The NY/NJ Global Peace Festival was held in the Manhattan Center in New York City and was attended by 1400 people. In a "prelude" program, performances by the International Day of Peace Vigil Ensemble, the youth rock group, "Buffalo Eskimo", and the Tinkus-Bolivian Folk Dance brought the enthusiastic crowd to their feet in applause. After the stirring singing of the National Anthem by U.S. Marine Corps Sergeant Elizabeth Quinones, welcoming remarks were made by the Executive Director of GPF-USA, Rev. Paul Murray. Moving prayers were then offered by representatives of the three "Abrahamic" faiths- Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

On the Saturday, October 18, a diverse mix of around 50 Global Peace Festival youth joined a group of about 200 volunteers in a school renovation project. The project was at an elementary school on Chicago’s Southside that was being completely renovated, and the principal had formed a team of the school's kids to oversee the service projects on that day. The service project itself was overseen by Points of Light Institute Action Center Chicago Cares.

The Global Peace Festival on October 9 in Los Angeles capped a 21-day focus on peace events that included the annual ringing of the United Nations Peace Bell at Maguire Gardens in Central Los Angeles, an International Day of Peace Speech and Drawing Contest, Prayers for Peace at the Pasadena City College Campus, “Pinwheels for Peace” at the Monrovia Coffee Company, “Kites for Peace” by the Brahma-Kumari sisters, a tree planting at the Malibu Canyon Peace Center, a Women’s Federation for World Peace event supporting African schools, a “Clean Slate” presentation for inner peace among inner-city youth, and a kaleidoscope of other significant and colorful events designed to promote a culture of peace.

An Atlanta lawyer who attended the Global Peace Festival August 9 in Washington, DC, returned home to organize service activities to bring together local young people for the sake of peace. As a federal attorney and founder of the mentoring group “Brother to Brother,” Sheila Arnum had seen the effect that divisions in society have on young people, and the Global Peace Festival gave her new hope.

In preparation for the October 7 Global Peace Festival in Atlanta, Mrs. Arnum organized weekly opportunities for young people to make friends with people they would not ordinarily meet and experience the joy of doing good for others. The Saturday before the festival, 400 people young and old alike came together to clean Washington Park in Atlanta, working harmoniously as a sea of blue “Global Peace Festival” T-shirts.