HonFest is an annual festival held in the Hampden neighborhood of Baltimore, Maryland. HonFest takes its name from the word 'hon' -- a term of address or endearment, being an abbreviation for "honey" in Baltimorese

Baltimorese

The Baltimore dialect, most popularly known as Baltimorese , is a dialect of American English in the Mid-Atlantic United States that originated among the White blue-collar residents of South and Southeast Baltimore...

; it is often used in the common greeting "Hey, hon." The festival began in 1994 as a local celebration of the Baltimorese lifestyle and stereotype

Stereotype

A stereotype is a popular belief about specific social groups or types of individuals. The concepts of "stereotype" and "prejudice" are often confused with many other different meanings...

 by Cafe Hon

Cafe Hon

Cafe Hon is a restaurant in the Hampden area of Baltimore, Maryland and site of the annual HonFest every June.-History:Opened by University of Baltimore graduate and gourmandizer Denise Whiting in 1992, Cafe Hon takes its name from a common term of endearment used by Baltimore residents for years...

, and since then has become one of the most visited festivals in Baltimore. The summer festival traditionally was one day; however, starting in 2007, it lasts 2 days, a Saturday and Sunday. The festival crowns "Miss Hon" after a contest in which people dress in a "hon" outfit, which usually is a 1960s-style beehive hairdo

Beehive (hairstyle)

The Beehive is a woman's hairstyle that resembles a beehive; it is elegant and it is also known as the B-52, for its similarity to the bulbous nose of the B-52 Stratofortress bomber. It originated as one of a variety of elaborately teased and lacquered versions of "big hair" that developed from...

, eye shadow

Eye shadow

Eye shadow is a cosmetic that is applied on the eyelids and under the eyebrows. It is commonly used to make the wearer's eyes stand out or look more attractive....

, spandex

Spandex

Spandex or elastane is a synthetic fibre known for its exceptional elasticity. It is strong, but less durable than natural Latex, its major non-synthetic competitor. It is a polyurethane-polyurea copolymer that was co-invented in 1959 by chemists C. L. Sandquist and Joseph Shivers at DuPont's...

pants, and leopard print clothing.