A list of upcoming events organized or supported by Baltimore Sister Cities and our sister city committees (Changwon, South Korea; Gbarnga, Liberia; Kawasaki, Japan; Luxor & Alexandria, Egypt; Odesa, Ukraine; Piraeus, Greece; Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Xiamen, China) and our affiliates. Events include:
August 25 – October 10, 2025
Walking Together (Art Exhibition)
Date: Exhibition on view until October 10, Mondays-Fridays 10am-5pm.
Reception and Art Walk: September 20, at 4-6pm
Location: Civera Gallery, Notre Dame of Maryland University, University Academic Building, 2nd floor, 4701 N. Charles St. Baltimore MD, 21210
Admission: Free
More Information: www.gormleygallery.com/civeragallery
Curated by Joy Davis, ‘Walking Together‘ brings together three Baltimore-based artists, Shaun Champion, Charles Mason III, and kolpeace, in an exploration of identity, memory and cultural transformation. This exhibition at Notre Dame of Maryland University features three of the artists who participated in the Walk On By exhibition and artists exchange exploring the African diaspora in two historic industrial port cities, Baltimore and Rotterdam. ‘Walking Together‘ is a follow-on project to the interactive station designed by Notre Dame University’s Art Therapy faculty and students at last year’s Walk On By exhibition at Creative Alliance in Baltimore.
Promoted by Baltimore-Rotterdam Sister City Committee (BRSCC)
September 12, 2025
Music from Odesa – A Benefit for Ukraine
Date: Friday Sept 12, 7:00 pm
Location: 2640 Space at 2640 Saint Paul St, Baltimore MD 21218
More Information: Buy Tickets Here
Kommuna Lux, the boy band from Odesa Ukraine, performs brings you the heritage music of their beloved hometown Odesa: “Klezmer, Balkan, and Urban Chanson, with a dash of Ukrainian Folk and powered by rocket fuel, Kommuna Lux impacts the crowd with a nostalgic, high-energy Big Band sound from the bygone days of speakeasies and rum runners” Proceeds from this event supports the Rotary E-Club of Ukraine’s humanitarian relief efforts.
September 13, 2025
A Baltimorean in Egypt
Date: Saturday, September 13, 12-1:30 pm
Location: 400 Cathedral St, Baltimore MD
Admission: Free
More Information: www.baltimoreegypt.org
Join us at Enoch Pratt Library in Baltimore on September 13, 2025 for a talk by Meg Swaney,
Assistant Curator of Exhibitions & Teaching at the Johns Hopkins Archaeological Museum. The Cohen Collection includes nearly 700 objects, collected by Baltimore banker, Col. Mendes Israel Cohen, during his four-month journey through Egypt in 1832.
RSVP to
davol.jon@gmail.com
Organized by Baltimore-Luxor-Alexandria Sister City Committee.
September 15–19, 2025
2025 U.S.–Japan Sister Cities Summit
The 2025 U.S.-Japan Sister Cities Summit (September 16-19, 2025) hosted by Sister Cities International is a milestone event celebrating the 170th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the United States and Japan. The summit will bring together 600+ bilateral stakeholders to inspire collaboration, explore new partnerships, and empower the next generation of global leaders. All 460 U.S.-Japan Sister City partners, elected officials, citizen diplomats, and volunteers are invited to the City of Izumisano, Osaka Prefecture under the theme “Celebrating our Legacies, Empowering our Future.”
More information: sistercities.org/sci-japan
September 19, 2025
Gardens for Peace
Date: Friday Sept 19, 9:30 am – 11:00 am
Location: Towson University’s Asian Arts & Culture Center, 7700 Osler Drive Towson, MD 21204
Admission: Free
More Information: RSVP Link
Kick-off the new school year by cultivating a culture of friendship and community! Join a ceremonial raking of the Japanese word for peace (heiwa) in Asian Arts & Culture Center’s Asian Garden, while collectively envisioning and promoting peace with others. Recognize the International Day of Peace with 27 other Asian Gardens nationwide through Gardens for Peace (G4P) which brings people together to advocate for unity.
Baltimore-Kawasaki Sister City Committee is a partner for this event.
September 20, 2025
Taste of Japan
Date: Saturday, September 20, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Location: Elton Branch of the Cecil County Public Library
Elkton Meeting Room
301 Newark Avenue, Elkton, MD 21921
Admission: Free
More Information: www.bkscc.org/news-events/taste-of-japan
Join us for a celebration of Japanese culture and traditions! This event brings the rich traditions of Japan to life through engaging activities, live performances, and food sampling the whole family can enjoy. All ages are welcome—come explore, learn, and celebrate together! Program includes: Taiko Drumming, Kamishibai Storytelling, Jujutsu Demonstration, Kimono Fashion + Dressing Demonstration, Shakuhachi performance-Bamboo flute.
Co-hosted by Baltimore-Kawasaki Sister City Committee.
September 27, 2025
Japan Film Program
The Funeral (お葬式) 1984, dir. by Juzo Itami
Enjoy this comedy film about a family’s preparations for a suddenly deceased husband and father. The Funeral was Juzo Itami’s feature film debut, garnering five Japanese Academy Awards in 1985.
Dates: Saturday, September 27th, 1:00 pm
Location: Towson University’s Center for the Arts, Room CA #2032
Admission: Free; advance registration required.
More Information: https://www.bkscc.org/news-events/japan-film-program
Hosted by Baltimore-Kawasaki Sister City Committee in partnership with Towson University’s Asian Arts & Culture Center.
September 27-28, 2025
Ukrainian Festival
Dates: Saturday, September 27, 12-8pm & Sunday, September 28, 12-6pm (Rain or Shine)
Location: St Michael the Archangel Ukrainian Catholic Church, 2400 Eastern Avenue and 500 S. Montford Avenue, Baltimore
Admission: Free
More Information: www.stmichaelukrainiancatholicbaltimore.org
The 48th annual Ukrainian Festival celebrates the culture and heritage of Ukraine, held on the grounds of St Michael the Archangel Ukrainian Catholic Church. The festival hosts traditional dancers, musicians, singers and other entertainment with an exquisite selection of Ukrainian Food, Ukrainian Beer Garden, Novelty Vendors, Art. and Children’s Area. Ukrainian food is for sale in the kitchen in the lower church hall. This year’s festival coincides with 50th anniversary of the sister city relationship between Odesa in Ukraine and Baltimore in the USA.
Promoted by Baltimore-Odesa Sister City Committee.
September 21, 2025 – March 8, 2025
The Way of Nature: Art from Japan, China, and Korea
Exhibition at the Baltimore Museum of Art (BMA)
For centuries, East Asian cultures have considered human life as part of a much larger system that encompasses the natural world. More than 40 artworks from Japan, China, and Korea demonstrate a way of living where mountains and seas, animals—both wild and supernatural—and plant life and insects are symbolically meaningful and historically pervasive in visual culture. The objects range from delicate 13th-century porcelain to a luminous 18th-century embroidered silk Buddhist Priest’s Robe and large-scale 20th-century photography. Collectively, these works provide a sense of the impulse to fully experience the natural world, as foundational to our existence, as impacted by human life, and as an enduring metaphor for our survival.
More information: artbma.org/exhibition/the-way-of-nature-art-from-japan-china-and-korea
October 6-10, 2025
Planetary Health conference in Rotterdam
Held every 18 months, the Planetary Health Annual Meeting aims to connect the global Planetary Health community, seek solutions for the grand challenges facing humanity, and provide tools and drivers to support systemic change. The theme of this year’s conference is “Planetary Health for All and In All: Boosting urgency and agency for systems change”. It is co-hosted by Erasmus School of Health Policy & Management of the Erasmus University Rotterdam and the Planetary Health Alliance (PHA). PHA’s Secretariat is located at Johns Hopkins University’s campus in Washington, DC. Johns Hopkins has an Institute for Planetary Health in Baltimore.
More information: Planetary health conference | Planetary Health Alliance
Promoted by Baltimore-Rotterdam Sister City Committee.
October 8, 2025
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra: Send Off Concert
Date: Wednesday, October 8th
Time: 5:00 pm arrival, 5:30 – 6:15 pm program; 6:15 pm refreshments
Location: Baltimore City Hall Rotunda
100 Holliday St, Baltimore, MD 21202
Admission: Free
More Information: media.wordfly.com/bsomusic/pages/Special-Event-RSVP-City-Hall
The BXSCC is celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Baltimore-Xiamen relationship this year.
This fall, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra is sending a delegation of five musicians to China to represent the Baltimore Symphony, City of Baltimore, and State of Maryland. In addition to special concerts and cultural exchanges in Shanghai, Hangzhou, and Xi’an, the tour includes a performance in Xiamen celebrating the long-standing sister city relationship between Xiamen and Baltimore.
The pleasure of your company is requested for a special Send Off Concert hosted at Baltimore City Hall. Join us for a preview of the concert program and remarks from special guests.
Guests are welcome. All attendees will need to present government-issued identification to gain entry to Baltimore City Hall.
Promoted by Baltimore-Xiamen Sister City Committee.
October 12, 2025
Japan Day (Fall Festival)
Time: 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Location: 8045 Harriet Tubman Ln, Columbia, MD 21044
Did you know that the State of Maryland and Kanagawa Prefecture in Japan have had a Sister State Relationship for more than 40 years? Join us to explore Japanese culture, performances, and food at Japan Day. This Fall Festival is hosted by the Maryland and Kanagawa Sister State committees along with Misako Ballet, Matcha Time Gift Shop, and the Japanese Area at UMBC.
More information: Event Tickets | BKSCC Facebook Page
Promoted by Baltimore-Kawasaki Sister City Committee.
October 25, 2025
Japan Film Program
Tampopo (タンポポ) 1985, dir. by Juzo Itami
A comedy film called the first “ramen Western”, a play on the term spaghetti Western. It received two Japanese Academy awards, and several awards in the United States.
Dates: Saturday, October 25th, 1:00 pm
Location: TBD
Admission: Free; advance registration required.
More Information: https://www.bkscc.org/news-events/japan-film-program
Hosted by Baltimore-Kawasaki Sister City Committee in partnership with Towson University’s Asian Arts & Culture Center.
November 15, 2025
Japan Film Program
A Story from Chikamatsu (近松物語) 1954, dir. by Kenji Mizoguchi
In this 1954 historical drama, an Edo-period Kyoto scroll maker, his apprentice, wife, and servant spin a web of star-crossed romance, betrayal, and compromised morality. Based on a classic eighteenth-century Japanese bunraku puppet-theater drama by the acclaimed Chikamatsu Monzaemon, Kenji Mizoguchi’s stunning film masterfully portrays the fears, frustrations, hopes and vulnerabilities of the story’s characters.
Dates: Saturday, November 15th, 1:00 pm
Location: Towson University’s Center for the Arts, Room CA #2032
Admission: Free; advance registration required.
More Information: https://www.bkscc.org/news-events/japan-film-program
Hosted by Baltimore-Kawasaki Sister City Committee in partnership with Towson University’s Asian Arts & Culture Center.
December 3, 2025
Maryland State of The Ports & Global Flavor Showcase
Dates: Wednesday, December 3, 4:00 – 7:00pm
Location: Cruise Maryland Terminal at the Port of Baltimore
Admission: $95.00
More Information: wtci.org/events/state-of-the-ports/register
The State of the Ports & Global Flavor Showcase offers a unique opportunity to gain insight into the critical role Maryland’s ports play in driving economic growth, global trade, and regional development. Hosted at the Port of Baltimore, this annual event convenes business leaders, policymakers, and industry experts to discuss the latest strategies, challenges, and opportunities shaping international commerce. Complementing these discussions is the Global Flavor Showcase, where attendees can experience curated wines and cuisine from around the world—highlighting the cultural and economic connections that trade makes possible. This distinguished gathering provides both valuable knowledge and meaningful networking in an engaging and globally focused setting.
