Atlanta Beltline Art will present ATL Park Jam, a one-day celebration of Atlanta’ unique influence on hip hop, on Oct. 13 from noon to 7 p.m. at Adair Park II.
“Through locally curated activations and storytelling, ATL Park Jam showcases, empowers, and honors local artists, legends and community during this free and public event in the beautiful neighborhood of Adair Park,” said RAPPORT event creator and curator Alex Acosta. “Central to the ethos of hip hop culture is creating joyful and uplifting experiences using dance, music and art for the community. ATL Park Jam proudly continues this tradition and centers the artists and legends who put on for the city.”
This year marks the second installment of the showcase, which debuted in 2023 around the global celebration of the 50th anniversary of hip hop. Now officially an annual event of the Atlanta Beltline Art exhibition season, this year’s event will include the return of audience favorites like the open skate session, live sets by legendary Atlanta DJs, and the crowd-favorite freestyle rap session with Soul Food Cypher together with an HBCU-style drumline.
“As an Atlanta native, I am proud of our city’s unique hip hop tradition which stands at the intersection of culture, innovation and influence. Out of this pride, we launched ‘ATL Park Jam’ in 2023 to celebrate Atlanta’s contribution to the culture during the nationwide commemoration of hip hop’s 50th anniversary,” Acosta said. ‘This year, we saw the culture reach another global and historic milestone with the inclusion of breaking during the 2024 Olympic Games. Nearly 30 years after Atlanta hosted the centennial games in 1996, the soul and influence of our culture and city is still felt on a global stage. But important questions arise: Are the artist and community truly seen? Are their stories and experiences heard or known? With the continued support from Atlanta Beltline Art, ‘ATL Park Jam’ returns this October to ensure the world knows what the South is saying.”
Free fitness programming, sponsored by the Beltline, will be a new addition to the day’s line-up, including Trap Yoga and kid friendly programming by The Happy Black Parent. Also new is the addition of a 3-on-3 basketball tournament curated by AEBL and Jahi Rawlings and ‘The Battle for Atlanta: ITP vs OTP’ Street Dance Battle curated by King Quic.
Emcee Mike Sick will also return as the host for the family-friendly event. Attendees are encouraged to bring their blankets and chairs and spend the day at the park, enjoying food trucks, a local vendor market and sponsored brand activations alongside the event programming.
More information, including the full schedule of events, can be found at atlparkjam.com.
