With mask mandates lifting (though not inside – yet – in Baltimore City), temperatures rising and all COVID statistics trending in the right direction, Baltimore is gearing up for one hot, fun summer. From kiddie adventures to all ages shows to 21+ parties, this summer, there’s something for everyone downtown.
Here’s a look at what’s new and happening in the next few weeks:
Port Discovery Children’s Museum
Starting June 2, Port Discovery is restructuring its hours, opening up for ticketed daily play sessions in the mornings and afternoons. The sessions are from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Each session is limited to 400 guests to make distancing – and fun – easy.
The museum will be open Wednesday through Sunday and closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Pirate Ships
After a long hiatus, the Inner Harbor’s electric pirate ships are once again available for rental. The ships dock on either side of the World Trade Center in the Inner Harbor – just off Pratt St. – and they are available for rental Thursday through Sunday.
Renters can use the boats to tool around the Inner Harbor waters. They’re especially fun for little fans of pirate lore, as they’re miniature replicas of old-fashioned pirate ships.
Power Plant Live!
Power Plant Live! venues are back up and running and have many plans to welcome back their fans. Venues open in Power Plant include Charm City Clue Room, Kraken Axes, Leinie Lodge and Beer Garden, PBR Baltimore, Spark Baltimore and the brand new Underground Pizza – a locally-owned, Detroit-style pizza joint.
Power Plant Live! also has tons of events in the works, including Miller Lite Hot Country Nights concerts on Friday, June 4 (Chris Bandi), Friday June 11 (Red Dirt Revolution) and Friday, July 9 (Sam Grow). The shows take place outside. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the headliners com on at 9:15 p.m. Tickets are on sale now.
Baltimore Soundstage
The next few weeks are hot ones at Baltimore Soundstage, with something for fans of every type of music. The downtown music venue kicks off Memorial Day weekend with the Chromatica Ball, a tribute to Lady Gaga, on May 28. May 29, Crashing Atlas performs and on Thursday, June 3, you can check out Hellzapoppin Circus Sideshow, a “rock-n-roll circus freak show, thrill show, sideshow and stunt show extravaganza.”
On June 5, Carbon Leaf takes the stage as part of its Dive! Dive! Summer Tour and on Friday, Jun 11, local artist Donnie Breeze performs with openers Duck Myers and Nature Boi. Saturday, June 12, Ultra Nate’s Deep Sugar spins for “Movement: Return to the Dance Floor” and the following week, on Friday, June 18, Towson University grad and American Idol alum Jeremiah Lloyd Harmon performs.
Given the city’s new guidelines, the venue will be open at capacity and the shows will include standing room.
Where to Park when Heading Downtown
Whether your trip downtown involves a kid-friendly adventure, an adults-only excursion or something in between, an important part of planning includes figuring out your parking strategy.
Located at 55 Market Place, Harbor Park Garage is just steps from Power Plant Live!, Baltimore Soundstage, Port Discovery and the Harbor itself.
Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, the garage is well-lit, clean and safe. It is easily accessible from I-83 and other major routes in and out of the city, and the staff is friendly, knowledgeable, and ready and happy to answer questions about where to go and what to do or where to go or about the garage’s policies and approach to safety and sanitation.
For more information about Harbor Park Garage, visit https://harborparkgarage.com/