KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The biggest LGBTQ+ event in East Tennessee is set to return the first weekend of October, expecting to bring out thousands of people to celebrate their identities and their community.
Knox Pride said its annual parade kicks off at around 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 4, stepping down Gay Street as part of an iconic march that starts the festivities. Since it's a night parade, Knox Pride also said it encourages participants to use lights and glow-in-the-dark gear to show off their Pride. However, the nonprofit also asked participants not to use strobe lighting or laser pointers, for safety reasons.
It also said while participants can pass out items during the parade, nobody can throw anything while the group marches. The parade is also a family-friendly event. The nonprofit said it expects to have over 2,500 participants in the parade this year. It is expected to start near the Blount Mansion and end near The Regas Building.
The following day, on Oct. 5, Knox Pride will host its annual festival at World's Fair Park. It starts at 12 p.m. and lasts until around 6 p.m. People will be able to enter the festival at the World's Fair Park performance lawn and exit near the amphitheater.
No alcohol, beer or outside food is allowed into Pride Fest. People will be allowed to bring refillable water bottles. There will also be an information booth near the entrance to World's Fair Park, to help guide people through the area. Bags will be checked by security workers at the festival entrance.
Dogs will be allowed at Knox Pride, but organizers said they need to be leashed and owners will be responsible for cleaning up after them.
There will be around 100 for-profit and nonprofit vendors set up inside the festival, giving people a chance to connect with local LGBTQ+-affirming organizations and shop for items. The 2024 Pride festival will also bring out around 100 performers and speakers.
After the festival, people will have a chance to enjoy a drag pre-show starting at 7:30 p.m. before an official afterparty. The afterparty will last from 8 p.m. through 10 p.m. at the Tennessee Amphitheater and will feature the Rocky Horror Picture Show with a shadow cast performing to enhance the show.
Beyond its annual festival, Knox Pride also facilitates plenty of outreach efforts and mutual aid initiatives. It operates a community fridge, allowing people without access to regular meals a chance to enjoy something fresh, regardless of their identities. It also operates a food pantry and a "thriftique," allowing people to shop for well-kept clothes and items — similar to a thrift shop. It offers a gender-affirming space and recently expanded into a new spot next to the Knox Pride Community Center.
The nonprofit also hosts regular life skills classes, takes care of a community garden, raises money for initiatives that address racial inequality and help homeless youth, operates an internship program and hosts several different kinds of games and support groups for neurodivergent people, LGBTQ+ youth, their families and more.