The City of Brookhaven announces that the 2025 Brookhaven International Festival will take place at its former location, 1801 Corporate Blvd., at the Peachtree Creek Greenway. Admission and parking are free.
Global beats take center stage
International sensations Proyecto Uno and Third World with special guest Kumar Fyah are the concert headliners for Brookhaven’s 3rd annual International Festival, taking place Saturday, Oct. 18, and Sunday, Oct. 19, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Headlining on Saturday, Oct. 18, Proyecto Uno, founded in New York by Nelson Zapata in 1989, is a Dominican-American award-winning group that blends merengue with dance, house, hip-hop, R&B, and tropical music. Their debut album Todo El Mundo in 1991 gained popularity with hits like “Brinca,” establishing their popularity in the U.S. and Latin America. In Da House earned Platinum status and the group received numerous awards, including Billboard and Emmy recognition. Pura Gozadera reaffirmed their popularity achieving Double Platinum, Triple Platinum, and Gold records throughout Latin America and Spain.
Celebrating 51 years, “Reggae Ambassadors” Third World is one of the longest-lived reggae bands of all time, and one of Jamaica’s most consistently popular crossover acts among international audiences. Mixing in elements of R&B, funk, pop, and rock and, later on, dancehall and rap, Third World’s style has been described as “reggae-fusion.” With nine Grammy nominations and a catalogue of charted smash hits (including “Now That We Found Love,” ”96 Degrees in the Shade,” and “Try Jah Love”) spanning over four decades, Third World’s hit songs have reached top 40 on the Billboard charts in the U.S., U.K., Europe, and Japan, and received a platinum award in Japan. In 1986, Third World received the United Nations Peace Medal for their contribution of music and their lyrical prose. Third World, headlining on Sunday, Oct. 19, will feature special guest Kumar Fyah.
Activities, art, and eats for all ages
In 2023, the inaugural festival was the City’s first major event along the Buford Highway Cultural Corridor. The Brookhaven International Festival will again feature a variety of live cultural performances and music, art installations, international cuisine, a Kidz Zone, and a global marketplace. Free parking will be available, and attendees are encouraged to bring water, chairs or blankets, and sunscreen and bug spray. A 5K walk/run benefiting We Love Buford Highway will take place Sunday, Oct. 19, at the Peachtree Creek Greenway, 1793 Briarwood Road.
“I invite everyone to come out for our third year and celebrate the many cultures that call Brookhaven home,” said Mayor Pro-Tem and District 4 Councilmember John Funny. “We are excited to announce that we will be able to return to last year’s wonderful location at Corporate Square since their redevelopment construction has not started. When the City started planning the festival, we were not sure of the redevelopment timeline. We are looking forward to another year of family friendly fun, great music and food, and an amazing global marketplace.”
Run for a cause, stay for the celebration
For the third year, a 5K benefitting We Love Buford Highway will kick off Sunday’s festival festivities. The 5K will again take place along the Peachtree Creek Greenway. We Love Buford Highway is a 501(C)3 non-profit whose mission is preserving the multicultural identity of the Buford Highway corridor.
“Now in its third year, we are profoundly honored and deeply grateful for the City of Brookhaven’s continued partnership and trust in us,” said Lily Pabian, Executive Director of We Love Buford Highway. “By naming us the beneficiary of this 5K, the city is not only celebrating the unique spirit of Buford Highway but also investing directly in our youth orchestra program, which nurtures the next generation through music and opportunity. Preserving this place takes vision, coalitions, and celebrations; this weekend is a shining example of what’s possible when a city leads with heart.”
The 5K is a qualifier for the AJC Peachtree Road Race and is a USATF-certified course. It takes place along the Peachtree Creek Greenway and adjacent parking lots, making it safe for runners and walkers of all ages and abilities.
For 5K registration and festival updates, visit www.BrookhavenGA.gov/intl-fest. Follow the City of Brookhaven on social media at @BrookhavenGAgov and @CiudadDeBrookhaven.
