Spartanburg Set to Host It’s 16th Pride Festival
Spartanburg, the heart of the thriving LGBTQ+ community in Upstate South Carolina, is putting on its party hat this weekend! The city is hosting the 2024 Upstate Pride March and Festival at Barnet Park, marking the organization’s 16th festival in Spartanburg. For the uninitiated, the first Pride Festival was held here back in 2009, spearheaded and supported by the Unitarian Universalist Church of Spartanburg. Fast forward to today, this very park is all set to witness four hours of power-packed performances, tantalizing food, and sheer fun.
Interfaith Service, Pride March, and Festival Deets
One of the special events not to lose sight of is the interfaith service at 10:30 a.m., supported generously by the Unitarian Universalist Church of Spartanburg. Following this, the Pride March is scheduled to start at 11 a.m. from Barnet Park, meandering through downtown before concluding on Main Street. And then, the fun really kicks off! The free festival commences at noon and goes till 4 p.m. in the park’s welcoming ambiance.
A Star-Studded Lineup, and Something for Everyone!
The festival’s main stage will come alive with performances by the headliner Kennedy Davenport, a popular face from RuPaul’s Drag Race. She will be sharing the stage with 25 local entertainers who will up the festive spirit with their drag shows and comedy routines. And it only gets better, as the much-loved local drag queen, Patti O’Furniture, will take the reins as the emcee again this year.
While the performances promise to steal the show, shopping enthusiasts are in for a treat too. Over 80 vendors will set up their stalls across the park, selling everything from fancy clothes and glittering jewelry to intricate crafts, fascinating books and much more. A dedicated kids zone, an array of food trucks and booze for the adults, will ensure there’s something for everyone.
Marking Upstate Pride Day
In a move acknowledging the significant contributions of the LGBTQ+ community and celebrating its spirit, a mayoral proclamation naming Nov. 2, 2024, as Upstate Pride Day will be announced during the festival.
Upstate Pride’s fall festival typically sees up to 4,000 attendees. That’s 4,000 opportunities to connect with people from all walks of life, all while being surrounded by an energy of acceptance and understanding. As the executive director of Upstate Pride SC aptly put it: “It’s a fantastic opportunity to network and meet other people.”
Festival or Not, The Spirit of Acceptance Continues
While the Pride Festival is a yearly affair, the spirit of acceptance, love, and one’s true self, as symbolized by it, continues to grow stronger in the city. The fact that this is the 16th year of the festival bears testimony to this journey of embracing diversity and moving ahead. So here’s looking forward to a weekend filled with colors, smiles, and happiness. It’s time for Love to take center stage in Spartanburg, yet again.
