Columbus Pride Festival returns to Uptown with parade, live music & special guest speaker
June marks the beginning of LGBTQIA+ Pride month both here and all around the world, and Columbus won’t be left out of the festivities.
The 11th annual Pride Parade and Festival will kick off this Saturday. Sponsored by Colgay Pride, the event will feature an all-day celebration of the local LGBTQIA+ community.
The 2024 Columbus Georgia LGBTQIA+ Pride Festival
The 11th annual Pride parade and festival is a project of the Debra Smith Wellness Center. The center is a leading resource for youth and adults in this region and sponsors dozens of events every year.
Jeremy Scott Hobbs is founder, president, CEO and executive director of the organization and served as the first LGBTQIA+ liaison to the mayor’s commission on unity, diversity and prosperity under former mayor Teresa Tomlinson.
The all day event will start at 10:30 a.m. with the National Anthem and Opening prayers. This will coincide with Market Days, allowing festival goers to browse the many vendors that set up on Saturday mornings.
The day will have various food stuffs, live entertainment, shopping opportunities and speakers from the community and beyond.
Schedule of events
10:30 a.m. - National Anthem and opening prayer
11 a.m. - Reading of 2024 proclamation from Mayor Skip Henderson; Awards ceremony; local artist Amazon Goddess; speakers from various churches
1 p.m. - Meet the community sponsors and vendors
2 p.m. - Musical performances
3 p.m. - Annual photo of participants (all are welcome to come be in the picture)
4 p.m. - Pride Parade
6 p.m. - Musical performances from Jeremiah King
7 p.m. - Dance contest
8 p.m. - Drag queen performances
Food and drink
Miracles Southern Sweets & Treats
Tina’s Cantina Food Truck
The Doll Files
Tobelem’s Table
Chattabrewchee Southern Brewhouse
Paradise Island Cuisine
Soo Icee Soo Good
Mr. B’s BBQ
Jamaica Jerk Express
Bake Believe Cupcake
Many more
Parade details
The parade begins promptly at 4 p.m., but people should begin to gather at 3:30 p.m. at the corner of 9th Street and First Ave. The parade route will begin on the north end of Broadway and participants will have a police escort down to 13th Street and back. The route ends back on 9th and First.
For more information about the 2024 Columbus, Georgia, LGBTQI+ Pride Festival, visit the Colgay Pride website.
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This story was originally published May 30, 2024 at 3:48 PM.
