Record Store Day in Baltimore, Maryland
Two dates to know: Record Store Day Black Friday is Friday, November 29, 2026, and the next main Record Store Day is Saturday, April 17, 2027.
What is Record Store Day?
Record Store Day is an annual event built around independent record stores. The main event traditionally lands on the third Saturday of April each year; Record Store Day Black Friday is traditionally held the day after US Thanksgiving. Both days bring exclusive, limited-run vinyl and CD releases sold only at participating independent shops — not big-box retailers, and not mail order until the in-store exclusives sell through. Because pressings are limited, popular titles can sell out within the first hour, which is why a line-early culture has grown up around the day even at shops that are otherwise quiet on a weekday morning.
Tips for the day
- Arrive early. At busy shops, lines for popular titles can start well before opening.
- Bring cash. A cash line often moves faster than card on a shop's highest-volume day of the year.
- Check each shop's own site or Instagram in the week before the date — participating shops post their own opening time, line policy, and which exclusive titles they've ordered in.
- Release lists are first-come, first-served and vary store to store. A title in stock at one shop may not show up at another, even across town.
- Expect one-per-customer or per-household limits on the most in-demand titles.
- Not every independent record store participates every year, and allocations vary shop to shop — confirm directly with the shop rather than assuming based on a past year.
Shops to check in Baltimore, Maryland
Independent record shops open in Baltimore, Maryland right now. We don't yet track which specific shops participate in Record Store Day or what they've ordered in for a given year — check each shop's own site or Instagram close to the date for their exclusive-release list, opening time, and line policy.
- Celebrated Summer Records
Hampden punk/hardcore/soul vinyl shop run by a former Reptilian Records staffer. Hosts in-store signings and Record Store Day exclusives.
2 sources
- El Suprimo Records
Basement used-vinyl shop in Fells Point with a sprawling, all-genre collection built over nearly two decades of digging.
2 sources
- Mount Vernon Records
DJ-owned vinyl shop in Mount Vernon's arts district, opened 2022; also runs DJ/production classes.
2 sources
- Normals Books & Records
Worker-collective-founded shop in Waverly since 1990, known for one of the city's best jazz sections plus philosophy, sci-fi and rare books alongside vinyl.
2 sources
- Now & Then Music
Neighborhood record, CD and movie shop in Arbutus, just outside Catonsville, offering a wide selection across genres.
1 source
- Protean Books & Records
One of Baltimore's largest independent book-and-record stores, 20,000+ titles spanning vinyl, CDs, DVDs and games in Federal Hill since 2011.
2 sources
- The Archive Records
Independent record shop on Historic Main Street in Old Ellicott City buying and selling vinyl, vintage video games and collectibles, with free appraisals.
1 source
- The Sound Garden
Fells Point institution since 1993 with 100,000+ CDs, vinyl and DVDs; once voted America's #2 record store by Rolling Stone. Draws huge crowds every Record Store Day.
2 sources
- Trax on Wax
Family-run full-service record store in Catonsville selling pre-owned, limited-edition, new-release and reissue vinyl, plus turntables and accessories.
1 source
- Vinyl & Pages
Inner Harbor record-and-book shop spotlighting soul, R&B, hip hop, funk, jazz, afrobeat, reggae and soca, with shelf space set aside for small local businesses.
3 sources
- Vinyl Treasures and More
Used-vinyl-focused neighborhood record store in Ellicott City with a large selection of classic rock, jazz, hip-hop and indie LPs.
2 sources
See the full record store listing for Baltimore, Maryland.