Philadelphia hip hop band The Roots and Broadway legend Stephanie Mills will headline Baltimore’s Artscape festival over Memorial Day weekend, Mayor Brandon Scott announced Thursday.
The Roots will lead the way Saturday, May 23. Mills, an R&B singer who starred in “The Wiz” as the Broadway production’s original Dorothy, will grace the stage May 24. In addition to a main stage, Artscape will have two “echo” stages. Additional performers, including local artists, will be announced at a later date.
Last year’s Artscape welcomed more than 60,000 people each day, up 15% year over year, said Linzy Jackson, the director of the Mayor’s Office of Arts, Culture, & Entertainment.
“We’re excited to build on the momentum of Artscape as it continues to be a strong economic driver for Baltimore because culture is not just culture, but in Baltimore it’s also infrastructure,” Jackson said.
For the first time in 2025, the event’s footprint was relocated from midtown to downtown, and dates shifted from summer to spring – moves that were so successful they’re doing them again this year, said Robyn Murphy, CEO of Create Baltimore, formerly known as the Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts.
“Artscape has been a symbol of who we are as a creative city for over 40 years,” Murphy said. “When you steward something with that much history, there does come a point when you face a choice, which is to preserve it in ice like a Neanderthal, as it is, or to honor it and let it evolve. And last year, we chose evolution.
Murphy said that evolution required organizers to take risks while facing skepticism.
“But now that I stand on the other side of that – thank you, Mayor Scott – those risks paid off,” she said.
Artscape will bring back some of last year’s favorites like the Scout Art Fair, an affordable art fair showcasing works by emerging artists, at the War Memorial Building.
Kidscape will provide an interactive area for youth and attendees who are young at heart.
The festival will also include film programming and the “In Conversation” series, featuring discussions among artists and other professionals.
Artscape After Dark, which last year brought former American Idol contestant Frenchie Davis for an evening of performances in a speakeasy-inspired environment, will return this year.
Brick-and-mortar restaurants will prepare dishes for The Flavor Lab, which will also include beverage pairings and a cooking demonstration stage.
There will also be pop-up performances “where art comes to life along the festival footprint … and maybe a few surprises to come,” Murphy said.
And, yes, more public art.
“We listened when Baltimore says they want more art at Artscape; we got you,” Murphy said. “What that means is to expect more public art and expect more things that we will build and leave behind for the city, for Artscape to be a part of us 365 days a year.”
Last year, food and beverage sales were up about 6.2% at Artscape, Jackson said.
But one of the major complaints that Scott said he heard about last year’s festival was the long lines to get something to eat and drink.
“We heard you about the food,” the mayor said. “We’re going to make sure that we address that issue. That was the number one thing I heard about. We’ll have all of that this year and more.”
Food and beverage vendor applications are open now, with the early bird deadline ending Jan. 25 at 11:59 p.m.
After that, there will be a general deadline of Feb. 20 at 5 p.m. for applications for food and beverages, artist market, Kidscape, performers, volunteers, and sponsors.
While the city spent about $1.6 million on Artscape last year, the festival had an $8.8 million economic impact on Baltimore, Scott said.
“There may be folks who say that this is a wasteful thing, that the city should not be doing these kind of things,” he said. “This is why: because any city that is going to be vibrant, any city that’s going to grow, any city that’s going to be the best version of itself, needs to be doing this.”
Festivals like Artscape and AFRAM are culturally significant to Baltimore residents, but they’re also an important tool for drawing more people to the city, Scott said.
“For those who may see this, to the south of us, where they eat Mambo sauce: there’s nothing to do in DC for Memorial Day weekend, and you can come up here. And Philly, come see The Roots. You love them, we love them too. Bring your butts down here to Baltimore. Get a crab cake. They’re better than cheesesteaks anyway,” the mayor said.
