Georgia Pride Guide: The Biggest LGBTQ+ Events in the State

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Pride events in Georgia are colorful celebrations of love and equality celebrating the LGBTQ+ community’s rich traditions. Check out our breakdown of Pride events happening throughout the year in the Peach State with our complete guide to Georgia LGBTQ+ Pride.

June

Columbus

Pride month kicks off with Colgay Pride hosting the Columbus LGBTQ+ Pride Festival, and there are many other activities happening throughout the day. The day ends with the exciting Pride Parade, which is always a lot of fun. Several thousand people flock to the city to be part of this annual celebration of the community.

One of the highlights of this two-day event is the Columbus Georgia Pride Pageant on Friday night where contestants compete in talent and evening gown wear competitions for cash and other prizes, and to be crowned Mr/Ms/Mx Columbus Georgia Pride.

Avondale Estates

The Annual Pride Glow Party is a bringing together of the LGBTQ+ community and its supporters in a celebration of acceptance and togetherness. This event takes place in Avondale Estates, and it’s a significant occasion for the local LGBTQ+ community.

Attendees dress up in neon colors, glitter, and anything that glows, symbolizing resilience and unity. The event offers a mix of entertainment, including DJ performances and local drag shows. This party is a heartfelt display of love, unity, and visibility.

Smyrna

Smyrna Is Fabulous is the host for the Pride Festival in Smyrna featuring a DJ, kids activities, food, and vendors at this family-friendly celebration.

Lindmoor Woods

Lindmoor Woods Civic Association hosts Lindmoor Woods Pride, an event featuring food trucks, live entertainment, an Artist’s Market, games, and a prize for the best dressed attendee.

September

Athens

Athens Pride + Queer Collective (APQC) hosts the annual Athens Pridefest at Terrapin Beer Co. in Athens, culminating a week-long Pride Celebration. The Festival features more than 60 vendors, along with food trucks, entertainment, and drag show performances.

Throughout the week, other events are showcased including Queer Prom, a masquerade-themed dance party where community members can relive a memorable prom experience they may not have had. There’s also Queer Trivia, hosted by a local trivia master well-versed in Queer entertainment, history, music, and politics, with participants competing for prizes.

And for those looking to de-stress, Rainbow Flow Yoga offers an inclusive and diverse yoga experience held outdoors, fostering mindfulness and LGBTQ+ inclusivity, and inviting practitioners of all levels to connect and explore well-being. Admission to these events is free. Donations are welcomed and accepted.

Tybee Island

Tybee Equality Fest is an annual beachside celebration that marks a stylish end to the summer season. The event typically begins with a Casual White Party and T Dance on Friday, followed by a special drag show, adding a touch of glamor to the festivities. The main event, the Parade, takes place on Saturday, starting at 6th Street and ending at the Pier. Following the parade, there’s a DJ, live performances, and a vendor village at the Tybee Post Theatre. The festivities conclude on Sunday with a Drag Brunch.

Carrollton

Carrollton hosts the community-centered celebration at the Carrollton Pride Festival! This event is all about celebrating LGBTQIA+ lives and offering opportunities for education, networking, and fun. It takes place at the Carroll County Agricultural Center, where you’ll find talented artists, delicious food trucks, a bustling community market with over 60 local merchandise vendors, advocacy groups, and health services providers. There are also engaging performances, enlightening speakers, and informative breakout sessions. It’s a festival that welcomes everyone in the community.

October

Atlanta

Atlanta Pride is a weekend-long celebration of events starting with the Pride Kickoff party on Friday night followed by Pride Shabbat at The Dock at Piedmont Park. At midnight, the LGBTQ+ community, along with their friends and allies meet in the Family Fun Zone of Piedmont Park for Drag Story Hour’s “Show Up & Show Out,” with a drag performer hosting a lighthearted reading session, complete with stories and face painting.

The Atlanta Pride Festival stands as the Southeast’s largest gathering of LGBTQ+ individuals and their allies. The two-day Festival encompasses music, merchandise, art, and food. The Marketplace houses numerous vendors offering over 250 booths filled with supporting organizations and companies.

Saturday features the annual Trans March advocating for the visibility of the Trans community, followed by the Bi & Pan March celebrating these two communities, and the Dyke March, dedicated to the empowerment of women. The Pride Parade on Sunday is not only THE biggest event of Pride, but is the highlight of the festival, drawing nearly 100,000 people lining the streets of the parade route.

Savannah

The Savannah Pride Festival, sponsored by Savannah Pride and First City Pride Center, is a Thursday through Saturday “themed” event featuring MasQUEERade, a queer masquerade ball featuring fabulous costumes, drag performances, Go Go Dancers, and Drag Hosts in a freakishly glamorous celebration.

On Friday evening, The Savannah Pride Parade winds its way through downtown Savannah featuring floats, marching bands, and participants from the LGBTQ+ community and its allies. Spectators, both local and out-of-state, gather along the route to show support and join in the festivities.

Saturday’s highlight is The Savannah Pride Parade, a unique event where participants and their pets, adorned in colorful costumes and accessories, march through downtown Savannah, celebrating LGBTQ+ pride alongside their four-legged friends. Immediately following is The Downtown Takeover Bar Crawl where Savannah Pride aims to take over the historic district with numerous bars offering drink specials.

Savannah’s Pride Festival Marketplace, with its non-stop entertainment of live music and drag performances on Saturday and Sunday in Ellis Square next to Savannah’s historic City Market, and where attendees browse unique merchandise, savor delicious food, and connect with a supportive community, welcomes everyone of all ages.

Marietta

The North Georgia Marietta Pride Celebration, sponsored by the North Georgia Rainbow Coalition is an annual one-day event, held in Marietta, that spotlights LGBTQ+ pride and inclusion in North Georgia. Featuring a colorful parade with lively floats, festive costumes, and a sense of joy and authenticity, this celebration offers a supportive space. Beyond the parade, attendees enjoy live performances, workshops, and an array of food vendors and local businesses. It’s a family-friendly gathering and a day for embracing love, self-identity, and advocating for equal rights.

Stand Up and Stand Out at Georgia Pride

Georgia’s Pride celebrations are calling you to celebrate who you are! They remind us that love knows no boundaries, and through support and understanding, we can continue to build a more inclusive and accepting society, one celebration at a time.

As with any event, dates and times are subject to change, so we ask that you check websites for any updates and official schedules of events.

If you don’t see your upcoming pride event on our Complete Guide to Georgia Pride, let us know!

**Disclaimer: There is a good chance that this post contains affiliate or sponsor links. If you make a purchase through them, we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you (for which we are extremely grateful).

Also, while we do our best to highlight LGBTQ-friendly destinations and businesses, info provided is based solely on personal experience and recommendations by community partners. We hope that nobody experiences discrimination or homophobia while visiting Florida, but we make no guarantees. Please inform us if you experience discrimination or homophobia while visiting any destination so we can make updates to our recommendations.

Events are subject to change. Please check the events webpage for updates and schedules.

Fay Stevenson

Originally from Baltimore, Fay started her career as an elementary school Language Arts teacher. Five years later, Fay joined Johnson & Johnson where she enjoyed a 31-year career in pharmaceutical sales. After a move to Florida following her retirement, Fay joined the OutCoast team to bring the first Florida OutCoast Convention (FLOCC) to the Tampa Bay Area. Fay is living her best life in St Petersburg. In her spare time, Fay is an amateur singer/songwriter and avid sports fan.

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