10th Annual POLOxJAZZ Brings Elegance, Excellence, and Purpose to Baltimore’s Waterfront

BALTIMORE — On a summer Saturday at West Covington Park along the Baltimore Peninsula waterfront, the city’s cultural scene was on full display. The 10th Annual Celebrity POLOxJAZZ — Grandiosity Events’ marquee charity experience — descended on South Baltimore with the kind of style, substance, and community spirit that has made it one of the region’s most anticipated events of the year.

What began a decade ago as a bold vision to merge luxury entertainment with meaningful giving has grown into a signature fixture on Baltimore’s cultural calendar. Saturday’s milestone celebration was no exception, drawing civic leaders, entrepreneurs, influencers, and community changemakers for a full day of professional polo, live jazz, curated cuisine, and purpose-driven philanthropy.

A Decade in the Making

Over the past decade, POLOxJAZZ has blended high society with high impact — and the woman behind it all has been Susan Smallwood, founder and CEO of Grandiosity Events. Susan created POLOxJAZZ to merge high-end experiences with meaningful impact, building the event into a platform that highlights Black excellence across industries — from equestrian sports to music and entrepreneurship — while maintaining a strong philanthropic mission.

Smallwood also made history as the first woman of color to own a premium caviar brand, La Grande Caviar, and through POLOxJAZZ became the first woman of color to build a powerful platform combining style and excellence, Black equestrian polo players, live jazz, and charitable giving.

Saturday’s event was hosted by acclaimed actor Clifton Powell, adding marquee star power to an already stacked afternoon.

On the Field and On the Stage

The event ran from noon to 9 p.m., beginning with red carpet arrivals and culminating in an evening after-party. Highlights included a national anthem performance, an afternoon polo match, and a trophy presentation recognizing excellence on and off the field.

The polo action featured an all-Black equestrian roster that has become one of the event’s most compelling draws. After the final chukker, the grounds transformed into an open-air social scene, with DJ Tanz keeping the energy alive through the evening hours.

Live jazz performances and luxury vendor activations filled the spaces in between, giving guests every reason to linger along the waterfront well into the night.

Giving Back at the Center of It All

The celebration’s philanthropic mission remained front and center. Proceeds from this year’s event benefited two key educational initiatives: the Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. East Coast Chapter, which preserves the legacy of pioneering African American military aviators while inspiring youth through education and aviation pathways, and the Alpha Phi Alpha Brigadier General Charles McGee Youth STEM Scholarship, providing financial assistance to underrepresented students pursuing STEM degrees at historically Black colleges and universities.

Special guests included Jerome Hodge, the largest African American owner of aircraft maintenance operations in the United States, flying in from West Palm Beach, as well as Nicole Cummings, a Project Manager for the Artemis Rocket Engine program. Their presence underscored the event’s deeper message: that excellence in the air — like excellence on the polo field — is something worth celebrating and investing in.

A Stage for Black Excellence

Sponsors for the 10th anniversary included The Law Offices of Duane O. King, PC; K&I Healthcare Services; World Famous Arturo Fuente Cigars, returning for a third year with a check presentation; Washington Exotics; aDigital Solutions; La Grande Caviar Bar; and additional regional supporters committed to excellence and community impact.

As POLOxJAZZ enters its second decade, organizers say the focus remains clear: creating unforgettable experiences while investing in the next generation. For Baltimore, that means a waterfront afternoon where the boundaries between culture, community, and commerce blur in the best possible way.

Ten years in, POLOxJAZZ isn’t just an event. It’s a statement — and Baltimore showed up to make it loud.