The show begins on March 22nd at sundown. Find a place where you can see the western horizon, and before the sky fades completely black, start looking for Mercury. It's that bright "star" shining through the rosy glow of the setting Sun. You can walk outside after dinner, and without any kind of telescope, see Mercury, Venus, Mars, Saturn, and Jupiter.
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2004/19mar_planets.htm?list625702
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2004/19mar_planets.htm?list625702