Jun 13, 2014

As it approaches its 20th anniversary, take a look back through the years at Hampden’s annual HonFest, celebrating the style and culture unique to Baltimore. In the video below, Cafe Hon founder and HonFest creator Denise Whiting talks about the history of the event.

: 6/6/98–Sarah Huges, 10 (center) waits before she and her cousins go onto the 5th annual Best Hon Contest. They are from Hampden, hon. Sarah’s aunt Jane Schock (not in this photo) fixed her hair using a lampshade and wigs. Sarah’s grandma coached her and her cousins how to talk and walk like hons, you know. But it was quite hot and her beehive getting heavy, she was tired even before the contest began. (Photo by Chiaki Kawajiri/staff)

: BALTIMORE, MD–6/6/98–From LT-RT: Leah Platek (cq), 11(LT), Chiari Lattanzi (cq), 11(second LT), Claire Shock (cq), 7, (second RT), and Sarah Huges (cq), 10 (RT) at the 5th annual Best Hon Contest. Everyone here are native Baltimoreans, hon. (Photo by Chiaki Kawajiri/staff)

: 6/6/98–Chiari Lattanzi (cq), 11 (LT) fixes her bestfriend Leah Platek (cq), 11 (RT)’s hair before they go onto the 5th annual Best Hon Contest. Both are native Baltimorean, hon. (Photo by Chiaki Kawajiri/staff)

: 6/6/98–Chiari Lattanzi (cq), 11 (LT) and her bestfriend Leah Platek (cq), 11 (RT) takes a break before they go onto the 5th annual Best Hon Contest for the beehive hair category. Both are native Baltimoreans, hon. (Photo by Chiaki Kawajiri/staff)

: Three-year-old Maria Graham of Hunt Valley came to Hampden with her parents Scott and Bonnie to enter the Bawlmer’s Best Hon Contest at Cafe Hon Saturday afternoon. She entered the contest with her mom and her dad used to live in Hampden when he was in college. (Sun photo, 2001)

: Bawlmer’s Best Hon Janet Trimble of Cub Hill celebrates the announcement of her new title by Cafe Hon owner Denise Whiting at “Hon Fest” Saturday. Trimble grew up in Hampden. (Sun photo, 2001)

: Andrew Reece, 12, inflates a tiger, one of the prizes for winners of the Ball Toss game he was manning at Saturday’s “Hon Fest” at his Aunt Denise’s Cafe Hon. (Sun photo, 2001)

: Chiari Lattanz (cqd) helps Maria Graham, 4, with her hairdo at the “Honfest 2002” competion at Cafe Hon in Hampden, Md Saturday afternoon June 8, 2002. Photographers in photo are Greg Pease ,center and Marty Katz, right. (Sun Photo/ Matt Houston)

: Jeanne Pugh shows off her best “Bawlmer” look at the “Honfest 2002” competion at Cafe Hon in Hampden, Md Saturday afternoon June 8, 2002. (Sun Photo/ Matt Houston)

: Maria Graham, 4, of Baltimore checks out her new “do” at the “Honfest 2002” competion at Cafe Hon in Hampden, Md Saturday afternoon June 8, 2002. (Sun Photo/ Matt Houston)

: Jackie Garcia aka “Madge Poopa”, left, approaches the microphone with other Honfest contestants in the background after winning the “Honfest 2002” competion at Cafe Hon in Hampden, Md Saturday afternoon June 8, 2002. (Sun Photo/ Matt Houston)

: Jackie Garcia aka “Madge Poopa” attains instant celebrity status after winning the “Honfest 2002” competion at Cafe Hon in Hampden, Md Saturday afternoon June 8, 2002. Photographers in photo are Greg Pease ,center and Marty Katz, right. (Sun Photo/ Matt Houston)

: With her 1940s coiffed hair, Hampden Hottie Samanta Sargent of Hampden models a colorful bridesmaid dress Saturday at a fashion show behind Cafe Hon in Hampden. The fashion show, sponsored by Oh Said Rose, was one of the activities that took place during the annual Honfest in Hampden. (Sun photo, 2002)

: “Madge Poopa”, alias Jackie Garcia of Frederick, won the Miss Hon 2002 contest in Hampden Saturday, winning a dream day in Hampden worth about $900 and pair of plastic pink flamingos. She had it all, the black stretch pants, the lime-green high heels, blouse and scarf, the cat’s-eye glasses, the leopard-print toreador jacket, the teased hair reaching to heaven. Her prize also includes riding in the Baltimore City Christmas parade this year. (Sun photo, 2002)

: Four-year-old Maria Graham of Hunt Valley gets her hair coiffed “hon-style” by Jenn Nasuta of Hampden prior to the best Hon contest Saturday in Hampden. Although dressed as a “Hon” Maria was not eligible to enter the contest, yet she was a crowd favorite on stage. (Sun photo, 2002)

: Andrew Reece of Harmans, Maryland finds business slow early on at the annual HonFest in Hampden Saturday. Andrew was selling the chance to pose for a Polaroid with a statue of Elvis for $5 a picture. Most people seemed more inclined to take a picture for free with their own camera. Andrew’s aunt, Denise Whiting, owns the Cafe Hon, which sponsored the event. (Sun photo, 2002)

: 06/12/03–Danielle Lynch sports her skyrise bee hive getting ready for the “Hon” contest on Saturday in Hampden. Danielle Lynch is getting ready for the Honfest – contest for best “Hon.” she is pulling together her Hon costume, figuring out how to have really big hair and working on her makeup. (Staff photo by Monica Lopossay)

: Rita Moore captured the “Bawlmer’s Best Hon” title Saturday at the 10th annual “Hon Fest” in Hampden. The Highlandtown native now resides in Essex. (Sun photo, 2003)

: Danielle Lynch of South Baltimore takes her hair to new heights for the “Bawlmer’s Best Hon” contest on the Avenue in Hampden Saturday afternoon. Organized by Cafe Hon, the festival celebrated it’s tenth year this past weekend. (Sun photo, 2003)

: Denise Whiting, owner of Cafe Hon in Hampden, is the organizer of HonFest. The festival will take place this year on June 12. (Photo by Steve Ruark)

: The Spam Mobile made an appearence at the annual HonFest along 36th Street in Hampden Saturday afternoon. (Sun photo, 2004)

: Cheriti Shannon (right) of Dundalk waits in the shade for the Hon Run to begin with her friends Kathy Richardson (center) of Eldersburg and Cathy Calato (left) of Parkville. (Staff photo by Lisa Johnson)

: Lil’ Miss Hon contest winner Marielle Cornes (center), age 2 of Baltimore, waves to the audience as she and the other contestants wait for the judges to finish scoring. (Staff photo by Lisa Johnson)

: Randy Rom (left), of Mt. Washington and the event director at HonFest, gets a big, wet kiss from her longtime friend Dorothy Wolman’s (right) dog Misha. (Staff photo by Lisa Johnson)

: Gabrielle Willey (left), age 13 of Baltimore, and Laura Leary (right), of Parkton, compete in the final race of Hon Run. Willey wins first and Leary wins second, each receiving a Pony footwear prize pack. This is the first year there has been a Hon Run at HonFest. (Staff photo by Lisa Johnson)

: Sue Ebert (back), owner of Kumbyah, Inc., puts Sara Snyder’s (front) hair in a beehive Saturday during HonFest in Hampden. Snyder, a College Park grad student originally from California, says she really enjoys the culture here. (Staff photo by Lisa Johnson)

: 6/10/06–Julie Rose, 4, waits her turn to go up on the stage to enter Best ‘Lil Hon Contest. HonFest 2006 took place in Hampden along 36th street with food and music and lots of beehive hairdos and leopard-print accessories. (Staff photo by Chiaki Kawajiri)

: 6/10/06–2003 Queen Hon Rita Moore enjoy watching the Best ‘Lil Hon Contest. HonFest 2006 took place in Hampden along 36th street with food and music and lots of beehive hairdos and leopard-print accessories. (Staff photo by Chiaki Kawajiri)

: 6/10/06–The contestants of the Honette Contest walk through the crowds to ready themselved to go up on the stage. HonFest 2006 took place in Hampden along 36th street with food and music. (Staff photo by Chiaki Kawajiri)

: The footwear of the fInalists for the title of “Bawlmer’s Best Hon,” shows their attention to detail as they waited on stage in the final stage of the competition. The 14th annual Honfest in Hampden was expanded this year to two days. (Sun photo, 2007)

: 6/9/07–Carmyn Santoro, 4 (LT) and her cousin Halle Love, 6 (RT) take a break from their Lil’ Miss Hon Contest as part of HonFest. Carmyn won second place, and Carmyn’s sister was the winner for the Miss Honnett and their grandmother was a finalist for the Best Hon Contest. The Baltimore’s Best Hon Contest began in 1994. (Staff photo by Chiaki Kawajiri)

: 6/9/07–Record number (41) of contestants entered this years Bawlmer’s Best Hon Contest as part of HonFest. Here, they listened to what they have to do on stage. Top Ten finalists were chosen to compete tomorrow. The Baltimore’s Best Hon Contest began in 1994. (Staff photo by Chiaki Kawajiri)

: “Trixxxie” aka Jackie Youngcort, Dundalk, helps her dog, Rico, wave to the crowds as contestants in round one of Baltimore’s Best Hon Contest prepare to leave the crowded stage during Honfest ’08. (Kim Hairston / Baltimore Sun photo)

: Dana Bontemps of New York gets a touchup of lipstick from Larisa Kamp of Baltimore, who encouraged her to experience the annual 2009 Honfest in the Hampden community Saturday, June 13, 2009. (Baltimore Sun Staff/Karl Merton Ferron)

: BALTIMORE, MD — 06/13/2009 — Jim Cupp, left, Brendan Schniedwind, 14 and Steve Schwartz work together behind the counter, dipping in to the claimed “world’s biggest crab cake,” at more than 250 pounds, selling them at $10 each at the annual 2009 Honfest in the Hampden community Saturday, June 13, 2009. (Baltimore Sun Staff/Karl Merton Ferron)

: BALTIMORE, MD — 06/13/2009 — Debbie Holub, left and Juli (cq) Williams, both of Pasadena, Md. are decked out in attire as they pose for photos at the annual 2009 Honfest in the Hampden community Saturday, June 13, 2009. (Baltimore Sun Staff/Karl Merton Ferron)

: Bawlmer Hon contestant Meagan Lewns struts arount the stage at the 2010 Baltimore Hon Fest, held on The Avenue in Hampden. Barbara Haddock Taylor Baltimore Sun Staff]

: BALTIMORE, MD — 06/13/2009 — Kelly Evick, left and Alison Elliott of Baltimore stand in the shadow of a large pink flamingo adorning the facing of the building at the annual 2009 Honfest in the Hampden community Saturday, June 13, 2009. (Baltimore Sun Staff/Karl Merton Ferron)

: Nasrene Mirjafary (right), of East Baltimore, gets her “hair did” by Cynthia Imperatore (left), of Kumbyah, Inc. Hair Salon at HonFest 2010 on Sunday, June 13.

: Taylor Smith-Clarke Sings at the Ms. Honette Contest: Joe SorieroJoe Soriero [Sun Photographer]

: Baltimore’s Best Hon 2009 Charlene Osborne.

: With gum in cheek and flamingo in tow, Madison Gauger, 3, Glen Burnie, holds up her trophy. She is competing in the Li’l Miss Hon competition. All contestants tied so they all received trophies. Honfest 2011. (Kim Hairston / Sun Photographer)

: Elliana Fetsko of St. Mary’s County, judges the 2011 Baltimore’s Best Hon contest during Honfest Sunday, June 12, 2011 in Hampden. (Photo by Steve Ruark)

: Mike Boyce Donned a Dress at the Go-Go’s Retreat Threads Bus at Honfest 2011. (Joe Soriero / Sun photographer)

: Baltimore, MD–6/9/12–Rita Moore, Wilson Point, 2003 Best Hon who calls herself the Queen Hon at HonFest 2012 in Hampden. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun Staff)

: Baltimore, MD–6/9/12–Ali Cataggio, Aberdeen, jumps high in the air when asked to leave the audience with something to remember her by in the final stage of the Miss Honette contest at HonFest in Hampden. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun Staff)

: Baltimore, MD–6/9/12–Eva Dorsey, 6, Reisterstown, shows her hooping skills in the Little Miss Hon contests at HonFest in Hampden. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun Staff)

: Hampden,MD – 6/9/13 – Miss Hon 2004 Heidi Trasatti (far left), Miss Hon 2009 Charlene Osborne and Miss Hon 2003 Rita Moore (right) pose with Mr. Natty Boh at the 2013 Honfest in Hampden. (Erin Kirkland/Baltimore Sun)

: Hampden,MD – 6/9/13 – Katy Turner (left) and Lisa Robinson, both from Baltimore, share a laugh at the 2013 Honfest in Hampden. (Erin Kirkland/Baltimore Sun)

: Baltimore, Md.–6/8/13– Miss Honette contestants Kaylee Prestianni (#1), Evelynne Stins (#2) and others wait to ghet on the main stage for the contest during the 2013 Honfest in Hampden. (Kenneth K. Lam/Baltimore Sun )

: Baltimore, Md.–6/8/13– Miss Best Hon contestant JennaMarie Hill, of Columbia, put on more hairspray to hold her “Do” as she competes during the 20th annual Honfest in Hampden. (Photo by: Kenneth K. Lam/Baltimore Sun )