The 2024 Akron Pride Festival kicks off Wednesday with Stadium Virginium at the Knight Stage.
Here’s the rest of the schedule, including the Saturday march, performances on two stages and a list of food and drink vendors.
Wednesday, Aug. 21
Stadium Virginium and local drag performers take over the Knight Stage, 182 S. Main St., from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Joining Virgina West and her family on stage will be:
- Kardi Redd Diamond, APF Drag Artist of the Year 2024
- Zoey Zegai, APF Drag Artist of the Year 2024 Alternate
- Cherry Veneer, Miss Akron Pride Festival 2019
- Jace Blaze, Mr. Ohio King All-Star
- Samantha Styles, Miss Interbelt Nightclub
Tickets are available through Ticketmaster and the Akron Civic box office.
Friday, Aug. 23
Akron Pride Festival 5K at Canal Place’s Bounce Innovation Hub, 526 S. Main St., from 6:30 to 9 p.m. This event welcomes participants of all abilities and backgrounds.
Register at https://akronpride5k.enmotive.com/
Suggested Reading
Saturday, Aug. 24
2024 Akron Pride Festival and Equity March schedule of events
The Equity March kicks off from the Spaghetti Warehouse parking lot at 10 a.m. and proceeds .6 miles north on South Main Street through downtown to Lock3.
Performances begin at 10 a.m. on the Lock3 Backyard Stage and at 11:30 a.m. on the Equity Stage on South Main Street at University Avenue.
The festival continues with vendors, food, drinks and events around the Lock3 Backyard and Cascade Plaza until fireworks at 10 p.m.
All day:
Live DJs
Lock3 Backstage entertainment schedule
10 a.m. – DJ Honk
11 a.m. – Inner Circle Avenue
Noon – Lovers in Reverse
1 p.m. – Timi Funk
2 p.m. – A-Go-Go
2:30 p.m. – Nikolina DJ Diva
3 p.m. – Crystal Waters
4 p.m. – Drag Show FT
Lady Camden & Nina West
7 p.m. – Jordy
8 p.m. – Drag Show FT
Lady Camden & Nina West
10 p.m. Fireworks
Equity Stage (on South Main Street at University Avenue) entertainment schedule
11:30 a.m. – Corry Michaels
12:30 p.m. – Millennial Theatre Project
1:30 p.m. – Vanity Crash
2:30 p.m. – House of Makaveli
3:30 p.m.– Wednesday Demonstration
4:30 p.m. – Charity Evonna
5:30 p.m. – The Phantom Creek
6:30 p.m. – Krown Bay
Food vendors
Located directly across from the main stage on Bowery Street.
A Movable Feast
Cajunboi Concessions
City Diner Food Truck
D.R. Concessions
Johnny Lóte’s Latin Street Corn
Greek & Mediterranean Cuisine
Freaky Fruits
Fabi’s Taco Truck
R and J Smokers BBQ
Southern Thangs Food Trucks
Sunny’s Sweet Treats
Taco Veloz
Thai It Up Food Truck
The Eccentric Panda
The Pierogi Lady
Twisted Grill & Grind
Uncle Bacon’s BBQ
Word Of Mouth BBQ
Nosh & Refreshing Drinks
A Movable Parad-ICE
Bitchy Vegan Homo
ChocolateDreams Treats
Essential Dipped Delights
Fizzles Concession
Happy Camper Lemonade
Hokulia Shave Ice
Henry’s Creamery
Ohio’s Best Lemonade
Rolling Refreshments
Routine Coffee
Tri-County Ice Cream
A children’s area on Cascade Plaza from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. will feature an inflatable slide and other activities.
Downtown parking information:
https://www.downtownakron.com/getting-around/parking
Editor’s note: The article was updated to substitute “march” for “parade” to better reflect the history of the event. According to Akron Pride Festival’s website, the first LGBT Pride was held on the first anniversary of the Stonewall Riots in New York City as a political protest of “anti-LGBT policies and attitudes.”
The festival organizers state they are committed to recognizing the event as a march “until complete and full equality and equity has been achieved for all LGBTQ+ people.”
