safety
City shuts down free festival celebrating World Cup and Father’s Day, citing safety concerns
By Bryan Mims | WSB-TV at Rough Draft Atlanta (intown neighborhoods)
· June 22, 2026
· 1 min read
The organizer of a free festival designed for inner-city families to experience the excitement of the World Cup says her permit was abruptly revoked, with police showing up to turn vendors and attendees away.
Tomeka Holyfield said she spent eight weeks organizing and marketing World Legacy Fes...
Key takeaway Tomeka Holyfield said she spent eight weeks organizing and marketing World Legacy Fes...
Why this matters in The Atlanta
The shutdown of World Legacy Fest at Rodney Cook Park in Vine City raises questions about the city's support for community events in Atlanta 's inner-city neighborhoods. Organizer Tomeka Holyfield had planned a three-day festival to bring World Cup excitement to local families, complete with a soccer clinic and Father's Day celebration. The city's decision to revoke the permit, citing safety concerns and unpaid application fees, has left Holyfield and vendors with significant financial losses. This incident may deter other community organizers from hosting events in the city, particularly in neighborhoods like Vine City that could benefit from family-friendly gatherings. As the city prepares to host World Cup matches, it will be worth watching how officials balance safety concerns with support for community-led initiatives that aim to bring people together and promote a sense of community pride.
About this story
Original reporting by Rough Draft Atlanta (intown neighborhoods) . The Atlanta surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit Rough Draft Atlanta (intown neighborhoods) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: safety ·
Published: June 22, 2026 ·
Source: Rough Draft Atlanta (intown neighborhoods) ·
Reading time: 1 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? The organizer of a free festival designed for inner-city families to experience the excitement of the World Cup says her permit was abruptly revoked, with police showing up to turn vendors and attendees away.
Tomeka Holyfield said she spent eight weeks organizing and marketing World Legacy Fes...
When was this published? This article was first published on June 22, 2026 by Rough Draft Atlanta (intown neighborhoods) and curated for The Atlanta readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Bryan Mims | WSB-TV at Rough Draft Atlanta (intown neighborhoods). To learn more about how The Atlanta selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more safety coverage from The Atlanta, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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