In the Mix in '26 Aims to Bring Fun and Safety Together to Support Baltimore's Youth During the Summer for the Fourth Consecutive Year
BALTIMORE, MD (Wednesday, May 13, 2026) - Today, the Mayor's Office announced the administration's summer youth engagement strategy. This year's iteration, In the Mix in '26, will build on the City's approach from the previous three summers. It will combine City-sponsored events and programming expressly tailored for young people with non-traditional curfew engagement designed to promote community safety while minimizing unnecessary interaction with young people and law enforcement.
"As always, our goal this summer is to keep our young people safe, connected, and engaged by combining non-traditional curfew engagement with programming directly tailored to their interests," said Mayor Brandon M. Scott. "This summer, we'll be In the Mix in - '26 with even more opportunities for our young people to make the most out of their summer break and stay safe."
Through this combined effort last summer:
- 3,204 young people attended a Rec & Parks Summer Camp;
- Nearly 1,800 residents came out to Rock the Block community block parties;
- 1,313 young people attended at least one of the City's three Splash Fest teen pool parties;
- 8,604 YouthWorks job offers across nearly 700 participating employers;
- And ground-level outreach teams had 977 positive interactions with young people.
Programming Opportunities
The Mayor's Office, Downtown Locker Room (DTLR), and the Baltimore City Department of Recreation and Parks (Rec & Parks) are partnering to deliver a comprehensive set of summer programming opportunities specifically designed for young people to enjoy. Rec & Parks and Mayor's Office summer programming includes:
- Teen concerts;
- Community block parties hosted by the Mayor's Office of Community Affairs (MOCA);
- Teen Pool Parties at Druid Hill Park Pool on June 26th, July 3rd, July 24th, and August 7th;
- Rec & Parks' Rec on the Run mobile recreation unit;
- Baltimore Neighborhood Basketball League (BNBL), Midnight Basketball (ages 18+), B'More Night Hoops, and the Craig Cromwell League.
Additionally, the following recreation centers will be operating under extended hours until 11pm every Friday and Saturday night from June 26 to August 15 and feature programming tailored to teens and young adults ages 13-20:
- Cahill, 4001 Clifton Ave, Baltimore, MD 21216
- CC Jackson, 4910 Park Heights Ave, Baltimore, MD 21215
- Chick Webb, 1401 East Monument St, Baltimore, MD 21205
- Edgewood/Lyndhurst, 835 Allendale St, Baltimore, MD 21229
- Greenmount, 2304 Greenmount Ave, Baltimore MD 21218
- Middle Branch Fitness and Wellness Center, 201 Reedbird Ave, Baltimore MD 21225
- Rita Church, 2101 St. Lo Drive, Baltimore, MD 21213
Rec & Parks Summer Camp slots for 2026 are filling up quickly, but there is still time for residents to sign up at https://www.baltimorecity.gov/bcrp/summer-camp.
The Mayor's Office has stood up a central information hub at www.bmorethissummer.org where young people and families can learn about programming, wraparound services, and register for events. This site will be regularly updated with the latest information and serve as a single hub for all City-led summer efforts.
This increased emphasis on youth programming is already underway. Over 11,000 young people and 650 worksites have signed up to be a part of the City's annual YouthWorks program, over 1,500 young people came out to the City's Spring Break Teen Fest in April, and 400 youth participated in Spring Break Camp through Rec & Parks.
This summer, Baltimore City Public Schools will have 10,350 slots across district-run programs at over 19 school locations and externally led programs at 13 different school locations. More information is available at www.baltimorecityschools.org/o/bcps/page/summer.
As part of this effort, the Summer Funding Collaborative (SFC) is supporting more than 57 organizations with $4.9 million to strengthen partnerships with grassroots organizations and expand access to summer programming across Baltimore neighborhoods.
Youth Safety Engagement
On March 27, 2026, the Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (MONSE) began mobilizing community violence intervention and social work partners to conduct ground-level outreach where young people are likely to congregate, including after curfew hours. Both in the moment and over time, these proactive engagements have proven to be beneficial in making connections to services and preventing violence.
Community partners will continue to be active in areas where young people regularly congregate Friday and Saturday nights, as well as Sunday nights on holiday weekends, from now through the end of summer, marking the second year where the City has nearly doubled the 14-15 week activations of years past. Staff will build relationships with young people through proactive engagement, week-over-week, to de-escalate conflicts, prevent potential violence, and connect youth with services (like connections to jobs and other wraparound supports) as needed.
The City is leveraging B-360's Inner Harbor location as a Youth Connection Center for youth that need additional support or reconnection with a parent or guardian.
The following partners are being mobilized as part of this effort:
- The Mayor's Office of African American Male Engagement (MOAAME);
- Redesigning Minds;
- The P.E.A.C.E. Team;
- Baltimore City Schools Police;
- B-360.
So far this year, partners have documented 434 positive interactions with young people and connected 47 individuals with services ranging from employment to housing assistance.
Residents and visitors to Baltimore are reminded that anyone - regardless of age - engaging in criminal activity that jeopardizes the safety of our communities will be arrested and prosecuted under the law.
As a reminder, Baltimore City Code Article 19, § 34-3 states that no minor less than 14 years of age may remain in or about any public place or any establishment between the hours of 9 p.m. on any day and 6 a.m. of the following day; from and including 12:01 a.m. on the Friday preceding Memorial Day each year through 12 midnight of the last Sunday of August each year, no minor at least 14, but less than 17, years of age may remain in or about any public place or any establishment between the hours of 11 p.m. on any day and 6 a.m. of the following day; and for the remainder of the calendar year, no minor at least 14, but less than 17, years of age may remain in or about any public place or any establishment:
- Between the hours of 11 p.m. on a Friday and 6:00 a.m. of the following Saturday;
- Between the hours of 11 p.m. on a Saturday and 6:00 a.m. of the following Sunday; or
- Between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. of the following day, on any other day of the week.
Minors accompanied by a parent, engaged in employment, emergencies, First Amendment activities, or attending supervised events are exempt. However, minors should head home immediately after participating in any exempt activities.
