Boyz II Men, Case and Estelle are headed to downtown Baltimore this Saturday for the fifth annual Charm City Live festival, a ticketed, all-day event running from noon to 9 p.m. at War Memorial Plaza, with tickets starting at $20 and children 12 and under free. The city-run celebration pairs national R&B headliners with local DJs and a municipal job fair, capping off Baltimore's summer festival season with music, food and family activities.
According to WBAL News Radio, the festival features performances by Boyz II Men, Case and Estelle, with Linzy Jackson, director of the Mayor's Office of Arts, Culture, and Entertainment, joining the outlet to preview the event. Jackson's office is involved with Charm City Live, according to ConcertDaily.com.
This year's lineup also rounds out the day with regional talent, including DJ sets from DJ Tanz, Porkchop, DJ Keebee and Uncle E, along with live music from The Vibe Band, per Power 104.7. Charm City Live has built a reputation for booking major R&B and hip-hop names since its founding, having previously featured Method Man, Redman and Monica in 2024, followed by The-Dream, Lucky Daye and Jeffrey Osborne in 2025, according to CBS Baltimore's earlier coverage.
A Festival Born From Pandemic Recovery — and a Mayor's Love Story
Mayor Brandon Scott launched Charm City Live in 2022 as a free, one-day municipal festival, per that same CBS Baltimore reporting. The outlet's report on that year's lineup announcement also identifies 2022 as the festival's inaugural year.
The festival has also been described as supporting local businesses, the outlet's reporting states.
City Uses the Crowd to Fill Government Jobs
Beyond the stage, Charm City Live doubles as a recruitment tool for city government. The festival incorporates an official job fair organized by Baltimore City Recreation and Parks, connecting residents with Baltimore City government employment opportunities, per the same account.
Charm City Live also marks a symbolic close to Baltimore's outdoor festival calendar. It serves as the official end-of-summer capstone for the city's programming, following AFRAM and Artscape earlier in the season, according to CBS News's earlier reporting on the festival.
Road Closures and Entry Rules Attendees Should Know
Getting downtown will require some planning. Several roads around War Memorial Plaza close on Saturday, WBAL News Radio reports, and drivers are encouraged to use alternate routes during the closures, with the Waze app offering live detour navigation. The city's transportation department, at baltimorecity.gov/transportation, provides additional information for motorists navigating the area.
Once on foot, festivalgoers must clear security checkpoints at two designated access gates on Gay Street, positioned south of East Saratoga Street and north of East Baltimore Street, according to Visit Baltimore. City entry policies bar weapons, mace, outside food or drink, backpacks, large bags and professional recording equipment from the festival footprint, though exceptions are made for small clear bags carrying necessary medical supplies.
Hoodline has followed Charm City Live's growth since its earlier years, previously reporting on the 2024 hip-hop royalty lineup and the star-studded 2025 announcement. This year's festival is ticketed, with tickets starting at $20 and children 12 and under free, at War Memorial Plaza in downtown Baltimore.
