AFRAM’s 50th Anniversary kicks off in Baltimore’s Druid Hill Park

By DaQuan Lawrence, Ph.D. 
AFRO International Writer
DLawrence@afro.com 

Good vibes, music and food were all highlights of AFRAM’s opening day on June 19. The historic celebration of African-American history, culture and unity is now in its 50th year—meaning nothing was spared in making the event one for the record books.

Black Baltimoreans and visitors from near and far poured into the 745-acre Druid Hill Park on Juneteenth to not only recognize the holiday but also five decades of Black joy, resilience and creativity. 

The space began to fill with every shade of brown imaginable even before the 3 p.m. kickoff on Day One of the festival. 

Crowds flowed through the rows of vendors and food trucks, as some made their way down Community Row and others moved to stake out a spot in front of the main stage.

Attendees enjoyed the shade of trees, or made their own respite from the sun’s rays with tents of every size and umbrellas as they relaxed in lawn chairs and on blankets.

Mecca Verdell told the AFRO that she felt compelled to attend the festival despite the heat.

“The ancestors pulled me out of bed … so I could be out here with my people,” she said. “When I learned that so many families were coming to celebrate their family reunions here from different cities it made me feel seen because I moved here at 12 and this place really is home and has created so many families for me, so I had to come out here to see who I could find.”

Many on social media and in person said what they found at AFRAM on Day 1 was not only family and friends but good food, wholesome vibes and stellar entertainment.

“AFRAM 50 Day 1 is in the books,” Mayor Brandon M. Scott declared on social media. “Baltimore y’all showed out for Baltimore Day!”

The mayor’s exuberance was echoed by many who attended the event. The day’s entertainment included a tribute to Baltimore House music, and performances by artists such as Ultra Naté, Lil’ Mo and Mario.

Eliza Browder, a Washington, D.C., resident and an alumna of Morgan State University in Baltimore, said she enjoyed “everything” about her first AFRAM experience, particularly Lil Mo’s performance.

“I think it’s beautiful and Baltimore is a beautiful city. It’s been great food and people,” she told the AFRO. “I always have a great time here in Baltimore and I am happy to be here.” 

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said he first attended AFRAM when he was a teen and has been to many more since.

“I’ve always found this festival to be a place of love and support, and Baltimore has always represented that for me,” Moore told the AFRO. 

He also likened the three-day festival to a family reunion for Baltimoreans and those from the Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia area. 

“This is a celebration of us, our culture, music and excellence. When you have an opportunity to come out here and have a big family reunion for people to gather, dance, smile and have joy, it’s exactly what our community needs and deserves,” Moore said.

Pointing to the teeming park of engaged attendees who were singing along as Baltimore native DJ QuickSilva curated music in between performances, the governor highlighted the audience’s enthusiasm. 

“People haven’t stopped singing. This whole crowd was rocking the Baltimore House music and now they’re singing gospel. That’s another testament to our heritage,” Moore said.

Linzy Jackson, director of the Mayor’s Office of Arts, Culture and Entertainment and a central organizer of the AFRAM Festival, also considers AFRAM as an annual family reunion. 

“This is Baltimore City’s version of a large family reunion,” he told the AFRO. “We look forward to this event every year. So far, the weather’s cooperating and we expect a great weekend.”

By all accounts, the first day of the festivities was peaceful and safe.

Joe Henderson, the director of the Baltimore City Office of Emergency Management (OEM), said a lot of efforts went into securing the safety of over 100,000 attendees.

“For public safety, we take any large event in the city of Baltimore seriously. We have a large contingency of Baltimore police, both plain clothes and folks that you wouldn’t know, and that’s by design,” Henderson said. 

Henderson also shared that the festival security also involved two security firms, the Baltimore City Fire Department and Emergency Medical Service personnel providing EMS service. 

Originally launched in 1976, AFRAM is one of the oldest, local festivals that recognize African American culture on the East Coast. This year’s 50th anniversary celebration aptly began on Juneteenth, the national holiday that commemorates the liberation of African Americans after the abolition of slavery in the 19^th century. 

During the three-day festival, attendees can expect to participate in several activities that recognize the heritage and history of African Americans and the African diaspora. 

“Juneteenth for me is both a celebration and a reminder. It’s an acknowledgment of the fact that today is Liberation Day, and people claimed freedom,” Moore said. 

“The truth is that claim wasn’t fully accurate because we had liberation, but freedom is different from liberation. Freedom is the ability to be able to move safely in your own skin and the ability to own more than you owe,” the governor continued. “Freedom is the capability to know that you are equal to anyone else in this country. Juneteenth is a celebration of liberation, yet it’s a continued reminder that freedom still must be fought for.”

Considering the state of the nation and the attack on all things Black, a festival celebrating Black culture such as AFRAM is necessary in 2026, Moore added.

“That’s exactly why it’s crucial, because right now we must understand our power. We must understand the fight that had to happen for us to be here, and how people had to sacrifice,” Moore said. 

“Right now, I’m not going to let anybody, even if it’s the President of the United States, try to dim my light, try to tell me my worth, try to tell me where I belong,” Moore continued. “We all have to stand in our strength, knowing that there are people who fought hard in order for us to have the opportunities we have, and I refuse to let anyone try to take that away from us.”

AFRO Managing Editor Alexis Taylor and AFRO intern Makayla Walker contributed to this article.

The post AFRAM’s 50th Anniversary kicks off in Baltimore’s Druid Hill Park appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.