Preak Weeks is back for a second year, the Maryland Jockey Club and 1/ST announced Tuesday. The three-week event is designed to help support Baltimore-area businesses in the lead-up to the 149th Preakness Stakes on May 18.
Each day, from April 26 through May 17, one of the 22 participating businesses will give away a four-pack of tickets. Each business will also get its own QR code, which customers can scan to get 10% off Preakness tickets. The business will receive 10% of total proceeds through its QR code.
The participating businesses range from Pikesville to Timonium to Harbor East and include restaurants, boutiques and spas.
This year’s event welcomes 16 new businesses and six from last year’s event. Among the returning businesses is Art of Balance Wellness Spa.
Dr. Nia Banks, the spa’s owner and medical director, said they did not see increased business last year. However, she is still eager to participate this year as the initiative gives free exposure for her company.
“They make it relatively easy,” she said. “For us, it’s only free exposure. We appreciate being included; the team definitely got a kick out of seeing the logo in the program on race day.”
Banks enjoys the opportunity to participate in Preak Weeks because it brings local businesses onto the main stage at Preakness, an event where small businesses likely can’t afford advertisement space.
“The concept and the idea that Maryland Jockey Club has had to include local businesses, it’s fantastic. I think it’s a great opportunity,” Banks said.
Other business owners, like Christopher Schafer, have been able to see the company partnership turn into increased sales.
Schafer owns Christopher Schafer Clothier, which makes custom suits. Preakness, an event where attendees often dress up in lavish clothing, bodes well for Schafer’s business.
May 18 will mark the second straight year Schafer has been to Preakness, but he hadn’t gone for around 20 years before 2023. Preak Weeks allowed him to attend the event, and he saw his business benefit from it.
“It’s always good when you get business, so people who want to go and get all dressed up for it and everything like that,” Schafer said. “Primarily, what I do is custom clothing from scratch and that takes a bit of time to do that.”
To prepare for Preak Weeks, Schafer said he houses lots of sample garments of different sizes to make the process easier.
In addition to the business potential, Preak Weeks and Preakness itself serve as a reminder to Schafer of springtime.
“It’s springtime around here,” he said. “The days are longer, and I think overall everyone’s just in a good mood… It’s a good time around Baltimore right now.”
Not only is Preak Weeks attracting businesses that participated in the event last year, but it also has attracted new businesses like Greedy Reads, a bookstore in Fells Point.
Greedy Reads Communications Manager Santiago Nocera said being included in the event shows people the cohesion of the Baltimore community.
“The community spirit and the fact that there are so many different types of businesses that are coming together for this,” Nocera said. “That really shows that the city is really united and excited for something that celebrates this city.”
When Preak Weeks organizers reached out to Greedy Reads, they knew it was something they wanted to be a part of.
“We thought it’d be a really great way to get involved with something that’s so traditional and historic for Baltimore and being a part of the community here made us want to be part of that,” he said.
Editor’s note: The original version of this story incorrectly stated this year is the 148th Preakness. It will be the 149th Preakness. Baltimore Fishbowl regrets this error.
