Celebrating Poe's life and legacy in Baltimore and around the world. The International Edgar Allan Poe Festival & Awards are presented by Poe Baltimore.

The International Edgar Allan Poe Festival & Awards returns to Baltimore the weekend of October! We're celebrating a Diamond Anniversary: 75 years honoring Poe's legacy at the Edgar Allan Poe House & Museum in Baltimore.

Schedule of Events

October 1-11, 2024

11 am-4 pm: Poe, Revolution & the Marquis de Lafayette Exhibit. Plus: Graveyard Tour of Westminster Hall

Discover the remarkable connection between Edgar Allan Poe and the great Marquis de Lafayette as we celebrate the Bicentennial of Lafayette's Farewell Tour. A life-sized diorama and historical exhibit will transport you through pivotal moments in American history, shedding light on forgotten heroes, showcasing the Poe family's profound contributions to the founding of the nation, and later their grandson's writing fame which revolutionized literature forever.

Living history performers and mobile app will also guide you on a tour of the famed Burying Ground at Westminster Hall, the final resting place of Edgar Allan Poe, David and Elizabeth Cairnes Poe, and other members of the Poe family, who repose alongside great Revolutionary War and War of 1812 heroes. See the graves of General Samuel Smith, Brigadier General John Smith, Rev. Patrick Allison, and other great figures in the rich tapestry of Baltimore's past. Engage with new interpretive signage and virtual resources, deepening your understanding of the Poe family's Revolutionary War patriotism and legacy. Join us as we prepare for Maryland 250 and United States' Semiquincentennial celebrations and journey through the past, present, and future of Baltimore's revolutionary spirit.

Location: Westminster Hall & Burying Ground, 519. W Fayette St.

October 3, 2024

8pm-10pm: Dreams Within Dreams: A Poe-inspired Magic Experience
 
A Night of Spooky Magic & Poe at the Lord Baltimore Hotel

Get ready for an unforgettable evening as Poe's Magic Theatre hosts a spine-chilling Fundraiser for the Edgar Allan Poe House & Museum! On this eerie night at the historic Lord Baltimore Hotel, Baltimore's most talented magicians will dazzle you with spooky magic and spellbinding renditions of Edgar Allan Poe's most haunting works. Witness the supernatural come to life in an evening brimming with mystery, illusion, and gothic elegance. Our city's finest magicians will conjure dark secrets and weave enchanting stories, paying tribute to the master of macabre himself. From heart-pounding magic acts to live performances of Poe's chilling tales, this event promises an experience like no other. All proceeds from this enchanting event support the Edgar Allan Poe House & Museum, helping preserve the legacy of Baltimore's beloved literary icon. Don't miss your chance to be part of something truly magical while supporting a great cause!

Location: The Lord Baltimore Hotel, 20 W. Baltimore Street

October 4, 2024

6pm-10pm: RED MASQUE MOVIE NIGHT & Poe House 75th Anniversary Reception

This year we commemorate two very special anniversaries: the 175th Anniversary of Edgar Allan Poe's Death in Baltimore in 1849 and the 75th Anniversary of The Edgar

Allan Poe House & Museum established in 1949. Join us festival eve at a special kick-off reception and MOVIE NITE in the glorious and newly-opened M&T Bank Exchange Theatre at France-Merrick Performing Arts Center.

This extraordinary evening includes two panel discussions with special guests Victoria Price, author and daughter of Vincent Price, and Michael Connelly, bestselling author of The Lincoln Lawyer and the Hieronymus Bosch detective series. Q&A followed by a special tribute recognizing the life and career of Vincent Price, and of the passing of the extraordinary film director, Roger Corman, followed by 60th Anniversary screening of their 1964 horror classic, "Edgar Allan Poe's Masque of the Red Death" starring Vincent Price.

Location: France-Merrick Performing Arts Center, 401 W. Fayette Street, Baltimore MD

October 4 - 6, 2024

11 am-4 pm: The Poe Death Exhibit at historic Carroll Mansion (includes Phoenix Shot Tower!)

An interactive art installation at the historic Carroll Mansion, where Poe's body and casket will lie in state in a re-enactment of the dark and somber day Poe was laid to rest. Tour the various conspiracies that plague Poe's legacy and learn how the very clothes he wore offer clues to his mysterious death. Pay your respects at a special candle-light vigil for the master of horror and mystery.

PHOENIX SHOT TOWER (10 AM - 11:30 AM Drop-In ONLY)
Experience the Phoenix Shot Tower. Built in 1828, it was the tallest building in the US until 1846 and annually manufactured 2.5 million lbs. of "drop" shot. It is only one of three remaining shot towers in the United States.

October 5, 2024

12 pm-1 pm: The Last Days of Edgar Allan Poe

Author and Poe Society of Baltimore President, David F. Gaylin, reads from his new book on the death of Poe in Baltimore, followed by Q&A.

Join us for panels and discussions at Westminster Hall & Burying Ground. Stop in for specific sessions, or join them all as part of the "Poe, Revolution and the Marquis de Lafayette" Exhibit."

Location: Westminster Hall & Burying Ground, 519 W. Fayette Street

1pm-2:30 pm: More Than Love: The Enduring Fascination with Edgar Allan Poe

Readings with contributors from a new collection of essays on the enduring fascination of Edgar Allan Poe, edited by Dr. Amy Branam Armiento.

Join us for panels and discussions at Westminster Hall & Burying Ground. Stop in for specific sessions, or join them all as part of the "Poe, Revolution and the Marquis de Lafayette" Exhibit."

Location: Westminster Hall & Burying ground, 519 W, Fayette Street

3 pm-4 pm: Meet the Filmmakers!

Bestselling author, Michael Connelly, Director and Executive Producer of a new documentary on the mystery of Edgar Allan Poe's Death in Baltimore.

Join us for panels and discussions at Westminster Hall & Burying Ground. Stop in for specific sessions, or join them all as part of the "Poe, Revolution and the Marquis de Lafayette" Exhibit."

Location: Westminster Hall & Burying Ground, 519 W. Fayette Street

6 pm-11:00 pm: The Black Cat Ball & 75th Anniversary Diamond Gala

The Black Cat Ball is the Official Party of the International Edgar Allan Poe Festival & Awards. This year's Black Cat Ball is a 75th Anniversary Diamond Gala & Gothic 1840s Dance Party, featuring after-hours access to the "Poe Death Exhibit" at Carroll Mansion and a cognac toast to Edgar Allan Poe! Your most glamorous and gothic dress encouraged.

Location: 1840s Plaza and Carroll Mansion, 800 E. Lombard St.

11:00 PM - Black Cat Ball Afterparty

Enjoy Magic and Mystery at The Lord Baltimore Hotel, where shadows dance and secrets await. Beyond the veil, Poe's Magic Theatre unfolds a world of illusion, after you experienced the Black Cat Ball. Indulge in spellbinding libations at this unforgettable After Party. Witness world-renowned magicians defy reality, all amidst the captivating charm of a hotel echoing with whispered tales of specters long forgotten. An electrifying evening of enchantment beckons — will you heed the call?

doors open at 11:30 PM

Location: Poe's Magic Theater at the Lord Baltimore Hotel, 20 W. Baltimore St.

October 6, 2024

11:30 am-12:30 pm: Allan vs. Poe

Young Edgar Poe would fall out with his foster father, John Allan, due to difference in temperament between the sensitive American boy and the Scottish businessman. Join POETIC Justice Productions of Ayrshire, Scotland, for a talk about history, fatherhood, literature and heritage.

Join us for panels and discussions at Westminster Hall & Burying Ground. Stop in for specific sessions, or join them all as part of the "Poe, Revolution and the Marquis de Lafayette" Exhibit."

Location: Westminster Hall & Burying Ground, 519 W. Fayette Street

12:30 pm-2 pm: The Edgar Allan Poe Society of Baltimore Annual Lecture

The Edgar Allan Poe Society Annual Lecture has been a Baltimore tradition for over 100 years. Lecture followed by Q&A and wreath-laying at the Poe Monument.

Location: Westminster Hall & Burying Ground, 519 W. Fayette St.

2 pm-4 pm: "Here Lies A Noble Heart" Westminster Burying Ground Plaques Dedication Ceremony

Dedication Ceremony for new interpretive signage at Westminster Hall & Burying Ground. Living history presentations and light refreshment.

Location: Westminster Hall & Burying Ground, 519. W Fayette St.

Date: October 4-6, 2024

Cost: Festival Admission is FREE. Additional Tours and Program Tickets on Sale Now

Location: Various Venues in Baltimore, MD 21201.

Click here for more information