Elevate 2025: Art, Music, Fashion

The theme for ELEVATE 2025 is Rooted and Rising. Occurring all weekend long, the festival recognizes the rituals, spaces and stories of Black Atlanta. Here’s the schedule.

Friday at 5, 6, 8 , 9 and 10 p.m.

ELEVATE: Rooted and Rising kicks off with a full evening of art, culture and creativity. The night begins at The Carrie Steele Bridge with a Soul Fresh Sound Bowl session at 5 p.m., where attendees can stretch, breathe and recharge with healing crystal sounds guided by Ebony Black. Throughout the evening, the Creative & Cultivated Market brings together local vendors, live art activations and unique creations from Atlanta makers like ComfiArt, EveryThang Dope, Journey of a Black Girl, Nourish Botanica, The Narrative and Umi Say Candles.

DJ Rasyrious sets the soundtrack for the evening as the Runway Fresh Fashion Show showcases bold 2025 looks from local designers including EveryThang Dope, 8011, Abeille Creations, Wild Seed Butik and Selara Regalia. Spoken word artists Theresa Tha S.O.N.G.B.I.R.D. and Adán Bean bring lyrical magic, followed by Tiffany Goode & The Goode Stuff Experience, closing the night with a live blend of jazz, hip-hop, R&B, GO-GO and reggae.

Off the bridge, ZuCot Gallery invites attendees to explore the Castleberry Hill Art Stroll, while the Funky Fresh After Party at Smokey Stallion Bistro keeps the night alive.

5 p.m. — Soul Fresh Sound Bowl Experience at the Steele Bridge on Turner Drive. Creatives Market/Live Art/Zucot Gallery, Steele Bridge on Turner Drive

6 p.m. — DJ vibes and spoken word performance at the Steele Bridge on Turner Drive

8 p.m. — Runway Fresh Fashion Show at the Steele Bridge on Turner Drive

9 p.m.– Live music at the Steele Bridge on Turner Drive

10 p.m. — Funky Fresh After Party at Smokey Stallion BBQ

Saturday at 9:30 a.m., 9:45 a.m. , noon and 3 p.m.

Day Two of ELEVATE: Rooted and Rising brings fitness, fashion and culture to the heart of Atlanta, starting with a morning of wellness at Woodruff Park. Begin with a high-energy HIIT session led by Community RBG Experience, a collective rooted in Black liberation and wellness, followed by Yoga with Camrei and a soothing soundbath by Oyah. Enjoy live music and nourishing bites from Smooth N Groove to fuel your day.

The celebration continues at Underground Atlanta with The Culture Comb-Out Marketplace from 12–5 p.m.. Shop streetwear, vinyl, wellness and beauty products while connecting with local entrepreneurs, including City in the Woods, Chilly-O Co, Plant Lady Juice Co, R-Ki-Tekt and Legends Barber Shop. DJ Rock Most keeps the energy flowing as creativity meets commerce.

From 3–5 p.m., witness the Crown Classic Hair Showdown, a ’90s-inspired hair competition featuring seven of Atlanta’s top stylists. With judges Ricci de Forrest, Marlie Mahagony and Shara McHale, and hosted by Madam CJ, the showdown celebrates Atlanta hair culture as both history and art. The day concludes with a stroll inside Underground Atlanta to explore Mom Said It’s Fine’s Creative Estate Sale and a preview of the upcoming Immersive Open Studios exhibition running Oct. 11–Nov.15.

9:30 a.m. — RBG Workout Experience at Woodruff Park

9:45 a.m. — The Space Within — Soundscape Art Hosted by Atlanta Downtown at Woodruff Park

Noon — The Cornerstone Marketplace at Underground Atlanta

3 p.m. — Crown Classic Hair Showdown at Underground Atlanta

Sunday at noon, 1 p.m. 2 p.m. , 3 p.m., 4 p.m., 5 p.m. and 6 p.m.

Day Three of ELEVATE: Rooted and Rising takes you to Atlanta’s Westside for a celebration of creativity, culture, and connection. The day kicks off with the Westview Artist Market (12–5 p.m.), featuring vintage clothing, collectibles and art inspired by 1980s–2000s Atlanta culture. Enjoy live music, DJ D2T and a Beatmakers/Producers Open Mic hosted by Auxigen. Vendors include 8th House Archive, Audrey the Brand, Gods Archival, DJ Alt Noire, Chubs Vintage, Digital Flow3r, Paint A Sole and more.

Across the street at the Westview Makers Space, hands-on workshops run all afternoon. Learn the craft in a beginner-friendly Cobbling Class (12–1 p.m.), shape your own pottery in the Pottery Class (1–2 p.m.), move and groove with Capoeira (2–2:45 p.m.) and tap into collective rhythm during the History of Rhythm Drum Circle (3–5 p.m.).

Art lovers can explore Under Influenced: ’80s–2000s Atlanta, a pop-up gallery exhibition curated by Eugene Byrd (12–5 p.m.) with an artist Q&A at 2 p.m..

The evening moves to The Pearl Cleage & Zaron Burnett Center for Culture and Creativity (5–9p.m.) for thought-provoking programming. At 5:15 p.m., join a panel on Balancing Legacy and Cultural Preservation with a Futuristic Mindset, examining the history, evolution and future of the West End neighborhood. The night concludes with a screening of Live at Club Zebra, followed by a discussion with Pearl Cleage, Zaron Burnett and filmmakers David and Matthew Adeboye, moderated by Dr. N’Kosi Oates.

Noon — Artist + Makers Market at Westview Corner Grocery

Noon — DJ Set, Atlanta Classics at Westview Corner Grocery

Noon — Cobblng Class, 1562 Ralph David Abernathy Blvd .

1 p.m — Pottery Class, 1562 Ralph David Abernathy Blvd.

2 p.m. — Art Show & Talk, 1521 Ralph David Abernathy Blvd.

2 p.m. — Copoeira 101, 1562 Ralph David Abernathy Blvd.

3 p.m. — A History of Rhythm + Drum Circle, 1562 Ralph David Abernathy Blvd.

4 p.m. — Live Music Performance , 1521 Ralph David Abernathy Blvd.

5 p.m. — Panel — Balancing Legacy and Cultural Preservation with a Futuristic Mindset, 945 Ralph David Abernathy Blvd.

6 p.m. — Club Zebra Film Screening & Panel Discussion, 945 Ralph David Abernathy Blvd.

Insider tips

• Elevate is produced by the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs. Elevate was placed in the top 50 public art projects in the Nation through Americans for the Arts Public Art Network, as well as the top 10 projects for City Livability. 

Know before you go

What is the contact information of Elevate?

160 Trinity Ave,
Atlanta, Ga. 30303