ATLANTA — Organizers of ONE Musicfest announced a major change just 24 days ahead of the festival’s kickoff. The two-day music festival, which was originally slated to be held at Piedmont Park, will now take place at Central Park in Atlanta.
In a statement shared Wednesday on social media, ONE Musicfest cited “challenging logistics and economics” facing the festival industry as the reasons for the sudden shift but did not specify why the event will no longer be held at Piedmont Park.
The announcement has raised questions since the historic park in the heart of Midtown Atlanta has been a hub for major events, including Music Midtown, Atlanta Pride, and ONE Musicfest in 2023. With so many back-to-back festivals, the wear and tear on the grounds have been a point of contention for some local residents.
In 2023, the Piedmont Park Conservancy told 11Alive that it was monitoring the “festival footprint” in the park following ONE Musicfest’s debut at the location, which saw roughly 40,000 attendees. Heavy rains during Music Midtown left parts of the park muddy and in need of repair, sparking concerns about the park’s sustainability as a major festival venue. Event organizers, including ONE Musicfest’s founder J. Carter, said they had accounted for rehabilitation costs in their budgets.
“We definitely plan to beautify the park, make it look a little bit better than we received it,” Carter told 11Alive in 2023.
It’s unclear if these previous concerns played a role in this year’s change of venue. The festival's statement focused on its mission to provide quality experiences and maintain its role as an independently owned Black festival.
“By moving to Central Park, we can continue to deliver the activations and experiences you love, without compromising on quality,” the statement read. “We’re committed to making the best choices for our music-loving community and keeping ONE MUSICFEST strong.”
Full Lineup for ONE Musicfest 2024
The festival will still take place on October 26-27, and the lineup remains unchanged, featuring big names from across genres. Here's a breakdown of the weekend's performers:
Saturday, October 26:
- Cardi B
- Earth, Wind & Fire
- Nelly
- Fantasia
- Ari Lennox
- Method Man & Redman
- Young Nudy
- Larry June
- BigXThaPlug
- Fridayy
- Tanner Adell
- Destin Conrad
- Akeem Ali
- Jai’Len Josey
- Kenya Vaun
- Greg Street OMF Anthems, featuring: Young Dro, Rich Boy, Crime Mob, YoungBloodZ, Travis Porter, Trillville, Eastside Boyz, Kwonky Cash, Mykko Montana, and more surprise guests.
Sunday, October 27:
- Gunna
- Jill Scott
- Victoria Monét
- GloRilla
- Keyshia Cole
- Sexyy Red
- *DJ Drama & Friends Featuring:* DaBaby, Jeremih, Fat Joe, and other special guests.
- Dru Hill
- Bossman Dlow
- Plies
- Saucy Santana
- Leon Thomas
- Elmineine
- Little Brother
- Koryn Hawthorne
- Dajah Dorn
- *DJ Mars Block Party Featuring:* T.I., Keri Hilson, Lloyd, F.L.Y., Trap Beckham, Will Traxx, and more.
The move comes as a surprise, especially given that organizers have just a few weeks to finalize logistics for the new location. Central Park is a smaller venue compared to Piedmont Park, and it remains to be seen how it will handle the anticipated crowds.
