Last year, when the organizers of Light City announced their inaugural event, people in and around Baltimore weren’t quite sure what to expect.
This year, when the city announced the return of the event, they knew what was coming: something spectacular.
Dubbed “a festival of light, music and innovation,” Light City will return to Baltimore this year on March 31; events are planned through April 8.
Like last year, 2017’s Light City will feature the work of dozens of light artists, musicians and other performers, from dance troupes to comedians. Several of last year’s most popular installations will return, including the multicolored peacock, which will be located, this year, near the water by the Four Seasons Hotel.
The light installations are concentrated in the BGE Light Art Walk, which wraps around the harbor. The walk will feature more than 50 attractions, including spectacular light art (like the peacock), performances and interactive pieces.
The music, once again, will be diverse and upbeat, including acts like the Peabody Preparatory Wind Orchestra, Dirty Dozen Brass Band and Biz Markie.
Light City’s daytime conferences, Light City Labs, will also return, with a schedule of innovation-focused sessions featuring speakers from a wide range of industries, including chef, author and restaurateur Marcus Samuelsson, author Alec Ross, Pulitzer Prize-winning scientist Siddhartha Mukherjee and local author and columnist D. Watkins.
Food will once again be a focus of Light City. This year, the event takes place at the same time as The Emporiyum, the weekend-long celebration of food. On April 1 and 2, The Emporiyum will pop up in the former Best Buy space at 600 East Pratt Street. One part festival, one part market, the event allows guests to interact with and try foods from dozens of excellent local food makers.
It’s an ideal place to learn about the newest, most creative food makers in the Mid-Atlantic region.
The following weekend, Light City Labs will host a daylong event focusing specifically on food, fostering conversations related to the societal power and challenges inherent in the food world.
From music to food to – of course – light art, Light City is a can’t miss event for anyone in the region.
Whether you’re visiting for the conferences during the day or the music, lights and activities at night, Harbor Park Garage is a convenient and reasonable parking option.
Located at 55 Market Place in downtown Baltimore, and offering a $15 all-day parking ticket, the garage is a central and smart spot to begin your tour. To take advantage of the deal, visit the office on Level 2 of the garage for a discount validation ticket.