Getting Wiggy With It... At Honfest

We've got your 'Hons'... and they're right here in Bawlmer Merlin Hon!  There is a fantabulous phenom in Baltimore called 'The Hon'...  

She was made famous by Baltimore film maker John Waters in movies like "Pink Flamingos," "Polyester," and the original movie and eventual Broadway hit "Hairspray." Hon is short for the term of endearment 'Honey." Which is what I usually call my own hubby... as in "Hey Hon, whatcha doin' Hon!" 

The fab 'Hons' we are talking about here are the big bold B'more ladies with mile high beehives and a big helping of friendly sass.  

The more gaudy and covered in baubles n' baggage, well...the better for shopping and walking 'downy avenue' in Hamden Hon! Must be where Marge Simpson got her good looks. 

If you get the feeling that the Hon is a very revered woman in Bawlmer you may be correct. For the Bawlmer Hon is celebrated every year at the Honfest in kitschy hot pink flamingo style!  The Baltimore neighborhood of Hamden becomes a colorful streetfest full of those loveable tacky trashy 'Hons!' Everyone is invited to join in the fun!

 
This is one of the most wacky wonderful festivals you could ever attend! If you are a people watcher, this is surely hot pink n' purple paradise for you! Smiles fill the air...as well as pink flamingos!

The Honfest was started by Denise Whiting owner of the 'Cafe Hon' because the annual contest for the 'Best Baltimore Hon' at her restaurant became so gosh darn popular!  Below is the iconic fixture of Hamden's 'Cafe Hon'... "Big Pink!" You gotta love it!!!

The 'Cafe Hon' is a mecca for Hon lovers. In business for 18 years 
I think they know their Hons! So you can go learn more at the Cafe Hon web site which is chock full of info... on... well...Hon-ness!
 

You will find Hons both young and old dressing in this fab gear garb. The look is: colorful sixties, some sparkle, some trash, some blue eye shadow, a tower of hair well encrusted with hairspray, and a mad dash of Elvis for retro snazz. So join in and get wiggy with it!

If you need help getting your 'do' piled high, they got you covered in the foo-foo gorgeous 'Glamour Lounge' right on the avenue Hon! Relax on the sofa, and be one with the Hon you know you are!
 

This funky festival has lots-o-foodie treats, live bands, and Hot Hon glam supplies for your inner child's dress-up-pleasure. The contest for the 'Best Baltimore Hon' is still a highlight of this weekend event and here is this years reigning Queen! Isn't she lovely?

 
One thing you need to do before you come to the Honfest is to learn some Bawlmerese. Then you will understand the locals and street signs like the one below. Oh and that's Denise on the nifty sign with her pal big 'E.' They are keepin' it real and tellen' ya where to go!

Let's check in with the magic of this Honfest video just to learn a few more tips about looking 'bootiful' gals! You know you are going to have fun while you stroll 'downy avenue' in your hot pink feather boa and cats eye shades! Because "youz is lookin real purdy now Hon!"

Oh there is my hubby with our pink smoothies getting flocked! 

Aowyn was out wandering amongst the flamingo's too, and was a bit startled by the pink plastic goodness. She was not quite sure if the pretty in pink birds of this Flamingo Land were real or not!

'Hectic Red'... the absolute best Baltimore Classic Rock Band were at the Honfest! Whoo Hoo! Does not get any better than this Hon!

Everyone of all ages loves classic rock...even Hons! Take a listen to Hectic Red Live on this video and you will see why I have been a fan of those Bawlmer boys for 23 years!

There's the hubby again... the fantabulously talented Ben Sherman doing his amazing guitar thing! Yes... he is the man and my King! 
Am I lucky or whatttttttt??!!!

The Honfest Volunteers were rockin' to Hectic Red and giving them the thumbs up! Everyone young and old is dancing and moving!

Rich Filbert enjoying the energy of the Honfest crowd!

Hons were observed gathering near the big red machine!

Danny Grim was giving a shout out to the Hons, and suddenly there was a rainstorm in the middle of the Hectic Red show. The crowd came back from their shelters fifteen minutes later to sunshine and more great classic rock! Everybody is happy and dancing with joy!

To open the rain delay second half, the Hectic Red guys sang their own tribute to the Bawlmer Hon. They tickled the crowd with Bawlmerese accents to the very appropriate song by Queen, "Fat Bottom girls." (Sound is distorted by the fan's cell phone being next to the speaker stack...view the You Tube of that moment here.)
 

John Suchy wearing the Hon pink and wowing everyone with his keyboards, guitar and vocals.

At the end of the evening the crowd began chanting and flickin' their bics requesting an encore please!...and another!

Two encores were enticed by the Honfest crowd and Hectic Red gladly filled the requests. So everyone left into the sunset of the evening at Roosevelt Park and 36th Street in Hamden quite happy Hon!

I got in on some Hon action to celebrate the Baltimore Hon, and designed a line of clothing and merchandise for the Hectic Red store at Shermanator Gear 2. Now you can go get your Hon on too!

This past weekend Hectic Red's gig had a Halloween contest included. As synchronicity would have it, the winner was a little one who had asked her mommy to buy her a Hon wig while at this years Honfest. That beehive wig was almost as tall as she was! Her purse is made from labels of the local brew 'National Bohemian', which in Bawlmerese is called a "Natty Bo." Forget the Twilight crowd on Halloween...this girl was a Bawlmer stylin' Hon... and won!

 So ends this super pink Honfest post.... 
I hope you enjoyed your experience......... Hon!

Credits: Frames: Coffee Shop Blog's Vintage template pack from kpauli flicker, First Hectic Red Group Photo elements: Itkupilli - Test sheet items, Random Alpha - Deviant Scrap/Holliwood Studios