Chris McCain (right) with Malik Brown, the Director of the Mayor's Division of LGBTQ Affairs. / Photo courtesy of Atlanta Pride

Happy Pride, Atlanta! Whether this is your first Atlanta Pride festival or you’ve celebrated with us for decades, we welcome and celebrate YOU.

For more than 50 years, Atlanta Pride has been a cornerstone of Atlanta’s LGBTQ community. What began in 1970 as a small gathering in Piedmont Park has grown into the largest Pride festival in the Southeast. It’s also the largest free Pride festival in the country — which is only possible thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, supporters, and the dedication of hundreds of volunteers who give their time this weekend and throughout the year.

The theme of the 2024 Atlanta Pride Festival is “United With Pride” — a simple, yet powerful message for our community. Throughout its history, Atlanta Pride has stood as a beacon of unity, creating space for our community to unite for justice and equality. Especially this year — a year in which LGBTQ people in Georgia and across the country have faced attacks on our rights and ability to live freely and openly as our true selves — we must come together and ensure that our collective voice is heard. If you haven’t done so already, make your plan to vote in November’s election. This year is pivotal for our community and our country.

During the Atlanta Pride Festival, we expect more than 350,000 people to make their way to Piedmont Park to enjoy exciting entertainment on our two stages, explore the hundreds of vendors in our marketplace, and experience the diverse community that comes together. Atlanta Pride truly has something for everyone!

Among the many incredible things happening during this year’s festival, I want to highlight a few that you won’t want to miss. From Ava Max headlining the Coca-Cola Main Stage on Saturday night to the country’s largest outdoor drag show, Starlight Cabaret, closing out our festival on Sunday, we have a fabulous and diverse lineup of entertainers. A new addition this year is our Sunday afternoon tea dance, “A Chaka Moment … in the Park,” hosted by the phenomenal DJ Ree De La Vega. Be sure to stick around after the parade and enjoy great music and even better vibes!

Within the festival, we’re also excited to present two exhibits showcasing our community’s history in partnership with Georgia State University and Emory University. On Oak Hill, we’re proud to display 20 panels of the AIDS Memorial Quilt, a moving and emotional tribute to those lost to AIDS. Through these exhibits, we encourage you to learn more about and reflect on some of the incredible people and moments that have shaped our community.

Families will enjoy our Family Fun Zone, which has been moved to the heart of Piedmont Park near the playground. Throughout the weekend, we’ll have a plethora of fun activities for children and youth, including face painting and mask making, book readings with Drag Story Hour, and much more. Nearby, check out our Artist Market, featuring 20 local artisans and craftspeople displaying their talents and imagination.

Along with planning this year’s festival, 2024 has been a year of reflection and growth for our organization. Over the past nine months, our team has been engaged in a strategic planning process, which has included input and participation from across our large and diverse community. We will be announcing our new strategic plan in the coming weeks, and I couldn’t be more excited to share it with you.

As we gather this weekend, let us remember that Atlanta Pride is more than just a two-day event — it is the embodiment of our community’s resilience, love, and courage. By gathering in the heart of our city, we honor our rich history as we work toward a better future where all of us can thrive as our true and fullest selves. This year, and every year, may we be United With Pride.