Baltimore's Passover Chametz Burning Moves to New Location

The annual ritual to dispose of leavened foods before the holiday takes place at Reisterstown Road Plaza this year.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 8:42pm

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Baltimore's traditional burning of chametz, the leavened foods prohibited during Passover, has moved to a new location this year. After two decades at Pimlico Race Course, the event is now being held at Reisterstown Road Plaza due to construction at the racetrack. While the location has changed, the ritual itself remains an important part of the Jewish community's preparation for the weeklong Passover celebration.

Why it matters

The burning of chametz is a longstanding tradition in the Jewish faith, symbolizing the removal of leavened products from homes and businesses before Passover. The annual event in Baltimore brings the community together to observe this custom, and its relocation to a new venue highlights the adaptability of religious traditions to changing circumstances.

The details

For the past 20 years, Baltimore has hosted its chametz burning at Pimlico Race Course. However, with the racetrack currently undergoing construction, the event has been moved to Reisterstown Road Plaza this year. Despite the change in location, the ritual itself remains the same, with members of the Orthodox Jewish community gathering to dispose of any remaining leavened foods before the start of Passover.

  • The first night of Passover is on Wednesday, April 16, 2026.
  • The chametz burning took place on the day before the start of Passover.

The players

Yanky Schorr

A representative from Tide Realty Capital, which hosts the annual chametz burning event in Baltimore.

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What they’re saying

“Those that are no longer able to be donated, we do a tremendous amount of donating (to the Maryland Food Bank) of food, non-perishables, etc. that people are bringing along, so it's not a wasteful celebration.”

— Yanky Schorr, Tide Realty Capital representative

What’s next

The Jewish community in Baltimore will continue to observe the chametz burning tradition at the new Reisterstown Road Plaza location in the years to come, adapting the event as needed to accommodate changes in the city.

The takeaway

The relocation of Baltimore's annual chametz burning event demonstrates the resilience and adaptability of religious traditions, as the Jewish community finds ways to preserve this important Passover ritual despite changes to the local landscape.