8-26-2026 4:48am

County Hosts

Jeff Barto Editor

Baltimore County Announces Inaugural ArtFusion Festival at Holt Park and Center for the Arts

Baltimore County Executive Kathy Klausmeier and the Baltimore County Department of Recreation and Parks today announced the inaugural ArtFusion: Earth, Moon, and Stars, a free, one-day immersive arts festival taking place Saturday, August 29, from noon to 7 p.m. at Holt Park and Center for the Arts, 34 Elmont Avenue in Overlea.

The festival will bring together artists and performers from across the region to explore the connections among the cosmic, natural and metaphysical worlds. Visitors can enjoy public art installations, live performances, a juried gallery exhibition, hands-on activities, food and beverage vendors, and more.

“The arts bring people together, spark our imaginations and help us see the world in new ways,” said County Executive Kathy Klausmeier. “I’m thrilled that Baltimore County is launching ArtFusion at Holt Park, a special place where art and nature come together. I cannot wait for people of all ages to experience the creativity, energy and impressive local talent this festival will showcase.”

Activities

Art enthusiasts and families are encouraged to stop by for art installations and displays, music performances, family-friendly activities, vendors, food trucks, and more.

The juried art gallery opens at noon on August 29, and will then be on exhibit through Friday, October 2 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The gallery features the work of ten artists, selected from 22 gallery submissions.

Public Sculptures and Activations

Fission, The Cosmic Inquiry and Celestial Assembly, by Scott Pennington
Three 9-by-9-foot sculptures made from brightly painted wood, inspired by stars, meteors and 1950s science fiction.
Compass, by Laure Drougoul
A large-scale sculpture inspired by Earth's magnetic fields, exploring migration, location and humanity's sense of direction.
NEOM, by Adewale Alli
An 8-foot alien-like sculpture surrounded by three paintings, installed within the trellis at Holt Park.
Rainbow Rider, by Bike Powered Events
Participants pedal stationary bikes to power towering LED sculptures, creating an interactive light display.

“ArtFusion gives local artists the platform to shine and our residents a chance to come together, explore, and be inspired by their own community,” said Acting Recreation and Parks Director Bryan Sheppard. “We’re grateful for the team at Holt Park and Center for the Arts for creating a phenomenal source of art and nature programming year-round.”

Performance schedule: performances will be held at the solos stage and amphitheater.

12:30 p.m. | Kevin Sherry
Kevin Sherry brings funny puppet shows for kids and adults to the festival, with a new show inspired by outer space travel.
1:30 p.m. | Mind on Fire
Mind on Fire brings contemporary classical music together with Baltimore's experimental arts community.
2:30 p.m. | Amy Reid
Amy Reid is an electronic musician, producer and sound and visual artist whose work explores the natural world and the spaces between worlds.
3:30 p.m. | Afro House
Baltimore-based Afro House presents its Astronaut Symphony, a mix of jazz and opera. The group was recently named “Best Performer” by Baltimore Magazine.
4:30 p.m. | Herald
Herald is the solo project of musician Lawrence Worthington, creating psychedelic alternative pop.
6:00 p.m. | Sun Ra Arkestra The pioneering jazz ensemble blends jazz, blues, rock, improvisation and electronic music through an Afrofuturist lens. The group was nominated for a 2026 Grammy Award.
7:00 p.m. | Festival ends

Kids & Community Activities

Community fiber project
Jewelry Making
Planet Printmaking
Cyanotypes
Button Making

Food or beverages, food trucks

Parking information

Festival parking and shuttle transportation are both free and will run approximately every 15 minutes beginning at 11:00 a.m. Parking is located at Overlea High School, located at 5401 Kenwood Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland 21206.