Preparations are already underway for Carnival Cruise Lines’ Fun City: Baltimore event which takes place tomorrow in the city’s Inner Harbor.

Benefiting Maryland Special Olympics, the day-long event is free and open to the public and offers a variety of free activities and attractions, including the creation of a giant sand sculpture and 3-D chalk art (pictured above at left and right, respectively).  A world record giant beach ball, hip-hop dance performances, live entertainment, a “Camp Carnival” Kids’ Zone, karaoke and an appearance by Carnival’s mascot “Fun Ship” Freddy will be featured, as well.

Fun City: Baltimore is a celebration to mark the start-up of Baltimore’s first year-round cruise program aboard the 2,124-passenger Carnival Pride which kicks off Monday, April 27.  

Looking for a fun time?  The Inner Harbor is the place to be on April 25th from 10:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. when Fun City:  Baltimore, sails into town.  The event is compliments of Carnival Cruise Lines and will raise funds for Maryland Special Olympics.  A full schedule of exciting free events, activities and attractions, including a world record giant beach ball, artistic sand sculptures, live hip-hop dance performances, 3-D chalk art and more, will make up nine “Fun Spots” which will be sprinkled around Baltimore’s Inner Harbor.  The event is a celebration to mark the start-up of Baltimore’s first-ever year-round cruise service on the 2,124-passenger Carnival Pride. The ship will arrive in Baltimore on Monday, April 27 and depart later that day on its first voyage from Charm City.    

Other activities during Fun City:  Baltimore will include a Carnival Fun Booth, Camp Carnival Kid Zone and an Interactive Aquarium. There will also be biodegradable balloon giveaways, photos opportunities, visits by Carnival’s mascot, “Fun Ship” Freddy and Fun Decoder cards which lead to several chances to win a free cruise, all while raising money for the Maryland Special Olympics. 

Following is a rundown of events, all of which are free and open to the public:

Carnival Fun Booth, located in front of the ESPN Zone near Pratt Street, will be an interactive booth where people can digitally record their own karaoke performance of popular songs and go on-line to view the video and share with friends. Located near the Fun Booth but closer to the National Aquarium in Baltimore, will be a beautifully crafted, detailed Sand Sculpture of the Carnival Pride created by award winning Master Sand Sculptor Chuck Feld. 

In the amphitheater, located between the Pratt and Light Street Pavilions, will be live performances by acrobatic teams, Motown-style singers, cruise directors and dancers from Carnival’s ships.  

Carnival’s huge Guinness World Record Beach Ball will be will be located in McKeldin square and passers-by will have an opportunity to have their photo taken alongside it.

3-D Chalk Art depicting Carnival Pride’s twister waterslide will be located on the corner of Pratt and Charles Streets.  Extraordinarily talented chalk artist Michael W. Kirby will spend three to four days creating his fantastic, illusionary masterpiece to the delight of downtown workers who will have an opportunity to watch the transformation first-hand.

Located in front of the Visitor Center will be free balloon giveaways and they’re biodegradable so they’re fun AND green!

Kids of all ages will enjoy the Camp Carnival Kid Zone located near The West Shore Park.  It will feature face painting, candy art machines, arts & crafts and games in addition to entertainment and fun music.  Also, Carnival Water Wars, a game played with giant water balloons, will be available.

Located at 111 South Calvert Street will be a special Interactive Aquarium where a vibrant, computer animated undersea universe of plant life and fish will react to the motion of passersby.  Visitors can also dial a number on their cell phones to create their own, personalized fish and swim them around the tank.  The Interactive Aquarium is already on display and will remain in place until April 27.

An engaging, high-energy hip hop and acrobatic performance group will entertain visitors and those walking to the baseball game with performances in front of the new Hilton and across from Oriole Park at Camden Yards.

Throughout the day, Carnival Cruise Ambassadors will be handing out FREE “Fun Decoder” cards where participants can register on-line for five chances to win a Carnival Cruise.  The contest takes place from April 1-May 9 and for every person who registers, a $1 donation will go directly to the Maryland Special Olympics.

The Carnival Pride will operate a mix of six-, seven- and eight-day cruises from April 27 through September 6, 2009 then begin a year-round seven-day cruise program departing every Sunday. The ship will alternate weekly between an Exotic Eastern Caribbean itinerary calling at Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos Islands; and Half Moon Cay and Freeport, The Bahamas, and a Bahamas/Florida itinerary which visits Port Canaveral (near Orlando), Fla; and Nassau and Freeport, The Bahamas.  Each voyage also includes three days at sea.

Carnival’s sales team will go to any length to support a good cause.  That was certainly evident this past weekend when five Carnival sales representatives bravely ventured into the icy waters of Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay as part of the “Polar Bear Plunge” fundraising event benefiting Special Olympics.

Carnival was the official cruise line sponsor of the annual event and even provided many participants with “funnel hats” which are shaped like the line’s signature winged smokestack that adorn its ships.   The cruise line also donated beach towels for participants to dry off after swimming in the 31-degree water. Carnival’s popular mascot, “Fun Ship” Freddy, was also on hand to greet visitors following their “plunge.”

Carnival will launch the first year-round cruise schedule from Baltimore when the 2,124-passenger Carnival Pride begins six-, seven- and eight-day day voyages from that port April 27, 2009.

Carnival’s “Polar Bear Plunge” team included (from left):  Vice President of Sales – Eastern Region Kirk Neal; Business Development Manager – Western Pennsylvania Gwen Mamula; Business Development Manager – Central and Northwest New Jersey John Migliori; Business Development Director – Connecticut Katie Gerhard; Business Development Director – Maryland/Delaware Tom Dougher, along with additional team members Alex Adler and Anthony Pirrillo.