During the hectic time of finals, as we all begrudgingly make our way to the library in the midst of gorgeous weather, there is one thing to consider: It will all be over soon.
Breaking away from the Hopkins workload creates an enormous amount of free time.
For students sticking around campus for the summer, it's the best season to explore Charm City. Here are just a few events to attend and places to visit during the glorious school-free sunny months.
First off, Preaknessis soon approaching. At 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 14th, Baltimore will honor this annual event with its Westside Preakness Parade. This free event kicks off a series of Preakness-related activities in anticipation of the 130th annual running of the Preakness Stakes, which will take place on May 21st.
Some pre-Preakness events include the Preakness 5k and a special event for Friends of the Walters, who will enjoy the equestrian talents of George Stubbs.
The Parade itself will have Baltimore Ravens quarterback Kyle Boller as the grand marshal and will include several noteworthy speakers, including Babe Ruth's daughter, Julia Ruth Stevens and Negro League Player Bert Simmons. The parade will also include large floats, helium balloon characters and marching bands.
After Preakness, Baltimore will begin hosting a slew of ethnic festivals,beginning with the Polish Festival, which takes place June 3-5 at Patterson Park.
Nearly every weekend until October, a different ethnicity will be celebrating its food, culture and music at various locations around Baltimore.
Some festivals will require a modest entry fee. In addition to the Polish Festival, there is also LatinoFest (June 18-19), German Festival (August 19-21) and the PowWow Native American Festival (August 26-29).
In addition to its ethnic festivals, Baltimore is hosting Cirque de Soleil's Varekai May 19-June 19. The famous blue and yellow striped tent will be erected at Harbor Point in Fell's Point, where the student tickets are selling for $41.50. The production of Varekai is directed by Dominic Champagne in praise of the nomadic spirit.
The show portrays the story of a young man who has fallen into the throes of a kaleidoscopic world of creatures.
As he makes his way through this newly discovered world, he encounters many new and exciting adventures.
For those looking to get a little physical activity, try the Baltimore Mural Bike Tour, which will start at the intersection of Ellicott Driveway and Frederick Avenue on May 15th.
This informative tour will cover eight of Baltimore's very own murals, beginning with 200 North Bentalou Street. Tickets are on sale for $20, and all of the proceeds will benefit the Baltimore's Mural Program.
In addition to these seasonal activities, there are also some general Baltimore must-dos that should be taken advantage of when school commitments can't get in the way. The Book Thing,which used to take place just blocks away on 27th and North Charles Street, has moved to a new location at 3001 Vineyard Lane in Waverly.
It is open Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. through 6 a.m, during which time visitors are encouraged to take as many free books as they can carry.
Finally, every weekend Baltimore hosts many farmer's markets, one of which is located just blocks away from campus, off 33rd Street between Merryman and Guilford Avenues. Operating every Saturday morning until noon, the farmer's market offers a wide selection of fresh fruits and vegetables for low prices.
Another farmer's market takes place underneath the Jones Fall Expressway, on Holliday and Saratoga Streets.
This market operates Sundays from 8 a.m. until it sells out, which is usually around noon.
Recently, this farmer's market, the larger of the two, has added hands-on workshops throughout the day about gardening, heirloom varieties and how to pick out great fruit.
These are just a few of the many events that Baltimore has to offer this summer, so go out and enjoy all the free time.
