News Summary
SoKno Pride, Knoxville’s largest summer Pride celebration, drew around 30,000 attendees this year, marking its fifth anniversary. Transitioning from a grassroots gathering, it now serves as the main summer event for the LGBTQIA+ community, featuring drag shows, live music, and wellness activities. Despite its growth, the event has maintained an intimate atmosphere, promoting connections within the community while advocating for LGBTQ rights and safe spaces.
Knoxville – SoKno Pride, the largest summer Pride celebration in Knoxville, attracted an estimated 30,000 attendees on Sevier Avenue this year, marking its fifth anniversary. Since its inception as a small grassroots gathering, the event has dramatically grown in size and significance, becoming a centerpiece of Knoxville’s Pride Month festivities.
With Knoxville’s main Pride festival and parade moving to October several years ago, SoKno Pride has stepped forward as the premier summer event for the LGBTQIA+ community. The festivities included a wide range of activities such as drag shows, live music performances, and the participation of over 150 local vendors, highlighting a vibrant cultural tapestry.
The event also featured morning yoga sessions at Suttree Landing Park and a 5K fun run, promoting health and wellness among participants. Despite its significant increase in attendance and activities, organizers ensured that SoKno Pride retained its neighborhood block party feel, allowing for intimate connections within the community.
Visitors to the event included a gay couple from Denver, who shared their thoughts on the local celebration. They acknowledged that while SoKno Pride may not rival the scale of Denver Pride, it holds considerable importance within the context of a mid-sized Southern city.
After the official schedule concluded, the spirit of SoKno Pride continued to thrive as attendees flocked to local bars, sidewalks, and neighborhoods. Long lines formed at Club XYZ for a late-night drag show, showcasing the event’s lasting appeal. Club XYZ, a key LGBTQIA+ venue in Knoxville, is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, further underscoring the vitality of local LGBTQ spaces.
However, the closure of South Press, another beloved LGBTQ venue, at the end of the month was noted as a significant loss for the community. Attendees underscored the importance of maintaining and creating safe spaces for celebration, a sentiment that remains central to the ongoing work within the community.
The Tennessee Equality Project was present at SoKno Pride, focusing on advocacy for the transgender community. The organization gathered handprints from attendees to protest against recent legislation concerning gender-affirming care for minors, emphasizing the need for community support and resilience amidst ongoing challenges.
The President of SoKno Pride highlighted the role of Pride events as crucial forms of protest, reinforcing the event’s commitment to advocacy alongside celebration. The festival’s connection to local businesses was evident as many benefitted from the influx of attendees, which further promoted the visibility of the LGBTQ community in Knoxville.
Community pride was also represented through the work of local photographers like Rachel Woods, whose stunning images from the event showcased the talent within the community and advocates for ongoing recognition of LGBTQ culture.
As a crucial resource for events throughout Pride Month, SoKno Pride stands as a testament to the resilience and growth of the LGBTQIA+ community in Knoxville. Volunteers and local leaders expressed pride in the event’s evolution and the vibrant culture it celebrates, ensuring that the spirit of SoKno Pride will continue to shine brightly in the years to come.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
South Press Café to Close After Five Years in Knoxville
Additional Resources
- Inside of Knoxville: SoKno Pride Recap
- Google Search: SoKno Pride
- WBIR: SoKno Pride Returns
- Wikipedia: LGBTQIA+ Events in the United States
- UT Daily Beacon: Core Knoxville Drag Show
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Pride Month
- WBIR: Fourth SoKno Pride Announcement
- Google News: SoKno Pride 2024
