In a city best known for barbecue and its furniture-making history, Lexington Pride is carving out space for something equally rooted in community: a place where LGBTQ+ people can show up, be themselves and know they belong.
The Lexington Pride Festival returns Saturday, Aug. 29, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Breeden Insurance Amphitheater in Uptown Lexington. The annual celebration brings LGBTQ+ people and allies together for an afternoon of live entertainment, vendors and community organizations.
It’s a message Lexington Pride organizers have emphasized before. During a WFMY News 2 interview ahead of last year’s festival, a representative said organizers wanted people to know they would be there for anyone who wanted to show up and be themselves — without being afraid or feeling like they had to hide.
This year, they’ll have plenty of entertainment waiting for them. Today Years Old will bring live music to the Pride stage, playing everything from Weezer to Harry Styles and a mix of ’90s-to-today favorites in between.
At 1 p.m., the festival turns the stage over to its Drag Hour. This year’s headliners include Oso Chanel, Paisley Parque, Saniya Chanel Iman, Miss Kei Kei and Celia Lips. And Pride doesn’t end when the afternoon festival wraps up.
The celebration continues Saturday night with the “Queer AF After Party” drag show at Arts Davidson County, 202 N. Main St., Suite C. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. and the show begins at 8 p.m. Advance tickets are $10 and increase to $15 at the door, if tickets remain. Attendees must be 18 or older and should bring identification.
From an afternoon gathering in the middle of downtown to a night of drag just a few blocks away, Lexington Pride is creating a full day for LGBTQ+ people to celebrate together — and, perhaps more importantly, a place where no one has to hide who they are.
This story is brought to you by Rosedale Health and Wellness and Dudley’s Place.
