ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Blue Ridge Pride Festival, the largest Pride celebration in Asheville, will return for its annual celebration of all things LGBTQ+ this weekend.

Blue Ridge Pride, held every year in September, will run from noon to 6 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 27 in Pack Square Park.

This year, the theme of Blue Ridge Pride is “Resilience and Resistance” in honor of the one year anniversary of Hurricane Helene, which falls on the same day as the festival.

“As with all disasters, Helene disproportionately affected those at the intersections of marginalized identities,” Blue Ridge Pride wrote on the festival website.

“When we had nowhere to go, with no one coming to save us, we stepped up for each other. Marginalized people, many of whom suffering their own losses from Helene, organized mutual aid efforts across WNC. We showed up for our neighbors, and they showed up for us.”

Prep for Pride

At the Pride festival this year, there will be vendors scattered throughout Pack Square Park, in addition to performances on the main stage and an additional “Cafe Stage” at the top of the park. A massive main stage drag show will conclude the festival at 5 p.m.

Main stage schedule

11:50 a.m. to noon

Introduction from MC Divine the Bearded Lady

Noon to 12:20 p.m.

Asheville Gay Men’s Chorus

12:25-12:40 p.m.

Steppin’ Out Asheville

1-1:40 p.m.

Women to the Front Blues Band

1:40-2 p.m.

First matinee drag show with Stasia Ulturgashev and Will Pounder

2-2:40 p.m.

Fuego Dance Crew

2:40-3 p.m.

Second matinee drag show with Jianna Scott Glamoure and Kalab Klass

3-3:40 p.m.

Sal Landers’ Weirdly Woodstock

3:40-3:55 p.m.

Third matinee drag show with Santana Sins Noir, Logan Glamoure Scott and Bettie Rage

3:55-4:05 p.m.

Pattie Gonia Speech

4:05-4:45 p.m.

Love Handles

4:45-5 p.m.

Closing remarks

5-6 p.m.

2025 Blue Ridge Pride drag show, featuring:

• Katarina Synclaire
• Leo Scot
• Charlie London
• Atlas Synclaire
• Celeste Starr
• Milo Mawile
• Josie Glamoure
• Jasmine Summers
• Ida Carolina
• Natasha Noir Nightly
• Calcutta
• Priscilla Chambers
• Ms. Blue Ridge Pride Nova Jynah

Cafe Stage schedule