Ravens wide receiver Steve Smith Sr. will kick off the 45th annual Washington Monument lighting in Mount Vernon this week, which will feature a host of food, vendors and activities.
The Baltimore holiday celebration, hosted by Downtown Partnership, will commence at 5 p.m. Thursday in the west and north sections of Mount Vernon Place, where a holiday village with more than 30 vendors will come alive.
The west section will feature a kid's corner, with art projects, face painting and pictures with Santa, while the north segment will host a beer tent and food trucks.
Mix 106.5 will emcee the on-stage event, with performances by Morgan State University Choir, All Mighty Senators, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra's OrchKids, Baby Beats with Max & Root, Bravenoise, Victoria Vox, and The Kristen Toedtman Band.
Smith, along with a family chosen by Baltimore's Ronald McDonald House Charities, will flip the switch around 7:45 p.m., illuminating more than 16,000 LED lights around the monument and kickstarting the fireworks finale.
If you go
The annual momnument lighting will take place from 5 p.m.-8 p.m. Thursday in Mount Vernon, centering around the intersection of Charles and Monument streets. Free. godowntownbaltimore.com.