Get ready to paint the town with rainbows and good vibes because the Atlanta Pride Committee has just spilled the beans on the dates for the 2024 Atlanta Pride Festival. Drumroll, please! This year, the festivities are set to rock Piedmont Park on October 12-13, 2024. It’s time to mark those calendars and prepare for a weekend filled with love, unity, and an abundance of fabulousness!
Starting out in Piedmont Park back in 1970, the Atlanta Pride Festival has transformed into a massive celebration, drawing in more than 300,000 visitors each year. And let’s not forget the grand parade, claiming the title of the city’s largest! The annual extravaganza conveniently aligns with National Coming Out Day on October 11, and it’s all happening during LGBTQ+ History Month.
As Chris McCain, the ever-enthusiastic Executive Director, puts it, “The 2024 Atlanta Pride Festival, now in its 55th year, falls during a critical time for our state and country. Now more than ever, we must come together to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community’s unity and visibility. We are excited to continue growing our event, with a goal of offering something for everyone.”
In 2023, the Atlanta Pride parade and three community marches saw record attendance, proving that the love and support for the LGBTQ+ community in Atlanta continue to soar. The festival promises an array of delights, including a community marketplace, an artist market, a family fun zone, and the dazzling Starlight Cabaret, renowned as the nation’s largest outdoor drag event.
Crystal Stubbs, the Chair of the Atlanta Pride Committee’s Board of Directors, shared a heads up about a scheduling coincidence. “We recognize that the first day of this year’s festival will overlap with Yom Kippur, observed by our Jewish friends and community partners.” Due to the city’s permitting requirements, the festival dates couldn’t be adjusted. Fear not, though! The Atlanta Pride Committee is working closely with the Southern Jewish Resource Network for Gender and Sexual Diversity (SOJOURN) and other Jewish leaders to make sure everyone can celebrate Pride in their fullest and most authentic selves.
Rebecca Stapel-Wax, the Executive Director of SOJOURN, expressed her sentiments about the situation. “It’s unfortunate the first day of the festival will overlap with Yom Kippur. The Atlanta Pride Committee is actively engaging with us and other Jewish leaders to ensure inclusivity for our communities. Given our decades-long partnership, we know Atlanta Pride is committed to exploring all options for collaboration. SOJOURN looks forward to exciting programming in the upcoming months and during Pride.”
As the excitement builds up, Atlanta Pride encourages you to save the date and keep an eye on their social media channels for more juicy details as the festival approaches. Besides the annual festival, Atlanta Pride keeps the LGBTQ+ spirit alive all year round with its fantastic programming, aimed at advancing unity, visibility, and wellness in the region’s LGBTQ+ community.
Get ready for a weekend to remember, Atlanta! Atlanta Pride 2024 is about to paint the town with love, inclusivity, and a whole lot of glitter. See you there!