HonFest

2010 HonFest

HonFest is an annual festival held in the Hampden neighborhood of Baltimore, Maryland. HonFest takes its name from the word "hon" — a slang term of address or endearment, being an abbreviation for "honey" in Baltimorese; it is often used in the common greeting "Hey, hon." The festival began in 1994 as a local celebration of the Baltimorese lifestyle and stereotype by Cafe Hon, and since then has become one of the most visited festivals in Baltimore. The summer festival traditionally was one day; however, starting in 2007, it lasts two days, a Saturday and Sunday. The festival crowns "Miss Hon" after a contest in which people dress in a "hon" outfit, which usually is a 1960s-style beehive hairdo, eye shadow, spandex pants, and leopard print clothing.[1]

"Hon" is short for "honey", a term of endearment often used in Baltimorese. The term has grown into a stereotype and a subculture.

History

HonFest began in 1994, originally serving as a marketing tool for Cafe Hon. The festival started off as a one-day event, but since 2007 it has become a weekend-long event. Covering four city blocks of Hampden’s 36th street, the festival has received visitors from 39 of the 50 states, and in recent years has become a nationally recognized event. The Baltimore Sun claims that HonFest is Baltimore’s most popular neighborhood festival, attracting numbers in the range of 50,000 attendees. As of 2012, three stages are available for entertainment including the main stage, the stage on Falls Road, and the Bacardi Lounge Umbrella Radio stage. The festival boasts the performances of local musical guest covering genres from blues, electronic, alternative rock, and folk. The participants of the event are encouraged to talk in Bawlmerese, the town’s take on Hon dialect.[2]

Controversy

John Waters, whose films were a major influence, has sworn off the festival altogether. "To me, it's used up... It's condescending now. The people that celebrate it are not from it. I feel that in some weird way they're looking slightly down on it. I only celebrate something I can look up to."[3] Some see the festival as perpetuating tired and outdated stereotypes. "...it’s not just that people are mimicking or parodying the past; there’s also an element of class ridicule involved (since the style, taste, and speech associated with working-class women are being fetishized and parodied by other, often wealthier, women). This brings up a number of questions: Is this just good-hearted fun? Is it truly honoring these women, or mocking them? Does it bring attention to Baltimore’s working class residents, or simply treat them like they are historic relics?"[4] The documentary "People Like Us" features a segment depicting Honfest and draws question to whether the middle class participants celebrate or mock the working class culture of old Baltimore.[5]

See also

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to HonFest.
  1. ↑ Baltimore Sun Media Group (June 11, 2012). "HonFest back for 19th year in Hampden – Baltimore Sun". baltimoresun.com. Retrieved November 27, 2014.
  2. ↑ "What is HonFest?". Retrieved November 27, 2014.
  3. ↑ "John Waters swears off the word 'hon' and Honfest". USA Today. June 13, 2008. Retrieved June 7, 2013.
  4. ↑ Sharp, Gwen. "Baltimore's Honfest: Representing Class". Retrieved June 7, 2013.
  5. ↑ "People Like Us: Social Class in America". 2001. Retrieved June 7, 2013.
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