Baltimore’s beloved Artscape kicks off this Memorial Day weekend with major changes, including the dates, location and organizer.

Founded in 1982, the arts festival is now part of Mayor Brandon Scott’s “Downtown Rise Initiative” and is moving into the heart of downtown Baltimore from farther north. Here’s what to know about this year’s iteration, which takes place Saturday and Sunday.

Location: The festival moves this year from its longtime footprint along Mount Royal Avenue and Charles Street to the middle of downtown. The festival’s main stage is now outside City Hall, with an art fair inside the Baltimore War Memorial. Other parts of the festival will be located underneath the Jones Falls Expressway, where the Baltimore Farmers’ Market typically resides. The highway’s underpass will provide coverage from potential inclement weather, but the market will be closed Sunday.

Dates: The festival moved to May after traditionally being held in July. Many past Artscapes have been plagued by inclement weather.

Weather: The National Weather Service predicts both days to be mostly sunny with temperature highs in the 70s and lows in the 50s. There will be several designated indoor shelters and emergency procedures in case of thunderstorms or other inclement weather. On-site emergency response teams will be available.

Cost: Artscape remains a free, open-to-the-public festival. However, some premium events require tickets for a fee.

Headliners: On Saturday, hip-hop duo Little Brother, R&B singer-songwriter Tweet and American Idol winner Fantasia will headline. Country music singer-songwriter Tanner Adell and award-winning performer Robin Thicke take the stage Sunday.

What’s new? There are several new additions to this year’s Artscape. Scout Art Fair is a fine art experience curated by Baltimore artist Derrick Adams and taking place at the War Memorial Building. Scalable Festival Tracks will include talks and experiences about film and TV, music and the culinary arts. There will also be large-scale public art and greenspace activations but fewer vendors, with the goal of adding “a refined selection” of merchandise, food and beverage, according to Artscape’s organizers.

Other activities: The Sondheim Semifinalists Exhibition will feature 21 semifinalists for the Janet & Walter Sondheim Art Prize. Kidscape will have live performances and interactive storytelling for children. The Flavor Lab will host chefs and food innovators to provide an “immersive dining experience,” according to organizers. Beyond the Reel is a new program with film screenings and panel discussions. Artscape After Dark will have live performances, DJ sets and other late-night attractions.

Traffic: There will be numerous road closures and parking restrictions over the weekend, especially along East Fayette, North Gay, Holiday, Baltimore, Pleasant, Lexington and Saratoga streets, according to the Department of Transportation. Motorists traveling in these vicinities should be on the watch for changing traffic patterns and are encouraged to use alternate routes away from the footprint of the event to avoid delays. Vehicles parked in violation will be ticketed and towed. Anyone with questions concerning the location of their vehicles should call 311.

Public transportation: The Charm City Circulator’s Green Route will be modified for Artscape. Detours and temporary stop closures will be in effect from 2 p.m. on Friday through 12 a.m. on Monday.

Port Discovery: During Artscape, Port Discovery Children’s Museum is offering a discounted admission of $10.

Funding: Artscape is funded through city money, private sponsorships, grant funding and in-kind support.

Who’s in charge? The city terminated its contract this year with the quasi-governmental agency Baltimore Office of Promotion & the Arts, which previously hosted the event, due to “financial instability.” This year, the new Mayor’s Office of Arts, Culture, and Entertainment is taking over.

Have a news tip? Contact Todd Karpovich at tkarpovich@baltsun.com or on X as @ToddKarpovich.