Atlanta's ELEVATE Festival Celebrates Cultural Legacy with "Rooted & Rising" Theme

From October 10 to 12, 2025, Atlanta's neighborhoods transformed into vibrant canvases of artistic expression during the ELEVATE Festival. This year's theme, "Rooted & Rising," paid homage to the city's cultural evolution from the late 1980s through the early 2000s, highlighting the traditions and stories that have shaped Atlanta's global influence.

The festival, produced by the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs, featured a diverse array of activities—including spoken word performances, DJ-curated music, fashion and hair shows, artist markets, and health markets—across districts like the West End, Sweet Auburn, Castleberry Hill, and South Downtown. With contributions from approximately 50 to 60 artists, ELEVATE 2025 not only celebrated Atlanta's rich heritage but also fostered community conversations about neighborhood changes and cultural preservation.

The ELEVATE Festival is orchestrated by the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs (OCA). Established in 1974, the OCA's mission is to create and promote diverse cultural experiences that enhance the quality of life in Atlanta and expand the city's international reputation. The office manages various programs, including Arts in Education, Municipal Support for the Arts, Performing Arts, and Public Art.

In 2024, Adriane V. Jefferson succeeded Camille Russell Love as the Executive Director of the OCA. Jefferson has been instrumental in steering the office's initiatives, emphasizing the importance of bringing art to the streets and fostering community conversations about neighborhood changes.

The "Rooted & Rising" theme served as both a tribute and a call to action. By revisiting the late '80s through early 2000s—a pivotal era that shaped Atlanta's global cultural influence—the festival aimed to:

• Celebrate Cultural Heritage: Recognize and honor the traditions, spaces, and stories that built Atlanta's unique cultural identity.

• Foster Community Dialogue: Encourage conversations about neighborhood changes, cultural preservation, and the balance between honoring the past and embracing future evolution.

• Promote Health Equity: By integrating health markets and wellness activities, the festival underscored the connection between cultural preservation and community well-being.

Adriane V. Jefferson emphasized the festival's mission, stating, "The stage is literally the streets. The stage can literally be block parties. The stage can happen anywhere."

Since its inception, the ELEVATE Festival has been recognized as one of the top 50 public art projects in the United States by Americans for the Arts Public Art Network. Each year, the festival adopts a unique theme that resonates with the city's cultural and social dynamics. The 2025 edition's focus on the late '80s to early 2000s marked a significant reflection on a transformative period in Atlanta's history.

By delving into these themes, the article will capture the multifaceted impact of the ELEVATE Festival and its significance in Atlanta's cultural narrative.