Artscape, the largest free outdoor arts festival in America, came back to Baltimore this weekend after a three-year hiatus because of the COVID-19 shutdown and disagreements between city officials and the Baltimore Office of Promotion & the Arts over the direction of the festival.

Artscape used to be held in July but this year moved to the fall. While the heat didn’t come into play this year, weather still did thanks to Tropical Storm Ophelia. The storm caused the cancellation of Saturday events, leaving festival-goers with just Friday and Sunday to attend. And the crowds came, although BOPA doesn’t track of how many people attend.

This after much controversy over who would perform and rescheduling of the festival over the past few months — Ja Rule declined to perform, then Kelly Rowland dropped off the lineup — festival organizers finally scheduled DJ Pee Wee, the alter ego of Grammy Award-winning artist Anderson .Paak, to headline Friday night. .Paakperformed with other notable artists such as Nile Rodgers and Chic, Muni Long and Mighty Mark and Friends.

Spread out each year across the Bolton Hill and Mount Royal neighborhoods and Station North Arts & Entertainment District, the festival also featured an artist marketplace, a film festival, a music and beer garden and a kidscape and teenscape.

The Baltimore Banner thanks its sponsors. Become one.

Ben Stone take a photo of his daughterMargalit Stone, 2, in a light fixture outside of the Blinkatorium by Baltimore artist Scott Pennington at Artscape in Baltimore, MD on September 22, 2023. (Craig Hudson / The Baltimore Banner)
Ben Stone take a photo of his daughter, Margalit Stone, 2, in a light fixture outside of the Blinkatorium by Baltimore artist Scott Pennington at Artscape in Baltimore, MD on September 22, 2023. (Craig Hudson / The Baltimore Banner)
Attendees congregate along Charles Street. (Craig Hudson/For the Baltimore Banner)
Outside of the Blinkatorium by Baltimore artist Scott Pennington and performances by Fluid Movement at Artscape in Baltimore, MD on September 22, 2023. (Photo by Craig Hudson for The Baltimore Banner)
Artscape attendees check out the Blinkatorium by Baltimore artist Scott Pennington at Artscape in Baltimore, MD on September 22, 2023. (Craig Hudson / The Baltimore Banner) (Craig Hudson/For the Baltimore Banner)
Artscape attendees watch dancer Stephan McClellan of One Life Wonder perform on Friday. (Craig Hudson/For the Baltimore Banner)
Stephan McClellan of One Life Wonder performs at Artscape. (Craig Hudson for The Baltimore Banner)
Attendees visit the Black Burner Project exhibit by Erin Douglas. (Craig Hudson/For the Baltimore Banner)
Thousands of attendees watch as Anderson Paak performs during Artscape in Baltimore, MD on September 22, 2023. (Photo by Craig Hudson for The Baltimore Banner)
Thousands of attendees watch as Anderson .Paak performs. (Craig Hudson/For the Baltimore Banner)
Mighty Mark performs during Artscape. (Craig Hudson/For the Baltimore Banner)
Anderson Paak performs during Artscape in Baltimore, MD on September 22, 2023. (Photo by Craig Hudson for The Baltimore Banner)
Anderson .Paak performs during Artscape. (Craig Hudson/For the Baltimore Banner)
Thousands of attendees watch as Anderson Paak performs during Artscape in Baltimore, MD on September 22, 2023. (Photo by Craig Hudson for The Baltimore Banner)
Thousands of attendees watch the Anderson .Paak show. (Craig Hudson/For the Baltimore Banner)
The first Project Artscape, a fashion show, took place at Artscape on Sunday. Backstage was chaotic, with models getting hair and makeup done and designers putting the finishing touches on featured outfits. (Kaitlin Newman/The Baltimore Banner)
A model wearing designer Yele Oladeinde walks the catwalk at Artscape on September 24, 2023.
A model wearing designer Yelé Oladeinde walks the catwalk. (Kaitlin Newman/The Baltimore Banner)
Paola Rivera does makeup on Javon Roye. (Kaitlin Newman/The Baltimore Banner)
People take shelter from the rain to watch the first Project Artscape fashion show. (Kaitlin Newman/The Baltimore Banner)
Models dressed in Knwldg Couture line up backstage at Project Artscape. (Kaitlin Newman/The Baltimore Banner)
Despite the scattered rain showers, people came out in droves to Artscape on September 24, 2023.
Despite the scattered rain showers, people came out in droves. (Kaitlin Newman/The Baltimore Banner)
Nathan Corbett poses for a portrait. (Kaitlin Newman/The Baltimore Banner)
A crying baby on stilts stops to throw a temper tantrum at Artscape on September 24, 2023.
A crying baby on stilts stops to throw a temper tantrum at Artscape. (Kaitlin Newman/The Baltimore Banner)
Artist B.Lyte poses for a portrait. (Kaitlin Newman/The Baltimore Banner)
A puppy wearts a raincoat at Artscape. (Kaitlin Newman/The Baltimore Banner)
Einaton Amare cheers while the Greater Baltimore Church puts on a musicial performance and dance in the rain at Artscape on September 24, 2023.
Einaton Amare cheers while the Greater Baltimore Church puts on a musicial performance and dance in the rain. (Kaitlin Newman/The Baltimore Banner)

Kaitlin Newman

Kaitlin.Newman@thebaltimorebanner.com

Kaitlin Newman

Kaitlin Newman is a photojournalist specializing in multimedia coverage. Her main areas of focus are politics, conflict, feature and breaking news. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and a Master’s Degree in Professional Writing from Towson University, which is where she is also the professor of photojournalism.

More from Kaitlin Newman

Scenes from Black-Eyed Susan Day at Pimlico Race Course

The Herndon Climb: Naval Academy students end plebe life with a slick tradition

More From The Banner

Maryland hospitals took money from poor patients. Why haven’t they paid them back?

Joanna Meade reads aloud love letters from the 1920's in the sun room of her home on February 27, 2024. The letters were found inside of a wall during a renovation.

Secret in the walls: Hidden letters reveal love, lust, scandal in 1920s Baltimore society

Illustration shows black geometric fragments falling from the sky, partially obscuring the faint outline of Key Bridge central span. In the background a sunrise starts to illuminate the darkness.

Grieving my brother and the Key Bridge

Sheila Dixon, a ‘filthy’ street and residents who want politicians to put up or shut up