Free | Dry both days |
| ZooBOO! | Maryland Zoo, Druid Hill Park | Fri.-Sun., 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | Included with zoo admission | Dry Fri.-Sat., rain Sun. |
| Fiesta Baltimore | Patterson Park | Sat.-Sun., 11 a.m.-7 p.m. | Free | Dry Sat., rain Sun. |
| Parade of Latino Nations | Eastern Avenue, Highlandtown | Sun., 2 p.m. | Free | Rain likely |
| Annapolis Powerboat Show | City Dock, Annapolis | Thu.-Sun., Oct. 8-11 | $32 adults, $10 ages 7-15 | Dry Fri.-Sat., rain Sun. |
Fiesta Baltimore: go Saturday if you can
Fiesta Baltimore returns to Patterson Park near the Pulaski Monument, 2900 Eastern Ave., on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 10-11, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. both days, according to Visit Baltimore. The festival celebrates Latino culture with live music, food and family activities. WMAR-2 News reports it is organized by Nuestras Raices Inc. and includes youth programming zones and resource tables connecting families to bilingual health, legal and social services.
“a free family and community-oriented event open to the public.”
Visit Baltimore event listing for Fiesta Baltimore
The signature Parade of Latino Nations is set for 2 p.m. Sunday on Eastern Avenue in Highlandtown, which falls in the middle of Sunday’s forecast rain. If the parade is on your list, bring rain gear and check the organizers’ channels Sunday morning for any weather changes. Saturday, with a dry forecast and a high in the low 70s, is the better day for a long afternoon in the park.
Maryland State BBQ Bash in Bel Air: the safest bet
The barbecue festival in Downtown Bel Air is the one big event that finishes before the rain. It runs Friday and Saturday, Oct. 9-10, with free admission. Visit Harford lists the event at the Mary E. W. Risteau District Court and Multi-Service Center lot, 2 S. Bond St., with a 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. window; check the organizer’s schedule for each day’s hours.
WMAR-2 reports that more than 25 competition teams will compete in the Maryland State BBQ Championship for cash prizes and a spot at the Jack Daniel’s World Championship Invitational Barbecue and The American Royal, while about 40 amateur teams face off in a Tailgate Challenge for the best ribs and chicken. The event, organized by the Bel Air Downtown Alliance, is the group’s largest annual fundraiser, with food trucks, live music, family activities and a cornhole competition. Bel Air is about 25 miles northeast of downtown Baltimore.
ZooBOO! at the Maryland Zoo: what changes Sunday
The Maryland Zoo says ZooBOO! runs on select days from Oct. 2 through Oct. 31 and is included with zoo admission. This weekend it runs Friday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., according to WMAR-2, with trick-or-treating around the zoo, a pumpkin patch, an inflatable corn maze, crafts, sack races, animal ambassador meet-and-greets and food trucks.
- Friday: entertainer and ventriloquist Silly Goose and Val at 10:30 a.m.
- Saturday and Sunday: bubble show at 10:30 a.m. and magic show at 1:30 p.m.; costume contests at the Stone Barn in Main Valley.
- Sunday only: bounce house. Face painting and fall games cost extra.
Most of ZooBOO! is outdoors. The zoo did not list a rain policy on its event page, so families planning a Sunday visit can call the zoo at 410-396-7102 before heading out. Halloween costumes are encouraged all month.
Annapolis Powerboat Show: last weekend before the sailboats
The Annapolis Powerboat Show runs through Sunday at City Dock. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. General admission is $32, $10 for children 7 to 15 and free for children 6 and under; Sunday is Military Personnel Day, with $22 tickets sold online.
WMAR-2 reports a record number of boats this year, including six making their North American debut, while the City Dock area is under reconstruction. The Annapolis Sailboat Show follows Oct. 15-18. The NWS gives Annapolis a 99% chance of rain Sunday, so Friday or Saturday is the better day to walk the docks.
How to plan the weekend around the weather
- Friday: BBQ Bash in Bel Air in the evening, or ZooBOO! during the day.
- Saturday: the best weather of the weekend. Fiesta Baltimore, the boat show or a second day in Bel Air.
- Sunday: plan on rain all day. The parade goes at 2 p.m. in Highlandtown; Ravens fans have an 8:20 p.m. kickoff in Atlanta on NBC, and Isaias hits Atlanta first, as our Ravens-Falcons weather and travel guide explains.
- Driving Sunday night: expect wet roads and thunderstorms; never drive through flooded streets.
Want to get out of town instead? Fall color is building in Western Maryland; see when fall foliage peaks across Maryland.
Featured image: The Pagoda in Patterson Park, Baltimore. Photo: sneakerdog / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.