Beats on Broad kicking off festivities for Pride month

Isabella Moody
·2 min read
10

AUGUSTA, GA. (WJBF) – Kicking off the pride festivities this weekend in Augusta with the largest outdoor dance party. The big event was in Downtown Augusta at the Augusta Commons.

Organizers are expecting thousands of people here this weekend to celebrate Pride Month.

The festival started 14 years ago and is only getting bigger. According to the President of Augusta Pride, it is the second-largest pride event in Georgia, with the first being in Atlanta.

“It started 14 years ago, so small in Augusta. We never would have known we would have grown from the couple thousand people that showed up the first year to the 17,000 that we saw last year,” Micheal Barnard Jenkins, president of Augusta Pride.

A vendor we spoke to has been coming here since she was young and is now selling her art to give back to the community.

“I love coming here; I’ve been coming here for a long time. Since I was probably about 12, and so, I just love it, it’s so comforting to be here,” said Brooke, a vendor.

Attendees at Pride are thankful to have something to express their individuality.

“Pride means to me coming out and celebrating who we are and just embracing who we are and showing our talent, how we look, and everything we offer to the world,” said Melvin Wade, an attendee.

This celebration allows many to come out, express what Pride means to them, and celebrate it with others.

“I started coming here. This is my third Pride, and it’s very, very important not just to myself but to the entire LGBTQ community that we’re able to show out and be a loud voice to the entire community,” Regina Swarmer, an attendee.

“Pride means a lot to me. It’s who I am and a part of my childhood. You know I had a great childhood. I’m very glad for my parents for being very supportive, and it made me who I am today,” said James Owns, an attendee.

Organizers want people to know that the event is safe and that they have taken measures to keep it that way.

“It’s a safe place. We’ve done our due diligence to make sure that our festival goers are in a safe space,” said Jenkins.

Saturday, there will be a Pride Parade on Greene Street beginning at 10 a.m., followed by the festival at 11:00 a.m.

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