It’s officially festival season! To kick off my favorite time of the year, I packed a bag and boarded a plane to attend Blavity Fest 2025— a two-day celebration of wealth, wellness, creativity, and music in the heart of Atlanta.
BrownStyle Magazine had the opportunity to attend Blavity Fest (May 31 – June 1), and I’m happy to report that we were greeted with good vibes and true Southern Hospitality. Not only was the event filled with great conversations with people like Marsai Martin and Keith Lee (he even snapped a photo with me), but we also enjoyed live music and entertainment.
Below are some of the highlights I loved about my experience and why I’d suggest you give it a try next year.
Live Performances By 2 Chainz And Kirk Franklin
You can’t have a festival without live performances to remember! I love how there was a balance for each genre of music that brought great vibes both Saturday and Sunday.
On Saturday, Atlanta’s own 2 Chainz rocked the crowd as he delivered his iconic hits!
The following day, attendees enjoyed Sunday service with gospel legend Kirk Franklin, who brought the house down with his uplifting set (despite having technical difficulties with the audio equipment). Not only did he still perform, but he even interacted with the crowd!
Empowering Sessions At Summit21
I loved the sessions at Summit21 because they offered a safe space dedicated to Black women seeking growth in wellness, entrepreneurship, and personal development. Each conversation felt like a safe space as the panelists opened up about a wide range of topics, including learning how to say no, becoming an entrepreneur, discussing financial literacy, learning how to navigate digital marketing for brand growth, and more.
Highlights included a fireside chat conducted by journalist Arielle Clay Poteau with Karen Civil about navigating social media and pivoting with purpose. Author Devi Brown encouraged us all to use our innate gifts to move with intention, Dr. Karri Bryant reminded us all to lead with impact, and Tiffany “The Budgetnista” Aliche broke down the importance of shifting your spending habits to grow wealth.
Innovative Dialogues At The Idea Exchange
The Idea Exchange stage left me with massive thoughts on policy-making, managing finances, and ideating.
We engaged with finance experts like Teri Ijeoma and Trell Thomas on building Black wealth, David Shands dropped gems on building a better business, and the Mayor of Atlanta, Andre Dickens, opened our eyes to how policies affect the Black community.
Shopping Black At ‘The Off The Shelves’ Marketplace
The festival’s marketplace showcased over 20 Black-owned businesses, offering everything from handmade jewelry to unique home goods. This space not only provided shopping opportunities but also celebrated Black entrepreneurship and creativity.
The following are the brands that caught my attention: LIVE TINTED, Reflektion Design, Ebony Notes, No Label Candle Company, PROBLK HEALTH VITAMINS, Focus & Frame Eyewear, nineOH7, Texture Crush, Pablo’s Pieces, Culturalvate, FAB FLY FANCY, Mommy Baby Tings, and Malkia.E Boutique.
There was also a Black Art Popup that displayed a gallery of colorful designs by artists. It was beautiful to see so many paintings that represented the beauty of our community.
Networking At The Creator Meet-Up
Lastly, I enjoyed the Creator Meet-Up. It provided a space for creators to connect with their peers and build relationships. Content creators discussed content creation strategies, and we even did the “She Was A Fairy” challenge for the Blavity House Party accounts. This was a great way to network and exchange information.
Overall, a time was had, and we look forward to next year. If you want to attend in 2026, be sure to visit blavity.com for more details.
