Next to Otakon, this may be the second most interesting weekend of the year in Baltimore.

Stan Lee will be the guest of honor at the 12th annual Comic-Con at the Baltimore Convention Center on Saturday and Sunday. Tickets to the convention of costumed characters, comic book authors and artists cost $15 to $30. Children under 10 are free. And dress up — the winner of the costume contest on Saturday gets $1,000.

Bill Cosby will be at Pier Six Concert Pavilion on Saturday. The comedian and entertainer will be doing stand-up that night at 6:30. Tickets cost $60 to $85, or you can hang out along the pier and hope to hear him for free.

And Baltimore Fashion Week kicks off today at the Scottish Rite Masonic Center on N. Charles Street. Tickets range from $50 to $80 for the show that lasts until Sunday. The 4th annual show features a mix of local and not-so-local designers.

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For all of those turning 30 this year, attendance at the National Aquarium in Baltimore will be only $5 on Monday.

All you have to do is show your ID with a birth year of 1981 — same as the aquarium’s — and your general admission is $5.

Tickets ordinarily cost $24.95 for adults and $19.95 for children. You can check out the attraction’s birthday celebration events going on Friday through Monday here.

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Baltimore’s sixth annual summer Restaurant Week promotion begins on Friday. And it really is one of the most joyous times of the dining year. Aside from the winter Restaurant Week… which usually seems to get extended for a month because of snow.

The promotion will have about 80 restaurants offering three-course meals for $35.11 and lunch for $20.11 through Aug. 14. Quite the steal if you’re looking to try a new place or hit up an old favorite. Any one in particular you’re looking forward to? Definitely some new ones on the list this year.

And while you’re around downtown Baltimore, the Maryland Zoo and Veolia Transportation are offering a free shuttle from the Baltimore Visitor Center to the zoo and back. The free “Safari Express” shuttle will be around Saturday and Sunday. Trips from the center to the zoo are at the following times: 9:30 a.m., 10 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 11 a.m., 12 p.m., 1 p.m., 2 p.m. Trips coming back to the center will be 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m, 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m.

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The Dew Tour is here! The Dew Tour is here!

The extreme sports event comes back to Maryland this summer starting today by kicking off in Ocean City. You can catch all sorts of skateboarding, BMX and other action now through Sunday. Tickets cost $24 to $29, and it’s all in the great locale of Ocean City. Double the reason to go this weekend, because it will definitely be hot enough.

But if you’re just too hot to get in the car and drive this weekend, you can catch some local entertainment at Druid Hill Park. Performance art group Fluid Movement will put on a production of “Mobtown Murder Mystery,” which sounds like some kind of synchronized swimming presentation you have to see to truly understand.

To get the kids out of the heat this weekend, take them to the Maryland Science Center’s “Bubble Days” on Saturday and Sunday. Taking part of the bubble games and experiments celebration is free with paid admission ($4 through $18.95). A bubble artist will also be on hand at the museum.

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Baltimore’s annual free art festival, Artscape, always has the arts community buzzing. This year is likely to be no disappointment for anyone in search of art, entertainment, food and music.

Just avoid taking the Mount Royal Ave. exit off I-83 if you can.

Music performances will include Fantasia, G Love and Matisyahu, with several other performances throughout the weekend. Catch the festival Friday, Saturday and Sunday, starting at noon.

If you’re down at Ocean City instead this weekend, make sure you catch (sorry!) the 24th annual Tuna Tournament. From Friday through Sunday at 4 p.m., spectators can watch contest participants reel in the biggest tuna around. The event, which is free for visitors, features live music and food.

For a little more risque and saucy entertainment, the Gilded Lily Burlesque troupe will be at Rams Head on Stage in Annapolis. Two performances will be held Saturday at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. Tickets cost $20.

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If you don’t have any exotic vacation plans this summer, that’s alright. You can still get your taste of the Caribbean in Baltimore this summer with the annual Caribbean Carnival Festival in Clifton Park.

The festival, held Saturday and Sunday, includes a parade, steel drum bands, food and elaborate costumes. Check out the website to start getting into the mood with all that color and fanfare.

The Walters Art Museum has a new show that features the artistic creation of writing utensils from different cultures. Before you hit the snooze button and say only reporters and writer-ly types would be interested in it, the Walters’ website has a good description of other materials that are decked out and adorned according to culture. The show ends Sept. 25.

On Saturday is the Advance Auto Parts MONSTER JAM! (Caps are necessary for this. There is no way to say “Monster Jam” without some sort of enthusiasm.) Tickets for the event at M&T Bank Stadium cost from $10 to $75. The show features all-time favorites Grave Digger, Maximum Destruction, Lucas Oil Crusader, Monster Mutt, Backdraft and Nitro Circus.

One of our reporters is allegedly a fan of Grave Digger in particular.

But the monster trucks still may not have anything on this guy. For his misdeeds, I dedicate this song.

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This may be one of my favorite posts so far to write. Mostly because I still get giddy over fireworks. The cacophony of fireworks and constant Sousa, popcorn and fried food smells… It’s the best.

We won’t provide an entirely comprehensive list of where you can find fireworks around the state, but here are a few spots to cover the Greater Baltimore area in case you’re in need of a fireworks fix:

Baltimore’s Inner Harbor will make the entire afternoon and evening a big Fourth of July party, starting at noon Monday. Children’s entertainment will start the fun events, including the ever-popular Milkshake Duo (hear your kids screaming yet?) The Pennsylvania Air National Guard Band plays at 4 p.m., followed by the Electric Brigade at 7:30 p.m. Fireworks start at 9:30 p.m.

Annapolis will start its Fourth of July with a parade at 6:30 p.m. on Amos Garrett Blvd. The parade ends in front of the Market House. Get your seats early.

Columbia will fire up the weekend with fireworks at Columbia Lakefront. Entertainment includes live bands on two stages and children’s entertainment.

Baker Park in Frederick is the place to be if you’re around there for the weekend. The 44-acre park is a natural locale for a day that lends itself for family fun. Holiday activities in Frederick include live music, a volleyball tournament, chili cook-off and a “most-patriotic” pageant.

And for you fellow Baltimore County residents, Oregon Ridge Park will have its usual Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Star Spangled Spectacular on Saturday and Sunday this year, starting at 8 p.m. I already hear Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture playing.

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There are lots of productions going on this weekend, so make sure you get to catch at least one while you’re out and about in Baltimore.

Vagabond Players will put on “Abducting Diana,” the comedic tale of a media titan’s kidnapping by some kidnappers who could use a crash course in the concept.

Fells Point Corner Theater off S. Ann Street will put on “The Fool’s Lear.” The Nomad Theatrical Company brings to audiences the story of King Lear and his Fool, always an interesting dynamic from the original play.

Check out Stephen Sondheim’s “A Little Night Music” at Spotlighters Theater at 817 St. Paul St. while you’re at it too. The musical is about a frustrated middle-aged lawyer and his young wife.

And everyone’s favorite parrot impersonator will be in town! Gilbert Gottfried visit Baltimore Comedy Factory on Sunday at 8 p.m. Tickets are $22.

And if you want to catch a free movie this Saturday, the Village of Cross Keys is showing 2008′s Academy Award for best picture winner “Slumdog Millionaire” as part of its free movie series at the courtyard. The movie starts at 6 p.m.

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As it is the outdoor fair/festival season, we have more glorious parade/fair-like events coming up this weekend.

Friday kicks off the Pimlico Fair’s three-weekend run at Pimlico Race Course at 5 p.m. The $5 admission will get you more than 100 rides and games, plenty of family-friendly entertainment and exposure to the Pimlico race course grounds. Attractions include an Old West show, petting zoo, trick riders and a magician.

Baltimore Pride 2011 will surely be a treat, starting Friday at 7 p.m. at Druid Hill Park. On Saturday, the High Heel Race starts at 3:30 p.m. at the park, while the Pride Parade starts at 4. A block party will start at 6 p.m. that day.

Sunday will include a free Pride Festival, starting at 11 a.m. Canadian-born R&B and pop singer Deborah Cox will headline the festival’s musical acts. The Baltimore Pride Celebration is a program of the Gay & Lesbian Community Center of Baltimore, a community-based nonprofit founded in 1977.

And if you’re generally adverse to sunny weather or want a quiet weekend, there’s something for you too.

The Walters Art Museum will set sail its “Drawings of the Sea” exhibit on Saturday. This show focuses on drawings, prints and watercolors of ships, sailors, and the sea from the Walters’ permanent collection. Admission to the museum is free, and hours of admission are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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Great Grapes! is back again at Oregon Ridge Park this summer. The art, food and wine festival will be at the Cockeysville park Saturday and Sunday. Fun for the entire family can be had with arts and crafts for the kids, culinary samples, live music, cooking demonstrations, wine samples and seminars. More than 200 Maryland wines from 20 wineries will be represented. Tickets are $14 to $35, from noon until 6 p.m.

And what’s sure to be a slightly controversial Honfest this year will still be bringing the beehive ‘dos and cat-eye glasses for a weekend of decadent and colorful fun. The free event will be held both Saturday and Sunday between Falls and Keswick roads.

And if you’re headed out to Ocean City this weekend, be sure to catch the free air show. The U.S Air Force Raptor Demo team will headline the show with demonstrations, stunts and other high-in-the-sky entertainment. The F-18 Super Hornet and A-10 Warthog demos have been added to the lineup this year too.

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