Your Guide to Atlanta Pride: 5 Tips for Making the Most of your Day
The 2023 Atlanta Pride celebration is just a few days away! Atlanta Pride is one of the most vibrant and inclusive celebrations in the United States. At Grounded Wellbeing, we value community, and we believe in collective care for ourselves and each other. This requires both intentional and visible inclusion. Year after year, individuals from all walks of life come together to build community, reclaim space, and celebrate diversity, love, and equality.
Whether you're a first-time attendee or a seasoned Pride-goer, preparing for Atlanta Pride is key to making the most of your day. Check out our five tips for relishing the day:
Plan Ahead! Atlanta Pride is not just a one-day event; it's a weekend-long celebration filled with parades, celebrations, and various activities. There are so many amazing and supportive sponsors and activities, and to ensure you make the most of your time – plan your schedule ahead of time! The official 2023 Atlanta Pride Guide can be found here. And, the schedule for the various parades and marches can be found here. Keep in mind that some events may require tickets or reservations, so be sure to book in advance.
Rideshare or Take Public Transportation. We all know that Atlanta traffic can be difficult to predict and navigate. With the various road closures due to the parade route, taking public transportation, such as MARTA, or using a rideshare app can ease some of the stress that comes with driving and parking in Metro Atlanta. If riding on MARTA, folx should plan to commute to the Midtown or Arts Center Station. The festival is a short walk from those stations. Read MARTA’s official Ride with Pride announcement, and guide to navigating the transit system this weekend.
Stay Hydrated and Prepare Accordingly for the Weather. Keep an eye on the Atlanta weather forecast for this weekend. Right now, the weather is looking great with partly cloudy skies all weekend, and highs of up to 76F on Saturday, and highs of 64F on Sunday. Make sure to stay hydrated by carrying a reusable water bottle with you, bringing along snacks, and carrying around a small bag with essentials like sunscreen and hand sanitizer.
Connect with Others. Going back to our value of community, reflect on how, why and where you want to build connections this weekend. Pride presents a unique opportunity to be in a space with like-minded individuals, and celebrate queer and trans joy. Atlanta Pride offers numerous areas for socializing and building connections – be sure to check out your favorite organizations on social media to see if they are hosting any events or meetups during the weekend. We love the following Instagram accounts: @fortehairsalon, @sfqp, @maapatl, and @out.georgia!
Create Space for Compassion, Inclusivity & Growth. At Grounded Wellbeing, we deeply value compassion and believe in continuously showing ourselves and others compassion. With this, we prioritize flexibility and seeing each other's humanity. The mission of Atlanta Pride is to advance unity, visibility, and wellness among persons with widely diverse gender and sexual identities through cultural, social, political, and educational programs and activities. This weekend is a celebration of diversity, love, and equality. Make an effort to educate yourself about different gender identities and sexual orientations to ensure a more inclusive and accepting environment for everyone.
The purpose of Atlanta Pride is to celebrate, support, and advocate for the queer, trans and gender expansive communities. The celebrations provide a dynamic and inclusive event that aims to create a more accepting and equitable society, while also fostering a sense of belonging for all attendees.
We hope you find these tips helpful in making the most of your experience, and we hope you all have a fulfilling and empowering Atlanta Pride!