Patti LaBelle, Juvenile, Saweetie, and more to perform at 2025 Baltimore AFRAM festival

Singer Patti LaBelle and rapper Juvenile will be among the headliners to perform at this year's AFRAM Festival at Baltimore's Druid Hill Park.

Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott and city leaders on Tuesday announced the entertainment for the festival's 49th year.

AFRAM, a free festival that highlights local artists and makers alongside superstars, is one of the largest African-American cultural arts fairs on the East Coast. There will be vendors for culture, crafts, and food.

"We know what AFRAM is," Mayor Scott said. "It is a festival celebration of everything that is Black excellence."

The event will be held on Saturday, June 21, and Sunday, June 22.

WJZ is a proud media sponsor of AFRAM.

"Baltimore has one of the best lineups, the best lineup, in the entire country, for free, accessible concerts and festivals," Mayor Scott said last year. "Summer is always the highlight."

City leaders say AFRAM is also about supporting the Baltimore community.

"Vendors, we cannot do this festival without you. It's extremely important that you come out and that we support our local and small businesses," said Dr. Reginald Moore, the director of the Baltimore Department of Recreation and Parks.

Mayor Scott highlighted a community 5K and 1-mile walk leading up to the music festival.

"It's the perfect way to get into the AFRAM spirit, and a little bit of AFRAM shape," Mayor Scott said. "So, you can get all the stuff you want to eat when you get to AFRAM."

As event organizers prepare for AFRAM 2025, they're also looking to 2026, which will be the 50th year of the festival.

This year's AFRAM performances

This year's AFRAM performers will include Vedo, Amerie, Saweetie, Teedra Moses, Juvenile, and Patti LaBelle.

LaBelle, "the Godmother of Soul," is an R&B icon, who is one of the 100 Greatest Singers, according to Rolling Stone Magazine.

"The diva, Auntie Pattie LaBelle, will be hitting the AFRAM stage this year," Mayor Scott said.

Juvenile, from New Orleans, was known for his work with the record label "Cash Money Millionaires." 

"AFRAM is a family event," Mayor Scott said. "So when the violins hit and Juvenile is on the stage, I want y'all to act accordingly."

Previous performers

In 2024, not only was the temperature blasting, but so was the entertainment.

With temperatures soaring over 100 degrees, thousands swarmed to Druid Hill Park to watch big-name headliners Busta Rhymes, Mya, Big Daddy Kane and funk rockers Morris Day and The Time.

Mayor Scott described the festivities as a success, stating, "It was an amazing weekend to celebrate Black culture on Juneteenth weekend."

In 2023, AFRAM was headlined by DJ Spinderella, along with Ty Dolla $ign, Kid Capri, and the Isley Brothers.