Special Events

    Golf Tournament - Pine Ridge Golf Course and The Timbers at Troy Golf Course
    Tuesday, October 14
    8:30 a.m.
    Cost:  $100 per player includes continental breakfast, driving range, green fees, cart fees, prizes, on course beverages, and awards ceremony luncheon.  Transportation to and from the Baltimore Hilton is available upon request.
    Rental Clubs are available at $25 per set upon request.  For information contact Phil Bryan at 410.313.1668 or pbryan@howardcountymd.gov

    Note:  Tournament is a four-person scramble and is limited to 288 players.

    The Pine Ridge Golf Course is a GolfDigest four-star rated course.  Host to several PGA and LPGA Tournaments, The Eastern Open, Lady Carling Open, and the Greater Baltimore Golf Classic.  Opened in 1958, the scenic water and pine trees of the Loch Raven watershed setting make this course both beautiful and a challenge.  The par 72 course plays at 6820 yards.

    The Timbers at Troy Golf Course voted one of the “Top 100 Golf Courses” in the Mid-Atlantic by Golfstyles magazine; the course provides a breathtaking backdrop of the best countryside in Maryland.  The par 72 championship course boasts over 6650 yards and a challenging course rating of 134.

    Both courses feature a full-service pro-shop, concession area, driving range,
    putting greens, and more.

    Welcome Party
    Tuesday, October 14
    5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
    Eutaw Street at Camden Yards
    Cost: $50 per extra ticket

    Baltimore – or “Balmer” as the locals speak - is a city amazingly rich in dynamic cultural diversity and possessing a unique flair.  This east coast city is the home of memorable traditions, from Hairspray to Charm City, from the Preakness to the Honfest… Balmer has it all!  Don’t miss the 2008 Congress Welcome Party.  As they’d say in Balmer, “Hon, you gotta be there!”

    Arrive in time to attend this year’s exciting Welcome Party on Tuesday, October 15, just steps from the Baltimore Convention Center.  The 2008 Congress Welcome Party will initiate you to the flavor of Baltimore and you’ll be living it from just inside Camden Yards, the home of the Baltimore Orioles MLB Team!  Participate in guided stadium tours, experience a mélange of local cuisine, mingle with your friends and colleagues and be thoroughly entertained in a festive street party atmosphere that demonstrates the vibrant cultural diversity and the style unique to Baltimore, Maryland.

    Opening Party Sponsored by Playworld Systems

    Playworld Systems

    Opening General Session
    Wednesday, October 15
    8:30 – 10:30 a.m.
    The excitement builds as colleagues, supporters and friends assemble for the Opening General Session, the official start of NRPA’s Congress & Exposition.   

    Keynote Speaker - Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
    Join fellow attendees for a thought-provoking keynote presentation from Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., one of the nation’s foremost activists on environmental issues. Mr. Kennedy’s reputation as a resolute defender of the environment stems from a litany of successful legal actions. He was named Time magazine’s “Heroes for the Planet” for his successes in helping Riverkeeper lead the fight to restore the Hudson River. Listen as Mr. Kennedy discusses the important role that our natural surroundings play in our work, health and our identity as Americans.

    Opening General Session and Keynote Presentation Sponsored by Landscape Structures

    Landscape Structures

    Walk and Run in Patterson Park
    5-K Run/Walk
    Thursday, October 16, 2008
    7-9 a.m.
    Cost:  $25 includes Goody Bag

    Experience Baltimore City’s vibrant Patterson Park with its picturesque walking paths, charming boat-lake, tennis and basketball courts, baseball diamonds and ice-rink. Climb the tower of Patterson Park’s Victorian Pagoda, built in 1892, and experience a panoramic view of metropolitan Baltimore.  This 185-acre green space with its rolling landscapes and historic monument is just minutes away from the City’s historic Inner Harbor and the waterfront communities of Canton, Fells Point and Harbor East.

    Closing Party
    Friday, October 17
    5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
    Maryland Science Center at the Inner Harbor
    Cost: $75

    Make plans to celebrate a fantastic Congress week in Baltimore at this year’s incredible Closing Party.  We’re holding it at the Maryland Science Center on Friday, October 17 starting promptly at 5:30 p.m.  Celebration and fun is just a short walk from the convention center.  The Science Center is located on the waterfront of Baltimore's fabulous Inner Harbor, one of the most photographed and visited features of the city.  This amazing location is the back drop for an impressive and enjoyable conclusion to the 2008 Congress & Exposition. 

    Closing Party Sponsored by Gametime

    Gametime

  • African-American Heritage Tour
    To register, click here
  • “Welcome to Baltimore Hon”! Tour
    Choose one registration day

    Monday, October 13, click here

    Thursday, October 16, click here

    Friday, October 17, click here
  • Historic Gardens, Parks, and Pagoda Tea
    To register, click here
  • The INN-credible Charm of the Eastern Shore

    For Single Occupancy Registration, click here

    For Double Occupancy Registration, click here
  • Gettysburg & Union Mills
    To register, click here
  • Charm City Tour of Historic Fells Point
    To register, click here
  • Baltimore Skyline by Kayak
    To register for the 9 a.m. tour, click here
    To register for the 1 p.m. tour, click here
  • All Hands on Deck…Exploring Historic Annapolis To register, click here
  • Mills and Malls Shopping Tour
    To register, click here
  • Insider’s Guide to Washington
    To register, click here