BUILDING A CULTURE: Savannah Pride Festival expanding in scope, awareness, entertainment | Culture | Savannah News, Events, Restaurants, Music

Savannah Pride is back and will take place October 27 at Starland Yard, and 28-29 in Ellis Square. This year the organizers will offer top-tier entertainment, games, youth activities, workshops, PRIDE parade, a doggie PAWrade, and more to raise operational funds for First City Pride Center.

“These funds will go to supporting critical services in the community. This is our first year to really make more than about advocacy, but also about how we can fund critical direct line services like mental health youth programs, veteran services, addiction counseling, and others throughout the LGBT community,” said Dusty Church, chair of the Board of Directors at First City Pride Center.

Church is excited because this year’s Pride will be the first since First CIty Pride Center and Savannah Pride merged at the end of 2019 so the Savannah Pride event would become a fundraiser to fund critical services in the community.

“We try really hard to make sure that we are accommodating in ways that are possible. That includes us having changing areas so folks who are transgender can travel safely and still participate in Pride as they feel comfortable,” said Church.

There is also a low sensory space for those who are neuro diverse and need to be able to step away from the party and crowds.

“These were creative ways that we really tried to make sure that this is a uniquely inclusive event and therefore really taking care of the individuals who are participating,” said Church.

The festival in 2019 packed out Ellis Square with members of the community and allies and this year they hope to top that.

On Thursday, Oct. 27 there will be a host of events and entertainment at Starland Yard from 7 pm to 11 pm including the Go-Go Fundraiser which with a $10 donation you can be the center of attention and dance on your own GoGo box. Also, there will be a BALL with Jason Rodriguez from the hit show “Pose.”

The other fundraiser that evening will be “Dunk-a-Queen” where attendees can make a bid to dunk the First City Board Chair and director.

There are even more events on Friday, Oct. 28 including the Savannah Pride Parade at 8 pm And Saturday, Oct. 29 has even more events and entertainment for the whole family.

“We were excited to see thousands of people come out in 2019 and we hope to see folks out again. This is a festival and parade that is all intended to be very unique. We don’t want to just be a small version of Atlanta’s pride. We want to be uniquely Savannah,” said Church.

There will be events for the youth including a parade viewing party, vogue classes, a mini-ball, and arts and games.

There will be a benefit rock concert and performances from Savannah Cabaret, Savannah Sweet Tease, Savannah Voice and more.

“I’m really excited about this year. There is a tremendous number of local performers who are street performers, who are cabaret performers, who are providing really more than just being on stage. We will have somewhere north of 40 different small performances that are happening all over the festival,” said Church.

The celebration concludes on Sunday, Oct. 30 with a Drag Brunch at Congress Street Social Club at 1 pm

In conjunction with all of the fun there will also be a variety of workshops geared toward lifestyle education, mental health, hormone treatments, HIV and more.

The Prism Clinic, a partnership between Georgia Southern Univ. and First City Pride Center that provides no cost behavioral health services for individuals will be hosting a couple of these workshops. There will also be a queer art history presentation and a queer horror film presentation.

“We want to continue to build a culture around the festival where people are engaging in more than just the stage, but are titillated throughout,” said Church.

You can get VIP tickets for access to an exclusive tent with an open bar featuring champagne and top shelf spirits, sponsor swag, seating, charging stations, snacks, and performer meet n’ greets with Biqtch Puddin’, Saint, and Jason Rodriquez.

Biqtch Puddin’ was the season 2 winner of “The Boulet Brothers’ DRAGULA.” Saint was the winner of a season on “The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula Resurrection.”

“Since the festival falls on Halloween weekend each year we want people to feel comfortable celebrating in costume. Celebrate Pride and Halloween,” said Church.

For more information about Savannah Pride including tickets, visit savannahpride.org

THURSDAY 10/27

GO-GO FUNDRAISER

7-11 pm Donate $10 to be the center of attention

and dance on our GoGo box!

BALL with JASON RODRIGUEZ

8:30-10:00 PmVIP TENT

“DUNK-A-QUEEN” FUNDRAISER

10:45 pm Make bids to dunk the First City Board

Chair and Director

DJ AMY ALDERMAN

7-11pm

STARDUST PIXXIES

7 pm

PARTY TAROT

7-9 pm

INDIVIDUAL TAROT

9:30-11pm

STARDUST PIXXIES

10:30 pm

FRIDAY 10/28

SAVANNAH PRIDE PARADE

8 pm

YOUTH PARADE VIEWING PARTY

7-10 pm Hyatt Regency Ballroom

DJ José

6 pm

BIQTCH PUDDIN’ MEET N’ GREET

6-6:30 pm VIP TENT

OPENING CEREMONY

6:30-7pm

CLUB ONE CABARET

7-7:45pm

STARDUST PIXXIES

10-10:20pm

CLOSING COMMENTS

10:20 pm

BIQTCH PUDDIN’

10:30 pm

SATURDAY 10/29

PAWRADE WITH OLIVIA KNOWLES

10:30am-12pm

WORKSHOPS

(TBD)

YOUTH VOGUE NEW WAVE CLASS

12-1 pm Hyatt Regency Ballroom

YOUTH VOGUE FEMME CLASS

1-2 pm Hyatt Regency Ballroom

YOUTH VOGUE RUNWAY CLASS

2-2:30 pm Hyatt Regency Ballroom

BENEFIT CONCERT BUGMEAT,

HEY! CHROMA, HOTT GOSS

5-7 pm Barrelhouse South

YOUTH MINI BALL

4-7 pm Hyatt Regency Ballroom

DJ DANE PENTREATH

12 pm

OPENING CEREMONY

12:30 pm

SAV VOICE FESTIVAL

1-1:20pm

OLIVIA KNOWLES

1:30-1:40pm

SAVANNAH SWEET TEASE

2-2:30pm

MEET N GREET STARDUST PIXXIES

2-2:45 pm VIP TENT

SAVANNAH CABARET

3:10-4:00pm

DJ MAGGIE HAYES

4-5 pm

COSTUME CONTEST-HOUSE OF

GUNT

5-5:50pm

SAW THE WHEEL PUPPET SHOW

5:40- 6 pm City Mkt. Popup “Stage”

STARDUST PIXXIES

6-6:20pm

MEET N GREET SAINT

VIP TENT

6-6:45pm

DJ MAGGIE HAYES

6:20-7:20pm

SAINT

7:15 pm

DJ TROY STONER

7:25 pm

SAINT

8:15 pm

STARDUST PIXXIES

8:30-8:50pm

MEET N GREET JASON RODRIGUEZ

VIP TENT

8:30-9:15pm

HAUS OF AZALEAS

9-9:50pm

STARDUST PIXXIES

10-10:20pm

CLOSING CEREMONY

10:30 pm

SUNDAY 10/30

DRAG BRUNCH

1-3 pm Congress Street Social Club