As the calendar turns and the cherry blossoms start to bloom, downtown Baltimore comes alive with concerts, parades, parties and events. Here’s a look at what’s coming up near the Inner Harbor this spring:
Shamrocks, Shenanigan’s and More
Though the weather is often still chilly, spring unofficially kicks off in early March in Baltimore, when St. Patrick comes to town.
On Saturday, March 11, Power Plant Live! hosts the Shamrock Stumble Bar Crawl, featuring drink specials, St. Pat’s swag, Irish music and more, starting at noon.
This year, the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade takes place on Sunday, March 12. The parade route starts at the Washington Monument and heads south on N. Charles Street, then east on Pratt Street, where it ends at the Inner Harbor. The parade itself starts at 2 p.m., but the sidewalks fill quickly and early arrivals can cheer on runners in the Shamrock 5K, which covers the parade route and starts at 1 p.m.
On Friday March 17, St. Patrick’s Day proper, Power Plant Live! is back with Shamrocks & Shenanigans, starting at 8 p.m. The party includes DJs, green beer, great green photo ops and more. And on Sunday, the party starts all over again with Rally in the Alley: Kegs & Eggs, starting at 11 a.m.
https://powerplantlive.com/events/20231803_kegs_and_eggs_rally
Power Plant Festivities
The party at Power Plant Live! extends way beyond St. Patrick’s Day. The downtown hotspot, which includes multiple restaurants, bars and nightlife venues, is hopping every day, all year long – and has a great lineup of special events planned for this spring.
From March Madness watch parties at Luckie’s Tavern, a Maryland Day festival on March 25 followed by Mimosa Fest on March 26, and a Rally in the Alley reprise on April 22, to Nerdpocalypse on April 29, a massive Cinco de Mayo party on May 5, and a live concert from Pink Floyd tribute band Several Species on May 6, there is something for just about everyone at the venue this spring.
https://powerplantlive.com/events
Help Save the Bay
On April 1, the Great Baltimore Oyster Partnership will be in Harbor East running an active workshop on how oysters help keep the Chesapeake Bay clean and healthy.
The event takes place from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. During that time, volunteers will learn about the role of oysters in the ecosystem and be put to work, scrubbing cages in which young oysters will grow.
Volunteers can register now via the Waterfront Partnership website: https://waterfrontpartnershipbaltimore.salsalabs.org/oyster040123/index.html
Mr. Trash Wheel’s Earth Day Birthday Party
On Saturday, April 22 – also known as Earth Day – Mr. Trash Wheel will celebrate his ninth birthday. The Baltimore icon, which is located in the Harbor, will be fêted at nearby Pierce’s Park, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. that Saturday. Stop by to wish the googly-eyed wheel a happy one.
https://www.waterfrontpartnership.org/events-calendar/mr-trash-wheels-earth-day-birthday
Harbor Eco Tours
Earth Day is April 22 but people who live and work in downtown Baltimore think about the health of the planet year round. This spring, learn about what Inner Harbor organizations do to promote the health and happiness of the Bay, City and region by scheduling an Eco Tour with Healthy Harbor.
The tours provide a look at the different environmentally friendly projects happening along the Inner Harbor Promenade. You can sign up to schedule a private tour here: https://www.waterfrontpartnership.org/eco-tours
Live Music
With Rams Head Live!, Baltimore Soundstage and Pier Six Pavilion all right downtown, the Inner Harbor live music scene is always a good one – especially as the weather gets warmer.
The venues are booked this season with a wide variety of acts. At Rams Head, you can check out bands like 90’s country act The Nashville Nights (March 31), Benny the Butcher (April 20) and the one and only Billy Idol on May 3.
https://www.ramsheadlive.com/events/all
Baltimore Soundstage will light up with acts like Cooper Alan on March 18, Queensryche on April 11, Fishbone and the Slackers on April 21, comedian Brian Posehn on April 29, and a wide variety of heavy/death metal acts during the Hell in the Harbor Festival over Memorial Day weekend.
https://www.baltimoresoundstage.com/events-feed
And at the always amazing waterfront venue Pier Six Pavilion, the concert season kicks off with Chicago on April 21. There are numerous acts scheduled during May and June, including Gojira & Mastodon on May 10, Koe Wetzel on May 18, YUNGBLUD May 21 and Pierce the Veil & The Used on June 3.
https://www.livenation.com/venue/KovZpZAa1enA/pier-six-pavilion-events
Old Faithfuls
While unique events and concerts are part of what makes downtown Baltimore great, the neighborhood’s regular, year-round attractions also provide plenty of reason to visit.
The Historic Ships, which include multiple ships docked at Piers 1 and 3, plus the Seven Foot Knoll Lighthouse at Pier 5, are open during the week and on the weekends for tours and exploration (hours vary by month and ship).
Options include self-guided tours as well as special guided tour programs focused on specific topics. Organizations can also schedule overnights on the ships, to do a real deep dive into maritime history.
The National Aquarium is always a hit with kids and adults of all ages. There’s so much to do at this flagship attraction, from 4D immersion films to watching dolphin training to getting up close and personal with aquatic animals like sharks and jellyfish.
If you’re heading downtown on a Friday, consider taking advantage of the Aquarium’s half-price Friday night deal – a great way to enjoy the Aquarium and kick off your weekend with a fun family activity.
Mark Your Calendars
Springtime events are only the start – the downtown Baltimore calendar is packed with fun events all summer long. Keep an eye out for more information about events like the annual St. Anthony’s Italian Festival in Little Italy (June 4) and the return of the Baltimore Floatilla to the Harbor (June 10).
https://saintleorcc.com/events/st-anthony-italian-festival
https://www.waterfrontpartnership.org/baltimore-floatilla
Planning Your Trip & Where to Park
Whether you’re heading downtown for a parade, a fun family day out at the Aquarium, a rocking show, or just to wander around the Inner Harbor, it’s smart to plan your parking strategy before you get in the car.
Harbor Park Garage, located at 55 Market Place, is located next to Power Plant Live! and just steps from Little Italy, Harbor East and many Inner Harbor attractions.
The garage is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and is accessible to I-83 and other major routes in and out of downtown Baltimore. Harbor Park is also clean, well-lit, and staffed 24/7 by a friendly, knowledgeable crew who are happy to answer questions about where to go, what to do and how to get there.
For more information about Harbor Park Garage, visit https://backup.harborparkgarage.com/