Eastport, downtown Annapolis, or at City Dock–it doesn’t matter the location of Annapolitan entertainment. All entertainment is worth it, especially when much of that entertainment is free and all is open to the public. Each month of the year has its own set of festivals in the area, and in the spirit of spring, we present you with the festival fun that will bloom in March.
Tradition in Annapolis is marked by long-standing, well-known events. The Green Beer Races in Eastport are among the best of traditional events. Saturday, March 16 is the date of this overly Irish festival. Haven’t seen the green yet? The festival is all about friendly competition, namely through the kiddie Kool-Aid races and the men’s and women’s keg tosses. Of course, the highlight of the event is the green beer races. The event is exactly what it sounds like: contestants race against each other with mugs of green beer filled to the brim. Sounds difficult but a whole lot of fun? It is.
To accompany the keg tossing, beer racing, and Kool-Aid racing, The Teelin Irish Dance Company will perform. Enjoy the sounds of Celtic dancing complete with upbeat, lively rhythms while cheering on competitors or perhaps even racing yourself. In addition, there will be a “Best Dressed Dog” award and a “Cutest Leprechaun” award given out to the most festive Irish dog and person. More music by Michael McHenry Tribe, Soulful, and Psychedelic ensues after the races, contests, and dancing. Despite the prospective entertainment of the Eastport Green Beer Races, the most enticing part of the event is that the proceeds from the races go to improving Georgetown East Elementary School. To learn more about the beer races and watch videos of previous years, head to http://www.eastportdc.com.
Though not an official “festival,” we have to give a shout-out to the St. Patrick’s Day celebration downtown. All the bars will be decked out in Irish get-up and some will feature specials on their food and drink menus. There is no website for this–you’ll find more information by exploring on foot!
In the same vein as the Irish-themed pubs, we want to highlight another celebration at local food spots: Annapolis Restaurant Week. When you eat at participating restaurants, you can soak up the specials, like three-course meals for a fixed rate. Some participating restaurants include Miss Shirley’s Cafe and Cantler’s Inn. There are no special passes or tickets needed–just an empty stomach. Restaurant week ends on March 3. Read more about it on www.annapolisrestaurantweek.com.
Maryland Day is an important event to Annapolis because it celebrates the birth of Maryland. The history of Maryland, just like the history of Annapolis, is extensive and interesting, and is the cause for the festival. There will be historical events put on, activities for kids, and plenty of culture and history to learn about over the course of March 22, 23, 24, and 25. Most activities are $1 or less. One new activity, Geocaching, allows participants to go on a scavenger hunt using GPS tracking. Tons of local museums participate in the action too–ones downtown and on the outskirts. Celebrating Maryland is easy with entertainment like this. To learn more about Maryland Day, head to www.marylandday.org or call 410-222-1805.
One final festival in March is every shopper’s favorite: March Madness. The premise is simple: shop downtown on Saturday, March 24 and/or Sunday, March 25, and be entered to win a grand prize shopping spree valued over $750. Participating businesses, like Woodcraft Artisans, Paws Pet Boutique, Lilac Bijoux, Alpaca, and Historic Inns of Annapolis, will all have boxes inside for you to drop your business card in. At the end of March Madness, if your name is drawn, you win! Head to http://www.annapolisbusinessassoc.com/march-madness.html to see all the participating businesses. It’s true that when you support local business, you win, but this time, you really can win big!
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