BALTIMORE — Baltimore is bringing that uptown funk to Pimlico for this year’s Preakness 148 celebration.
Superstar R&B performer and Grammy-winning artist Bruno Mars will headline Preakness Live on May 20 in a concert set to take place immediately following the day’s races.
It will be a return appearance for Mars, who first headlined Preakness in 2011.
The inaugural Preakness Live event in 2022 took place on the Friday prior to the signature horse race. However, this year the entertainment, arts and culture festival will take over the Infield Fest on the same day as the Preakness Stakes, according to a news release from Baltimore 1/ST and The Stronach Group on Wednesday.
The stage for the performance is also being relocated from the center of the infield to “provide an unparalleled view of one of the most exciting moments in horse racing — the view of the final stretch,” according to the news release.
The “re-imagined” infield layout will also include a sportsbook.
Organizers, including Baltimore native and Morgan State University graduate Kevin Liles, said Preakness Live will start at 10:30 a.m. and will offer a full day of entertainment with performances by Grammy-nominated duo Sofi Tukker, DJ Chantel Jeffries and Martin 2 Smooves plus many others.
Liles, chairman and CEO of 300 Elektra Entertainment, was instrumental in last year’s event lineup that included Megan Thee Stallion.
Tickets for Preakness Live are on sale now and start at $59 for general admission.
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