SALEM, Ohio — Baltimore comes to life this spring with Light City Baltimore, a world-class, not-to-be-missed celebration for groups. Light City Baltimore is an immersive arts and ideas festival populated with illuminated visual artworks, performances and concerts that will draw group visitors nationwide.
Nearly two centuries ago, Baltimore became the first American city to introduce gas-lit street lamps. So it is no surprise that this city is once again at the cutting edge of bright lights and big ideas.
From attending daytime programming at some of the city’s premier museums and attractions to nights filled with lights, music and excitement, groups can immerse themselves in the inspiring power of light throughout the weeklong event.
The inaugural festival takes place March 28 through April 3 along the 1.2-mile waterfront BGE Light Walk, which traces the city’s famed Inner Harbor. From Rash Field to Harbor East, visitors will discover 29 art installations situated on the waterfront promenade, illuminating nearby streets, floating in the harbor waters and projected on buildings.
The festival will also feature more than 50 concerts and 100 performances to energize and entertain. A parade of pop-up performances along the BGE Light Walk and at the Inner Harbor Amphitheater will include puppetry, interactive dance, percussion, poetry and theater.
Club Light City will come alive at the Inner Harbor’s West Shore Park with free outdoor concerts by acts such as DJ Jazzy Jeff, pop-rock provocateur Robert DeLong and Baltimore’s own Dan Deacon. Groups can also check out the Harbor East Stage, at Lancaster and Exeter streets, for an eclectic mix of performers, including hip-hop artist Wordsmith, folk rockers Red Sammy and Baltimore-based ensembles like the Todd Marcus Jazz Orchestra and classical band Symphony Number One.
Light City will also include a ticketed innovation conference featuring keynotes, pitch sessions, “hackathons,” workshops, product demos and experiential-learning demos called Light City U. The conference will explore the theme “Powering Social Change” through a series of events clustered around advances in social justice, health, sustainability and creative practices.
Tour operators and group tour leaders can plan and book experiences through Visit Baltimore’s director of group tour sales, Eric Masterton, at emasterton@baltimore.org or 410-659-7090.
