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RomeÐÔÊӽ紫ý Pride Festival returns this year, bringing a colorful blend of activities including a Pride March, a festival in the park, drag shows and musical performers.

This year marks the 4th official Rome Pride Festival and organizers have been hard at work keeping up with suggestions from the community as well as negotiating all the logistics that come with putting on a big festival.

“We’ve added a lot more community members to our board so we have a lot more boots on the ground which helps,â€� said Board Secretary Barrie Turney. We’re meeting every week. ItÐÔÊӽ紫ý a lot of work but itÐÔÊӽ紫ý going really well. It seems like each year we get more community involvement but that comes with a lot more expectations.â€�

This yearÐÔÊӽ紫ý festivities begin on the evening of Friday, June 13 with a kickoff event at the DeSoto Theatre on Broad Street from 7-11 p.m. This kickoff event will feature an exclusive reception from 6-7 p.m. where sponsors and VIP guests can enjoy a reception with appetizers and cocktails. At 7 p.m. all ticketholders are welcome for the 21-and-up drag show featuring a live auction.

“That will be the only age-restricted event the entire weekend,� Turney said.

There will also be an afterparty from 10-11 p.m. featuring a DJ and bar.

On Saturday morning, June 14, there will be a Pride March starting at 11 a.m. This event is free and open to the community. Participants are asked to line up at 10 a.m. in front of the Rome City Auditorium. The march will make its way down Broad Street to 3rd Avenue then turn around and return to the City Auditorium.

“We do encourage people to make signs and for those signs to be positive and prideful,â€� Turney said. “Love is the point of this festival. The march specifically is a time when we can really be supportive and loving and embrace the community and everyone no matter who they are. I do love how people paint their faces and wear colorful outfits. We even have people who dress up their kids’ strollers. ItÐÔÊӽ紫ý a very warm and loving vibe.â€�

The march will be followed by the main event, the festival, at Ridge Ferry Park starting at noon.

“We want to emphasize that there is a ton of parking at Ridge Ferry Park,� Turney said. “We will have volunteers and signs making sure folks know where to park.�

She said the festival will feature live music throughout the day on the stage as well as food trucks, a bar, sponsor booths, and lots of local artisans displaying and selling their creations.

“Some of our nonprofits will be hosting activities for kids and families,â€� Turney said. “And thereÐÔÊӽ紫ý also a VIP area to sit in a nice, cool shaded area. Those VIP guests will get preferred seating to see the main stage and they’ll have their own VIP bar.â€�

Exclusive to this yearÐÔÊӽ紫ý Pride, Turney said, is a special appearance by Chattanooga native Hormona Lisa, a contestant on the hit television reality competition show “RuPaulÐÔÊӽ紫ý Drag Race.â€�

“She’ll be performing on the main stage on Saturday night and will also be doing a meet-and-greet,â€� Turn said. “ThatÐÔÊӽ紫ý really cool that we’ve secured an appearance by a contestant on the very popular show Drag Race but also she appeared in this most recent season.â€�

Turney said ASL interpreters will be on hand during the performances and said organizers are doing their best to make the event more ADA inclusive.

The Rome Pride Festival on Saturday is free to everyone. The kickoff event on Friday at the DeSoto Theatre is $30 with an additional $10 for the afterparty.

VIP passes are $75 for the Friday kickoff event and $115 for SaturdayÐÔÊӽ紫ý festivities. The meet-and-greet with Hormona Lisa is $35.

There is also an all weekend VIP pass for $145.

Turney said although organizers work year-round to make sure the event is safe, fun and welcome for the entire community, itÐÔÊӽ紫ý well worth the work when it all comes together.

“I cannot tell you how moving it is that this community embraces us with open arms and love and warmth,� she said. “Rome Pride gets bigger every year. We feel more supported and more loved with every event. I never expected to see that kind of love and support and people wanting to be part of Rome Pride and showing up for the community. We had over 4,000 people participate last year and we expect an even bigger turnout this year.

For tickets and more information about the event, visit online at