Giveaways in Baltimore, MD: Updated 2026 List for Local Winners
Compare Baltimore's 2026 backpack, grocery, holiday, and sports offers before entering or traveling.
The updated 2026 Baltimore giveaway list includes free backpacks, school supplies, groceries, holiday food, and an Orioles sweepstakes. The clearest upcoming no-purchase events are August 20, August 23, and August 29, while some sports promotions require payment. Here, a giveaway means an item or prize offered without a required purchase.
Check each event's rules carefully because tickets, age limits, guardians, entry caps, and limited supplies can affect participation.
Free school supplies and backpacks in August
UEmpower of Maryland will hold a back-to-school community celebration on August 20 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. It offers backpacks, school supplies, food, and resources to all families at The Food Project, 424 S.
Pulaski St. UEmpower says supplies are limited. Gillis Memorial Christian Community Church lists a school-supplies distribution for August 23 at 9:30 a.m.
The location is 4016 Park Heights Ave. Its public calendar does not specify quantities, registration requirements, or eligibility rules, so confirm before traveling. Boost Mobile Baltimore advertises free backpacks on August 29 from 2 to 4 p.m.
at 1815 Pennsylvania Ave. The Eventbrite listing allows one backpack per student, requires a parent or legal guardian, and says no purchase is necessary. Distribution continues only while supplies last.
Grocery and holiday food distributions
FutureThink Hub says it distributes free groceries to Baltimore families on the third Saturday of each month from noon to 2 p.m. It states that visitors do not need paperwork and will not be questioned. FutureThink Hub also lists Thanksgiving and Christmas distributions for 2026, but the dates remain unannounced.
Gillis Memorial has a Thanksgiving Basket Giveaway scheduled for November 21 at noon on Park Heights Avenue. Its calendar does not publish residency, income, registration, or quantity rules.
Orioles and Ravens promotions explained
The Orioles will distribute a Beach Hat to the first 10,000 fans at Camden Yards on August 20. This is a ticketed ballpark promotion, not a free public event; consult the Orioles promotions page for the game listing. A separate Orioles sweepstakes runs online from August 1 through August 31.
No purchase is necessary, and the Orioles rules allow one online entry per person. Entrants must have reached their jurisdiction's age of majority and meet the listed residency requirements; Quebec residents are excluded. The Maryland Lottery's Ravens second-chance promotion is also not free.
Participation starts with $2 or $10 scratch-off purchases, followed by submitting eligible nonwinning tickets through My Lottery Rewards. Lottery players must be at least 18, and available prizes include cash, tickets, and experiences.
How to avoid a wasted trip or unsafe offer
Event details can change, and a calendar listing may leave important questions unanswered. Before attending, check the organizer's page for updates and confirm: Keep screenshots of online entry confirmations and review age and residency terms before entering a sweepstakes. For physical events, arrive within the published window but expect limited inventory when the organizer says "while supplies last." Never pay taxes, shipping, or processing charges to collect a supposedly free prize.
The Federal Trade Commission warns that a payment demand is a sign of a prize scam; stop communicating and use the organizer's own website to verify the notice.
- Whether registration or identification is required
- Whether children or students must attend
- Whether a parent or legal guardian must be present
- Whether distribution is first-come, first-served
- Whether parking, admission, or a game ticket costs money