This Saturday is the 11th annual Blue Ridge Pride Festival in downtown Asheville. From 10 a.m.-7 p.m., people will gather to celebrate and support area LGBTQ + allied communities at Pack Square Park with live music, 200+ community organizations and vendors, a procession + more.
DYK: Blue Ridge Pride began in 2009 and held its first festival that October. The group formed to bring the diverse LGBTQ community of the Blue Ridge together. Over 2,000 people attended the very first fest. This year, they’re expecting over 10,000.
While the main event is tomorrow, Pride celebrations are going on today as well. Here’s what to expect from this year’s Blue Ridge Pride –
🌈 Today
Beer Day Tour | 11:30 a.m.-6 p.m. | Bhramari Brewing, 101 S. Lexington Ave. | $118 | A full day of beer, food + Asheville vibes.
Pride Family Potluck | 5-7 p.m. | Pack Square Park | Free | Email Youth Outright or PFLAG to sign up to bring a dish or a game if you can. Bonus: Youth performances.
LGBTQA Story Slam | 7:30 p.m. | The BLOCK off Biltmore, 39 S. Market St. | Free | Stories from local + national storytellers with the theme “You are not alone.” Blue Ridge Public Radio host Mike Cooper will emcee.
Bad Romance: A Tribute to Lady Gaga | 9 p.m. | The Orange Peel | $15
UHaul! A Drag King Night | 10 p.m. | Banks Ave., 32 Banks Ave. | Free | Hosted by Channing Taint + with a special guest appearance from Priscilla Chambers.
Now that you’ve planned your Friday festivities, keep reading to map out your Saturday – including the welcoming procession, Pride Festival, post-fest dance parties + drag shows, and more. Bonus: Find out where to go for Drag Brunch on Sunday. ⬇️
🌈 Saturday
Welcoming WNC Procession | 10-11 a.m. | 23 Grove St. | Free; register | Join community members for this half-mile procession to Pack Square Park. The theme is “Diversity, Equity + Inlcusion – Becoming Our Greatest Selves Together.” Protip: Here’s a parking map that also lists the procession route.
Blue Ridge Pride Festival | 11 a.m.-7 p.m. | Pack Square Park | Free | The main event, featuring an all-day lineup of live music from artists like Laura Blackley, Aaron Woody Wood, Ryan RnB Barber, Modern Strangers, Asheville Gay Men’s Chorus + more on two stages, plus 200+ vendors, community and social justice organizations, and more. Bonus: Pride Festival’s first Junior Drag Showcase.
Pridetoberfest | 12-9 p.m. | Wicked Weed Brewing, 91 Biltmore Ave. | Free entry | Oktoberfest with a little extra Pride. Beer releases, drag queen performances, polka music + more. Proceeds from Pride beer release benefit the Campaign for Southern Equality.
The fun doesn’t end after the festival. Celebrations – including karaoke, drag shows, DJs, and dance parties – are happening all around downtown. And, if you’re awake on Sunday, check out a benefit brunch at Tupelo Honey Downtown (12 College St.) + a drag brunch at Banks Ave (catered by AUX Bar). There’s also a post-Pride potluck + drag show at The Odditorium (1045 Haywood Rd.) beginning at 5 p.m.
Want more Pride? Check out “Keep Asheville Queer,” a discussion at Pack Library, next Tuesday, and a special screening of 5B, a documentary about the activist nurses in the first AIDS ward, at Grail Moviehouse on Wednesday, followed by a panel discussion. The movie is playing daily through Oct. 3. 🍿
Check out the full Pride schedule here. And ICYMI our Voices piece on this year’s Pride Pageant, read it here.