Saturday, July 18, 2026, 11 a.m.–4 p.m.
Due to inclement weather, Block Party! will be held indoors. The food trucks and the mobile bookstore will remain outdoors. Explore the full schedule below!
The Walters Art Museum’s inaugural summer block party celebrates Baltimore’s boundless creativity through art, music, and community. During this fun-filled day of festivities, neighbors of all ages can come together at the museum to enjoy a local music showcase; art-making activities and workshops; a family zone; local food vendors; and more.
Block Party! performances have been curated by the event’s community advisors Viridiana Colosio-Martinez, John Tyler, and Alexis Tyson.
11 a.m.–4 p.m.
Block Print Workshop with the Maryland Center for History and Culture
Lower Level lobby
11 a.m.–4 p.m.
Collaborative Mural with Pablo Machioli
Sculpture Court, Level 2A
11 a.m.–4 p.m.
Summer Visor Decorating
Museum Cafe, Level 1A
11 a.m–4 p.m.
Radical Cartography Workshop and Oral Histories with Arts Collective
Level 2 lobby
12–1 p.m.
Papel Picado Flag Workshop with CIELO of Creative Alliance
Level 3 lobby
11:30 a.m.–12 p.m. and 12:30–1 p.m.
Interactive Musical Performances by Drum Dr. Dot
Graham Auditorium, Lower Level
12–1 p.m. and 3–4 p.m.
Silent Disco
Sculpture Court, Level 2A
1–1:30 p.m. and 2–2:30 p.m.
Andean Musical Performances by Grupo ETNIA
Latin American Art / Arte Latinoamericano, Level 2A
1:30–2:30 p.m.
Interactive Musical Performance by Gyzelle Garcia
Egyptian Art galleries, Level 2
2:30–3 p.m.
Dance Performance by CIELO of Creative Alliance
Graham Auditorium, Lower Level
2:30–3:30 p.m.
Ambient Musical Performance by Daoure Diongue
Medieval Art galleries, Level 3
11 a.m.–4 p.m.
Block Party! Family Guides
Centre Street entrance, Level 1
11 a.m.–4 p.m.
Family Zone with Sensory Resources
Lower Level lobby
11 a.m.–4 p.m.
Black Star Line Literacy Bus powered by Urban Reads Bookstore
Outside
11 a.m., 12 p.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m.
Afrofuturist Story Times with Pratt Library
Graham Auditorium, Lower Level
1:30–2:30 p.m.
Hula Hooping with Baltimore Hoop Love
Graham Auditorium, Lower Level
11 a.m.–4 p.m.
Black Baltimore Vegan
Outside
11 a.m.–4 p.m.
The Empanada Lady
Sculpture Court, Level 2A
11 a.m.–4 p.m.
Museum Cafe
Level 1A
11 a.m.–4 p.m.
Taharka Brothers
Outside
11 a.m.–4 p.m.
Connect with Port Discovery and Enoch Pratt Free Library
Lower Level lobby
11 a.m.–4 p.m.
Connect with Baltimore School for the Arts and Baltimore Center Stage
Level 1 lobby
11 a.m.–4 p.m.
Douriean Fletcher: Jewelry of the Afrofuture
Temporary Exhibition Gallery, Level 1
11 a.m.–4 p.m.
The Janet & Walter Sondheim Art Prize Finalists Exhibition
One West Mount Vernon Place, Level 2
12:30–4 p.m.
Conservation Window
Level 4 lobby
Viridiana Colosio-Martinez is an interdisciplinary scholar, storyteller, and educator based in Baltimore. Currently, she is pursuing a PhD in Language, Literacy, and Culture at UMBC, focusing on the experiences of Baltimore’s Latinx communities, including immigration stories, cultural identity, and resilience. She collaborates with Yesenia Mejia-Herrera and Artesanas at Creative Alliance to support the community in celebrating and passing down the Latinx traditions to younger generations while sharing them with Baltimore’s diverse communities. Additionally, she serves as an adjunct in the Department of Modern Languages, Linguistics, and Intercultural Communication at UMBC, where she teaches Spanish and Spanish Heritage classes.
John Tyler (JXHN TYLXR) is a 26-year-old powerhouse: an Emmy Award-winning film composer, visionary artist, and dynamic music and event producer who is reshaping the creative landscape. As the founder of the groundbreaking Love Groove Festival, Tyler has established himself as a leading force in the industry and Baltimore culture.
Alexis Tyson, also known as TWZ, is a Baltimore-born curator, muralist, and multi-disciplinary artist. Their work explores the intersection of public art, social impact, and historical storytelling, often engaging directly with communities to reclaim and reimagine shared spaces. Through murals, exhibitions, and interactive curriculum, they highlight Black history, explore forms of cultural documentation, and the power of critical discussions of our social landscape. Passionate about making history more accessible and engaging for all, Tyson creates spaces where people can see themselves reflected, honored, and nurtured.
