xGobble, gobble, gobble. It’s turkey time – the season when Baltimoreans give thanks for each other, their city and all that’s great about it.
This year, there are plenty of ways to recognize the holiday in downtown Baltimore, from Thanksgiving Eve festivities to Thanksgiving dinner out to get a jump start on the holiday season the weekend after the big day. Here’s a look at what’s happening downtown for Thanksgiving week:
Thanksgiving Eve
The night before Thanksgiving is a big deal all over the country but especially in Baltimore, where everyone knows that “where’d you go to school?” means “where’d you go to high school?” – and people love nothing more than getting together with friends to reminisce about the old days.
In downtown Baltimore, there are tons of gathering spots perfect for a fun Thanksgiving Eve celebration, including Power Plant Live!, where the night’s festivities include a Friends-themed trivia bar crawl, kicking off at Luckies Tavern at 8 p.m. Tickets include not just access to the trivia game – and prizes if your team is one of the top three – but also drink specials, no cover at bars on the crawl, and free t-shirts.
Turkey Trot
Before you start gobbling up all that stuffing, get a run in. Downtown Baltimore’s Turkey Trot starts at 8 a.m. on Thursday morning. The 5K run begins at Maryland Athletic Club (655 President St.) and follows a path through the Inner Harbor.
Runners can warm-up and stretch at the MAC, which is open to all for the day, and there will be a post-race awards ceremony and party there afterward.
Race registration on Wednesday and Thursday is $45 and proceeds will be donated to The Sol Goodman Pancreatic Cancer Research Center at Johns Hopkins.
Thanksgiving Dinner
Many Baltimore restaurants are open for Thanksgiving lunch or dinner. If you’re planning to dine out this holiday, plan ahead and make a reservation. Restaurants book up quickly!
A couple great options for a downtown dinner include Blackwall Hitch and The Capital Grille.
At Blackwall Hitch, a Thanksgiving buffet includes all the classic holiday dishes plus a selection of the restaurant’s specialties.
The Capital Grille is best known for steak but this Thanksgiving, the menu will include slow-roasted turkey with brioche stuffing, fresh green beans and cranberry-pear chutney. Plus, the restaurant’s amazing mashed potatoes, served family style.
Another fun way to give thanks is with a Thanksgiving lunch on the water. Spirit Cruises offers a Thanksgiving Day afternoon lunch cruise with a buffet menu, a DJ and interactive games.
The Rest of the Weekend
Once the leftovers have been packed away, it’s time to shift gears and start thinking about the rest of the holiday season. There’s no better way to do that than by visiting Baltimore’s Christmas Village. Modeled after a German Christmas market, the village takes over the Inner Harbor area with vendors, food and drinks, and performances.
The village will be open all weekend long but Saturday will be especially memorable. That day, the original Christkind from the Nuremberg Christmas Market – a woman selected to represent the spirit of Christmas, who wears a long white dress and a golden crown – will officially kick off the market season with a ceremony including her “world famous prologue.”
Where to Park to Enjoy Thanksgiving Downtown
From turkey to Christkind, there’s so much happening downtown this Thanksgiving-into-Christmas week.
When making your plans to head downtown for the night before Thanksgiving party, a race or dinner on the holiday, or to get a jump start on the Christmas season at the Christmas Village, take some tie to figure out where to park before you even get in the car.
Located at 55 Market Place, Harbor Park Garage is right downtown, conveniently close to Power Plant Live!, many restaurants, the harbor piers, and all the Inner Harbor events, including the Christmas Village.
The garage is easily accessible from I-83 and other routes in and out of the city. It’s safe and well-lit and the 24/7 staff is smart, friendly and always happy to answer questions or point you in the direction of your destination.