Baltimore businesses and venues have been hosting St. Patrick’s Day-related events over the past couple weeks, but the actual holiday has finally arrived today – and the celebrations continue through the weekend! Also, check out several live performances, from stand-up comedian Tim Dillon to the “Dear Evan Hansen” musical to “The Voice” winner Cassadee Pope and more. It’s a lively weekend in Charm City!
Here’s the weekend lineup:
St. Patrick’s Day Weekend Celebration, Thursday, March 17 through Saturday, March 19, 510 Johnnys. Johnnys is hosting musical performers, plus food and drink specials throughout the weekend.
Pints for Poe, 6 p.m., Thursday, March 17, Annabel Lee Tavern. Organizers will be raffling off Poe House gifts – including T-shirts, glasses and more – every hour starting at 6 p.m. Donations and a portion of the proceeds of the event will benefit The Edgar Allan Poe House & Museum.
St. Patrick’s Day Cocktail Class, 6:30 p.m., Thursday, March 17, Sagamore Spirit. Learn about the history of Sagamore Spirit, sample some products in on of the tasting rooms, and craft two holiday-themed cocktails. Tickets are $30 and the event is limited to 20 attendees.
O’Malley’s March, 7-10 p.m., Thursday, March 17, Former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley’s band O’Malley’s March will perform a St. Patrick’s Day show at Zen West.
Dear Evan Hansen, Thursday, March 17 through Sunday, March 20, Hippodrome Theatre. “Dear Evan Hansen,” the Tony- and Grammy-award-winning musical, is on tour and has made a stop in Baltimore. The musical tells the story of high schooler Evan who is mistakenly identified as a friend of a fellow student who committed suicide. Evan plays along and soon finds himself at the center of a web of lies. Read more about the production here.
The Folks At Home, Thursday, March 17 (runs through April 10), Baltimore Center Stage. In playwright R. Eric Thomas’s “The Folks At Home,” interracial couple Roger and Brandon are late on their mortgage, Roger has been laid off for months, and they might have a ghost in the attic of their South Baltimore home. On top of all that, all of their parents have to move in with them. The play is inspired by family sitcoms of the 1970s and is directed by Obie Award winner Stevie Walker-Webb. “The Folks At Home” premiers at Baltimore Center Stage on Thursday, March 17, and the production will run through April 10.
Comedy Showcase, doors open at 7 p.m., show starts at 8:15 p.m., Thursday, March 17, The Garage, 6 E. Lafayette Ave. This third installment of “Living a Rich Life with Rich James” presents a comedy showcase featuring Stiletto and other Baltimore comedians.
Honky Tonk Music and Dance, 7-10 p.m., Thursday, March 17, Waverly Brewing Company. The Foghorn Stringband will perform classic country and stringband music as attendees dance the night away. There will be a free dance lesson, and no experience is needed. There will also be a bonus circle dance by a youth stringband, The Old Time Cobras.
Tim Dillon, 7 p.m., Friday, March 18, The Lyric. Stand-up comedian Tim Dillon will perform in Baltimore on Friday in his comedy show, “Tim Dillon: A Real Hero.” Dillon also hosts a podcast, “The Tim Dillon Show,” in which he discusses his life, as well as social and political issues, with his friend and producer Ben Avery.
Cassadee Pope, doors open at 7 p.m., show starts at 8 p.m., Friday, March 18, Baltimore Soundstage. Cassadee Pope was the lead vocalist of the pop punk band Hey Monday before embarking on a solo career. She competed on the third season of NBC’s The Voice and became the show’s first female winner. Pope released her most recent album, “Thrive,” in 2021.
Kenny Barron Trio, Friday, March 18 through Sunday, March 20, Keystone Korner. The Kenny Barron Trio includes Kenny Barron on piano, Kiyoshi Kitagawa on bass, and Jonathan Blake on drums. The Los Angeles Times described Barron as “one of the top jazz pianists in the world.”
Dance Fundraiser for Ukraine, 3-5 p.m., Saturday, March 19, Lithuanian Hall. The Carpathia Folk Dance Ensemble will perform at a fundraiser to benefit humanitarian relief for Ukraine. The event will also feature performances by Hungarian folk dance ensemble Tisza, Mituva Lithuanian Folk Dance Ensemble, and Ukrainian acapella group SPIV-Zhyttya. All proceeds will go to Caritas Ukraine.
Saleem & The Music Lovers, 7 p.m., Saturday, March 19, An Die Musik LIVE! Saleem & The Music Lovers, formed in 2005, blends live band tradition with elements of modern hip-hop. For example, instead of live drums, the band uses an ASRX-Pro drum machine as an homage to late 80s/early 90s hip-hop. The band comprises emcee and band leader Saleem, bass guitarist Sinseer, keyboardist Tangela, and drum machine player Lavar.
Thank you for including Saleem and the Music Lovers in your weekend picks.