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You have questions? I have answers.

When visiting downtown Baltimore in the summertime, is there any free entertainment to be found? I have visited other cities and have seen outdoor entertainment venues with free performances.

-Bill S.

Hello Bill, it seems that I am not the only person looking forward to the warmer days ahead. Even though the Winters seem milder today than when I was a young lad they are still quite cold and unpleasant enough. But as usual, I digress.

The Summer months bring the most visitors to Baltimore. Downtown and particularly the Inner Harbor come alive with throngs of pleasure seekers from all ages and all parts of the world. Indeed they should, for the entertainment possibilities are unlimited in Charm City during this time of the year. As an increasingly popular tourist destination, Baltimore's local businesses, government, and community work together to bring a wide variety of free public performances of all types.

The Harborplace amphitheater is a good place to start for free public entertainment. Top notch street performer acts such as jugglers, acrobats, magicians, and the like perform regularly everyday of the week. On weekends, the amphitheater is host to local and national music acts in a summer concert series featuring a wide variety of musical styles. Please see the Harborplace Calendar of Events for details on the summer concert series.

You can find another regular live music series just across East Pratt Street from Harborpalce at Power Plant Live. Power Plant Live offers the free Party on the Plaza concert series throughout the warm season where featured national acts such as Jimmy's Chicken Shack, Gin Blossoms, Papa Roach, The Violent Femmes, Better Than Ezra, and Big Bad Voodoo Daddies perform. Please see Power Plant Live's website for more information.

If you happen to be in town on a Friday during July or August make sure you head over to Little Italy for the Open Air Film Festival. For the past couple of years, the Little Italy Restaurant Association has projected Italian and local themed motion pictures such as Moonstruck and Roman Holiday on the side of a building at the intersection of High and Stiles streets. This film festival is quite popular and it is recommended that you arrive early to get the best possible seating. The films begin showing at 9pm.

For history buffs, Fort McHenry in Locust Point, provides a fascinating look at the lifestyle of the brave defenders of Baltimore of whom I am particularly proud of. The Fort McHenry Guard performs drills, artillery and musket demonstrations, with a living history show inside of the fort every weekend during the Summer.

In addition to these regular events, Baltimore holds many festivals that feature all sorts of live entertainment throughout the Spring and Summer months. A great resource for these events is right here at discover Baltimore! Check back with us once the Summer gets closer for details, times and dates of Summer festivals.

Best Regards,