Thousands gathered in Savannah’s Forsyth Park for the 27th annual Savannah Pride Festival, where live entertainment, community services and a sensory-conscious market created a joyful, welcoming day for LGBTQIA+ people and allies across Coastal Georgia.

Essential Takeaways

  • Big turnout: Organisers expected roughly 5,000 visitors and more than 100 vendors and community organisations.
  • A message of belonging: This year’s theme, “Chosen Family: Love Beyond Fear,” focused on the support networks people build around themselves.
  • Something for everyone: Drag performances, DJs, games, food trucks and a community marketplace filled the day.
  • Accessibility mattered: The festival opened with a quieter, sensory-conscious market experience.
  • Support beyond the celebration: Visitors could find information on healthcare, housing, transport, mental health and HIV and STI services.

Forsyth Park turns Pride into a city-wide celebration

Forsyth Park was awash with colour, music and warm-weather energy as thousands arrived for Savannah Pride Festival. The annual gathering has become one of Coastal Georgia's most visible LGBTQIA+ celebrations, blending a lively party atmosphere with practical support for the community.

According to the Savannah Chamber, the festival has grown into an important fixture on the city's events calendar. That mix of celebration and connection is part of its appeal: visitors can enjoy a drag set or food-truck lunch, then stop by a local organisation's stall for advice and resources.

This year's theme puts chosen family centre stage

The theme, “Chosen Family: Love Beyond Fear,” gave the festival a clear emotional thread. It recognised the friends, partners, mentors and community groups who provide care and belonging, especially for people whose birth families may not be supportive.

That idea feels particularly fitting at a festival designed to bring people together in one shared space. Local event information highlighted the gathering's community focus, while coverage from WTOC described the return of the annual celebration as a major moment for Savannah's LGBTQIA+ community.

Music, drag and a glow-filled finale kept the energy high

The programme offered plenty of reasons to stay late. Drag performers, DJs, live entertainment, games and food trucks gave the park a festival feel, while hosts Blair Williams and Chi Chi Bonet Sherrington brought their familiar comedy and stage presence back to the event.

The celebration continued into the evening with a glow and foam party, adding a playful finale to a day that already had plenty of sparkle. Historic Inns of Savannah listed the festival among the city's popular seasonal events, a sign of how Pride has become part of the wider visitor experience as well as a community gathering.

A quieter opening made room for more visitors

Before the main crowds and louder performances took over, the festival began with a sensory-conscious market experience. The calmer format was designed for people with diverse sensory needs, offering a more manageable way to attend without missing out entirely.

That kind of planning can make a real difference. Festivals are often bright, noisy and unpredictable, so a quieter opening gives visitors more choice over when and how they participate. WTOC's coverage of the event's 27th year also pointed to the festival's continuing effort to welcome a broad range of attendees.

Pride here is about services as well as celebration

Community organisations used the festival to connect visitors with help that reaches well beyond the park. Positive Impact Health Centers shared information about HIV and STI testing and treatment, behavioural healthcare, transport and housing support.

The Savannah Pride Center's year-round work includes affirming healthcare, mental health services, prevention programmes, emergency housing assistance and support groups for both younger and older LGBTQIA+ residents. The Savannah Chamber has also emphasised the event's role in bringing local organisations and residents together, making the festival feel less like a single day and more like an introduction to ongoing support.

That balance is perhaps the event's strongest quality. There was room for dancing, laughter and a little foam, but also for the quieter conversations that can help someone feel less alone.

It's a bright day in the park, but the connections it creates are built to last.

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