Saturday, May 6, is the annual running of the Baltimore Kinetic Sculpture Race, a riotous day-long event sponsored by the American Visionary Art Museum (AVAM).
The race features hand-made, man-powered, art-festooned vehicles that parade around the Inner Harbor of Baltimore, following a course that sends them out 50 yards into the bay and back, across a sand trap, and through an uphill, mud-covered pit that devours men’s souls. Women’s too. Vehicles range from one- or two-person skeletal floats made from bicycle parts, to 30-footers powered by perhaps eight people.
Participants are all costumed appropriately for their sculptures; so are many of the spectators and sidewalk enablers. Wackiness is everywhere and waiting to be photographed.
The most exciting – and hilarious – places to capture the madness are at the water event in Canton neighborhood, and the mud pit in Patterson Park, an easy walk from one to the other. The water challenge runs from about 11:00 a.m. to about 1:00 p.m. The mud pit runs from around 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. or so. Park free on a street and walk.
Here are some examples of what you’ll see:
And when you finally run out of film – and energy – you can recharge your spirits at an eatery in Little Italy, or on a sundeck overlooking the harbor. Many choices for either venue.
This is absolutely one of the best reasons to visit Baltimore. Do it if you possibly can!
Links to info:
- Overall description of race and route: http://www.kineticbaltimore.com/
- Map of route: http://www.kineticbaltimore.com/ksr/downloads/2016KsrSpectatorsGuide.pdf?v=4
- What to wear (because you are part of the wackiness): http://www.kineticbaltimore.com/KSR/Spectatorsguide.asp#whattowear
- Race photos from 2016: http://www.kineticbaltimore.com/KSR/2016/