Press coverage of the Arabber Reunion & Celebration

Mon, 01 Dec 2025 12:54:00 -0500
arabber, baltimore, community, cultural, humanities, public, traditions

An Arabber Reunion and celebration supported by Baltimore Traces is in the news.

For media coverage of the event see the Baltimore Beat "Photo story: An arabber reunion".

On Saturday, September 20, 2025 we held a celebration of Baltimore's arabber tradition and an arabber reunion–a day for arabbers past and present to come together and share their stories with the public. The event celebrated the 90th birthday of arabber Donald "China" Waugh and all those who have worked to keep the arabber tradition alive in Baltimore. For over a century, the arabbers of Baltimore have been more than just street vendors; they are a vital, living testament to the city's rich cultural tapestry and a powerful symbol of independent entrepreneurship.

For more information see: https://baltimoretraces.umbc.edu/projects/an-arabber-reunion/

The event was a fundraiser for Stable Baltimore: https://www.stablebaltimore.com/

You can still donate and support preserving the arabber tradition HERE.

Non-profit Stable Baltimore is using the tradition to teach young people life skills and to keep the practice alive.

Stable Baltimore was also features in the Baltimore Beat's gift guide as a place to support this holiday season:

Stable Baltimore
info@arabbers.com
(443) 683-7218
stablebaltimore.com

Stable Baltimore is keeping one of Baltimore's oldest living traditions, arabbing, alive through education and experience. Dating back to the 1800s, arabbing is a symbol of Black entrepreneurship and community care in the city for more than two centuries. Today, Stable Baltimore reimagines that legacy through youth mentorship, horse therapy, and food access programs that teach life skills, compassion, and history. Donations help maintain the horses, fund the Junior Arabber Experience, and preserve the rhythmic clop of hooves that still echoes through Baltimore's streets. (Ana Bak)

An Arabber Reunion was co-sponsored by:

The Historic Preservation Committee of the Southwest Partnership

Poppleton Now Community Association

Stable Baltimore & the Arabber Preservation Society

The Orser Center for Public Humanities @ UMBC

Maryland Folklife Network of Maryland Tradition, MSAC

Hollins Roundhouse Association

Video produced by MCS TV Production students.

4MLK / BioPark / Wexford Science + Technology

The Beautiful Side of Ugly

Catering provided by Rooted Rotisserie, a local Black-owned business by Hollins Market.