The 2025 Brookhaven Cherry Blossom Festival, a free, two-day music event that grows in attendance every year, will be more secure this year. thanks to dedicated funds from the city council.
The festival is being held on Saturday, March 29 and Sunday, March 30 at Blackburn Park, and the city expects more than the 60,000 people that attended in 2024. In light of the number of visitors to the city, Brookhaven Police Department has been allotted an additional $105,610 for security this year.
Outdoor festivals in Georgia have recently increased security after 14 people were killed in New Orleans, La., on New Year’s Eve when U.S. Army veteran Shamsud-Din Jabbar, 42, drove a rental truck into a crowd at a high speed.
“The Brookhaven Police Department is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of everyone attending this year’s Cherry Blossom Festival. In preparation for the event, we have implemented a comprehensive security plan that includes an increased number of uniformed officers throughout the festival grounds,” said Brookhaven Police Chief Brandon Gurley.
Gurley added that a heightened sense of situational awareness will guide all security operations, supported by elevated observation towers to enhance visibility and response capabilities. Increased numbers of police officers will be on foot and in patrol vehicles managing traffic flow, shuttle drop offs, and pedestrian safety.
“Access control measures and safety structures have been strategically placed to support secure entry and exit points, manage pedestrian flow, and help prevent unauthorized vehicular access,” Gurley said.
According to BPD, parking near Blackburn Park is restricted. Festival attendees are encouraged to ride MARTA to the Brookhaven/Oglethorpe stop and catch a free shuttles to the festival. Shuttles will run from 9:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Rideshares should drop off and pick up at Cambridge Square, 2036 Johnson Ferry Road, Brookhaven.
“These proactive measures reflect our continued commitment to public safety and our collaboration with our partners to provide a secure and enjoyable environment for all attendees,” Gurley said.
