Mayor Scott Also Highlights New Public-Facing Events Calendar to Help Ensure Smooth Coordination Across City Government and Community Partners

BALTIMORE, MD (Monday, December 18, 2023) – Today, Mayor Brandon M. Scott, alongside the Mayor’s Office of Art & Culture, Baltimore City Recreation and Parks, Baltimore Office of Promotion & the Arts (BOPA), and standing with institutional partners like The Lyric Foundation, Inc., Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Maryland Institute College of Art, and the University of Baltimore announced the 2024 dates for the highly anticipated lineup for premiere free summer entertainment in Baltimore. 

Artscape is one of the nation's largest free arts festivals, and returns to the historic Mt. Vernon, Bolton Hill, and Station North communities in celebration of its 40th year. This highly anticipated event will be co-produced by the City of Baltimore and BOPA.  Baltimore’s African American Festival, known as “AFRAM,” is a multi-generational two-day live experience, known to bring together the most dynamic acts in music, art, and culture. Charm City Live is Baltimore’s newest free festival and was created by Mayor Brandon M. Scott in 2022 to offer residents and visitors a one-day family-friendly evening of music, art, and entertainment in the heart of the city – Downtown Baltimore. 

Together, these three festivals are important cornerstones of the public events calendar during the summer months. The 2024 festival dates are as follows: 

• AFRAM, Saturday, June 22, 2024 & Sunday, June 23, 2024
• Artscape, Friday, August 2, 2024 through Sunday, August 4, 2024
• Charm City Live, Saturday, September 21, 2024

In addition to next year’s dates, Mayor Scott also announced that a new public-facing events calendar will be accessible for Baltimore residents. The calendar is designed to show special events in order to ease coordination within City government and with event coordinators who are planning their own events in neighborhoods across the city. This new tool will be invaluable to event planners and residents looking to plan around important, “can’t miss” events year round.

“Summertime in Baltimore City is one of a kind with so many great events and gatherings that celebrate our culture and allow us to spend quality time with our family and friends,” said Mayor Brandon M. Scott. “Artscape and AFRAM have always been a part of that landscape, and I am proud that the City’s newest festival, Charm City Live, gives our residents and visitors of all ages another opportunity to make memories that will last a lifetime. We had a great time in 2023, and we are releasing these dates now so that residents, communities, and our neighborhood partners can effectively plan for the great year ahead.”

"Baltimore's dynamic and vibrant creative culture is brilliantly showcased at Artscape, and during our other cultural festivals. It true testament to the diverse talent flourishing in our city. Proudly hosting historic free events for over 40 years, Artscape has become not just the cultural heart of Baltimore, but also a cornerstone in building a thriving creative economy," said Mayor's Office of Art & Culture Senior Advisor Tonya Miller Hall. "Our commitment is steadfast in working alongside our cultural institutional partners to nurture this tradition, support our local artists and vendors, and foster an environment where the creative economy can prosper."

ABOUT AFRAM
Baltimore’s African American Festival, known as “AFRAM,” is one of the largest African-American festivals on the East Coast. This event is one of the most highly-anticipated premiere annual summer events in Baltimore City. Held at the historic Druid Hill Park, this 745-acre urban oasis draws crowds of 300,000 each year! For two days, people from all walks of life come together to enjoy national entertainment, local eats and much more. 

ABOUT ARTSCAPE
Artscape is one of AMERICA’S LARGEST FREE arts festivals, rocking the cultural heart of Baltimore since 1982. It was designed as an Arts Fair and marketed Baltimore as a cultural hub. The newly developed Meyerhoff Symphony Hall was underway, and to draw community support and stimulate economic development and investment in the area, Artscape was born. 

ABOUT CHARM CITY LIVE
Charm City Live is a free summer festival that celebrates the “charm” that makes our Charm City so special. Created in 2022 by Mayor Brandon M. Scott, this festival is a culture immersion experience that residents and visitors of all ages can enjoy. Beyond the music, the family-friendly event will host a kid's zone, food trucks, and other local vendors.