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Five Reasons To Visit Baltimore In 2015

Baltimore is a large metropolis that attracts visitors from around the world - and for good reason. Throughout the year, Baltimore holds a number of events that draw national attention, and make it worth the trip to tourists and visitors from all over. Here are some of the primary attractions in Baltimore for the year of 2015.

Baltimore Comic-Con
Baltimore Convention Center
1 West Pratt St.
Baltimore, MD 21201
(410) 649-7000
www.baltimorecomiccon.com

Date: Sept. 23-25, 2015

The culture of comic books has expanded from a very niche market to one of worldwide interest in recent years, as the rivalries between comic book franchises to dominate the popular medias of movies and television have exploded onto the national market. Comic conventions - once the purview of an unpopular fringe group - have become the stages upon which people eagerly await announcements of upcoming media phenomena. Baltimore is one of a select few cities across the country that holds a large and very popular comic convention each year.

The Hippodrome Theatre (Credit, Vicki Lawson)

Hippodrome Broadway Series
12 N. Eutaw St.
Baltimore, MD 21201
(410) 837-7400
www.baltimore.broadway.com

Baltimore is undeniably a place for art and culture, and Broadway is coming to Baltimore this year with five shows that have played in only a few select cities outside of Broadway. The Hippodrome Theater, famous for its world class accommodations and performances, will be featuring:

Get tickets soon, and don't miss these nationally lauded musical events!

otakon

Otakon
Baltimore Convention Center
1 West Pratt St.
Baltimore, MD 21201
(410) 649-7000
www.otakon.com

Date: July 24-26, 2015

Japanese pop culture has made tremendous progress in America by providing video games, comics, animation and movies that present a quirky and unique element of storytelling that - for many - has become downright addictive. Otakon is an annual convention that pours out the blessings of Japanese culture on a hungry American audience. Come down to the Baltimore Convention Center this July 24 through 26 and prepare yourself for an experience unlike any other. Some must-see attractions include snacks and candy that are unique to Japan, comic books written and drawn by Japanese artists, the massively popular animation culture of Japan, and Japanese genre films - including unique action and horror films.

Related: Best 2014-2015 College Productions In Baltimore

Maryland Film Festival

Maryland Film Festival
107 E. Read St.
Baltimore, MD 21202
(410) 752-8083
www.mdfilmfest.com

Date: May 6-10, 2015

Film festivals are the events where underground media gems premier to the cultured few, often rising to national attention. People who attend film festivals are the sole witnesses of the rise of creative geniuses, and occasionally discoverers of brilliant films that sadly never get recognized for their true value. The annual Maryland Film Festival - a five-day event held in early May - is one of the most well-recognized in the world. Attend in 2015 and be among the first to see tomorrow's greats today. The film festival premieres approximately 50 feature films and 75 short films, including American films, international films and silent films with live musical accompaniment. In the past, the Maryland Film Festival has seen the works of such greats as John Waters, Barry Levinson, Kathryn Bigelow, Jonathan Demme, Melvin Van Peebles, Alex Gibney, Matt Porterfield, Joe Swanberg, Lisandro Alonso, Todd Solondz, Bobcat Goldthwait and Lena Dunham. All directors attend the event and present their films personally.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Monster Jam
Royal Farms Arena
201 W. Baltimore St.
Baltimore, MD 21201
(800) 745-3000
www.monsterjam.com

Date: Feb. 27 - March 1, 2015

The Monster Jam truck rally is hitting 10 cities in 2015, and Baltimore is one of them. Come down to the Baltimore Arena February 27 through March 1 and experience the turbo-charged event that will keep your adrenaline pumping and your ears ringing. Event organizers promise tons of action, including racing, freestyling, donuts, wheelies and crushing monster truck action. This year's trucks include Team Max-D℠ driven by Morgan Kane, Team Blue Thunder® driven by Dalton Millican, Team Monster Energy driven by Coty Saucier, Team El Toro Loco® driven by Becky McDonough, Team Grave Digger® driven by Colton Eichenberger, Team Scoody-Doo™ driven by Bailey Shea Williams, Team NEA Police℠ driven by Aaron Basl and Team Monster Mutt® Rottweiler driven by Daron Basl!

Related: Best Places To See Fireworks In Baltimore

Joel Furches is a freelance writer and researcher for The Examiner and Logos Software, and also manages his own catalog of writing on Hub Pages. Joel is on the board of directors for Ratio Christi. He has a bachelors in Psychology and a Masters in Education.

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