Nashville Pride plans to celebrate its 20th year by taking the Pride Festival and events to the next level. Nashville Pride President Brad Bennett plans to make some pretty major changes to this year’s festival with new traditions and some powerhouse entertainment in hopes of bringing out even larger crowds than in previous years.

To celebrate their 20th anniversary, the Nashville Pride committee is asking the community to submit suggestions (info@nashvillepride.org) for a theme. The committee's goal is to center this year’s activities and events around one central theme to celebrate this Nashville GLBT milestone.

Some of the changes this year include plans to expand the week of activities leading up to the Pride Festival to 10 days, including the traditional Pride Pageant, Spirituality Night and more. They are also planning several events leading up to Pride to get the momentum going early. Some of the events include a Speed Dating night at Tribe on February 15, the infamous TurnAbout event at Play on March 28, the always entertaining Martini’s and Jazz night on April 18, and, of course, Pride Prom at Play on May 16. 

Another change that my take some Pride revelers by surprise is the Festival's move to Sunday this year as opposed to the traditional Saturday date. The Pride Committee hopes this will give out-of-towners a chance to participate in more of the Pride events than in years past.

“We wanted to be more in line with the rest of the country who have their festivals on Sundays as well as to commemorate the Stonewall Riots, which took place on Sunday,” says Bennett.

The Committee is also excited to announce this year’s presenting sponsor is the Radisson Hotel Nashville Airport.

“We are very grateful and appreciative of all the support the Radisson has shown Nashville Pride and the GLBT community,” states Bennett.

But what about the entertainment for the Festival?

“We’re very excited to announce that for our 20th anniversary the committee decided to have two headliners. Kristine W. and Ultra Nate will both perform,” says Kane Bach, pride committee member.

With all the growth and change the Pride Committee is realizing, they also are hoping to generate additional income for the festival and their scholarship program. 

“We would like for Nashville Pride to be out in the community on a regular basis and not just around during the time of the Festival,” Bennett notes.

For more information, or to submit a suggestion for this year’s 20th anniversary theme, visit Nashville Pride's Website at www.nashvillepride.org.