Hampden in Baltimore is a center of silliness year around, but on the weekend of June 8-9, it steps into a spotlight and shows us why the neighborhood is so beloved to local filmmaker John Waters and gets featured in articles in the New York and Los Angeles Times, New York and Washington Post, and Rachel Ray’s TV show.

Hampden is the home of the beehive hairdo, the animal-print skirt, cat-eye sunglasses, and other affectations of questionable taste. And HONFest is where you find it for 2 days on unabashed display.

It all takes place on West 36th Street between Falls Road and Chestnut, six blocks of crowds in costumes enjoying foods, drinks, and the wares of the neighborhood. Live bands are sprinkled along the way to keep you humming. Local breweries serve out of their tents. And local salons set up chairs where, for a few bucks, you can get a beehive of your own to take home.

But the big attraction is the people-watching. And, as Baltimore goes, HONFest ranks at the top. Bring your camera, take home some laughs.