Hello Towson,

On this day, October 8th in 1849, historians believe Edgar Allan Poe was most likely buried, as he died on October 7, 1849, 177 years ago.

“ I became insane with long intervals of horrible sanity”
- Edgar Allan Poe

In this week’s Towson Torch:

This issue is brought to you by:

Come hungry, Towson! The Italian Heritage Fall Festival is bringing a full day of food, music and Italian culture to Towson Courthouse Square on Saturday, October 17, from 11 a.m.–6 p.m.

The free festival features Italian food, beer and wine, local vendors, kids’ activities and a sausage-eating contest, plus plenty of live music. Entertainment includes Baltimore favorite Great Train Robbery and the Monaldi Brothers, who have been performing traditional Italian music for more than 60 years.

More than 5,000 people attended last year — so expect downtown Towson to be lively! 🇮🇹🍝🎶

📅 Saturday, October 17 | 11 a.m.–6 p.m.
📍 Towson Courthouse Square
🎟️ Admission: FREE

- Get Full Details

Edenwald Senior Living’s highly anticipated INSPIRE expansion will break ground on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, at 2 p.m., marking a major milestone as the project enters its construction phase. An eager crowd of Priority Depositors, local dignitaries, and construction partners are expected to attend

Spanning more than 284,000 square feet of new construction on three acres of the Goucher College campus, INSPIRE will feature three new residential towers, a lively outdoor plaza, and a collection of amenities and learning spaces unlike anything the region has ever seen. Central to this transformation is a deepening relationship with Goucher College, which is set to make Edenwald the foremost college-enriched senior living community in Maryland.  Read Full Press Release

Last Wednesday, local business leaders, workforce development professionals and members of the community gathered at the Athenaeum at Goucher College for the Towson Growth Summit: Skilled Trades Edition, hosted by the Towson Torch and sponsored by Stanley Black & Decker and Whiting-Turner.

While much of the national conversation about skilled trades focuses on the worker shortage, the Towson panel repeatedly returned to a deeper issue: attracting workers is only part of the challenge. Employers also need to create an industry people want to join and stay in. - Read Full Article Recap

DEWALT Is the Only Tool Manufacturer Recognized in 2026 Next Big Things in Tech Awards Program

DEWALT, a Stanley Black & Decker brand renowned for relentless innovation on the jobsite, today announced that the world's first fleet-capable, downward drilling robot, DALE™, has been named a winner in Fast Company's 2026 Next Big Things in Tech Awards. The awards recognize innovative technologies developed by established companies, startups, and research teams that are making meaningful progress toward transforming the lives of consumers, businesses, and society. This year's innovations demonstrate the potential to create significant impact in the years ahead. - Read Full Release

🎶 2000s Dance Party with So Fetch!
📅 Friday, Oct. 9 | Doors 8 p.m.
📍 The Recher, 512 York Road
🎤 Break out the flip phones and low-rise jeans — The Recher turns back the clock with a night dedicated to the music of the 2000s. The Recher

🍔 Kids Night at Barley’s Backyard
📅 Friday, Oct. 9 | 6–8 p.m.
📍 Barley’s Backyard, 408 York Road
🎨 Friday night includes crafts and complimentary dessert for the kids. Barley’s also runs happy hour from 3–7 p.m. Barley's Backyard

🍸 Friday Happy Hour at Towson Tavern
📅 Friday, Oct. 9 | 5–7 p.m.
📍 Towson Tavern, 516 York Road
🥂 Start the weekend with Towson Tavern’s happy hour featuring half-price top-shelf cocktails, wines by the glass and beers.

👻 The Nightmare Bar
📅 Friday–Sunday | Various times
📍 The Point in Towson, 523 York Road
🎃 The Point has transformed into a Burton-inspired Halloween pop-up complete with themed food and drinks, live characters, interactive surprises and plenty of photo opportunities. 21+; advance tickets recommended. The Point Towson

🛍️ Towson American Legion: Flea Market & Vendor Event
📅 Saturday, Oct. 10 | 9 a.m.–1 p.m.
📍 125 York Road
🛒 Browse vendors, crafts and flea-market finds while supporting American Legion Post 22. Breakfast and lunch sandwiches will also be available. Patch

🎨 Free Art Exhibitions at Towson University
📅 Saturday, Oct. 10 | 11 a.m.–8 p.m.
📍 Center for the Arts, 7700 Osler Drive
🖼️ Check out the free Even Our Oddkin exhibition; the university’s Asian Arts Gallery also has Encounter 해후(邂逅) open from 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Towson University

🏈 Towson Football vs. Stony Brook
📅 Saturday, Oct. 10 | 4 p.m.
📍 Johnny Unitas Stadium
🐯 The Tigers are home Saturday afternoon against Stony Brook. Towson University

🎸 The Wankers: The Best of Britpop & Beyond
📅 Saturday, Oct. 10 | Doors 7 p.m.
📍 The Recher, 512 York Road
🇬🇧 Expect a night celebrating Britpop and British rock at one of downtown Towson’s best-known live music venues. The Recher

🎤 Saturday Night Karaoke Club at CVP
📅 Saturday, Oct. 10 | 10 p.m.
📍 CVP Towson, 19 W. Pennsylvania Ave.
🎶 Grab the microphone. Karaoke Club is back for one night only. Come Sing and Celebrate with Chris and Los for bartender Tori’s birthday.

🍳 Weekend Brunch at Barley’s Backyard
📅 Saturday & Sunday | 10 a.m.–3 p.m.
📍 Barley’s Backyard, 408 York Road
🥞 Brunch includes mimosa buckets, crush carafes and a build-your-own pancake station. Sunday also brings Music Bingo with prizes. Barley's Backyard

🥁 Samba in the Stacks
📅 Sunday, Oct. 11 | 2–3 p.m.
📍 Towson Branch, Baltimore County Public Library
🎺 Baltimore-based Latin jazz band Downtown Tumbao brings live music to the library, along with Mexican pastries in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. Towson Friends

🎼 Flex Music: Clarinet, Horn & Bassoon
📅 Sunday, Oct. 11 | 3 p.m.
📍 Towson University Center for the Arts
🎵 Wind down the weekend with an afternoon performance featuring clarinet, horn and bassoon. Towson University

🌳 Bonus: Explore Hampton
📅 Friday–Sunday | 9 a.m.–4 p.m.
📍 Hampton National Historic Site, 535 Hampton Lane
🍂 If the weather cooperates, October is a great time to walk the grounds of one of Towson’s most historic properties.

🍂 Fall Harvest & Arts Festival at Cromwell Valley Park
📅 Saturday, Oct. 10 | 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
📍 Cromwell Valley Park, 2002 Cromwell Bridge Road
🚗 $5 per vehicle

Celebrate fall in one of the Towson area’s prettiest outdoor settings! The Fall Harvest & Arts Festival brings together seasonal activities, arts and crafts, vendors and family-friendly outdoor fun at Cromwell Valley Park. The event is presented as part of Baltimore County Recreation & Parks’ 2026 fall festival lineup and is a great excuse to spend a crisp October Saturday outside.

🐶 Wiener Walk Towson
📅 Sunday, Oct. 11 | Sign-in begins at noon; walk at 2 p.m.
📍 Patriot Plaza, 400 Washington Ave., Towson
💰 $10 minimum donation per person

Raising money for Little Paws Dachshund Rescue. Since it’s October, dogs are encouraged to arrive in costume, with prizes awarded after the walk. Come watch and support the cause even if you don't have a wiener dog of your own.

Have an event we missed? Send it to the Torch and we may include it in next week’s Weekend Picks.

Still trying to figure out what to wear this Halloween? From Hollywood blockbusters to streaming sensations, pop culture is driving this year's costume trends. Here are our predictions for the 10 most popular adult Halloween costumes of 2026.

🔥 Torch Take: Expect plenty of Spider-Men, K-pop stars and Toy Story characters roaming Towson this Halloween. And if you're looking for a great couples costume, Woody and Jessie might be the easiest win of 2026!

The job: includes preparing pizzas, handling in-house orders, takeout, and delivery-platform orders, and helping keep the kitchen organized and running smoothly. Kitchen or pizza experience is a plus, but mainly looking for someone dependable, able to work independently, and comfortable in a fast-paced late-night environment. Great opportunity for someone looking to make extra money on the weekends.
If interested email [email protected] with name, phone number, availability, and a little about your restaurant or kitchen experience.

Fall Perfection on Saturday, But Keep an Eye on Sunday!

Fall is showing off in Towson this weekend! Friday kicks things off with beautiful sunshine and a comfortable high of 74 degrees, perfect for an outdoor happy hour. Saturday looks like the weekend winner, with sunshine filtering through high clouds and temperatures reaching a pleasant 71 degrees. It's ideal weather for farmers markets, fall festivals, pumpkin picking, or enjoying Towson's outdoor dining scene.

Sunday's forecast is still uncertain, so check for updates before making outdoor plans. Saturday is your safest bet for enjoying autumn around Towson.

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