TriPride

Organizers are hoping the third time’s a charm with the 2022 TriPride Parade and Festival, which will be held in downtown Bristol – in both Tennessee and Virginia – on Saturday, Aug. 27, 2022. The annual event was canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite that setback, organizers are committed to hosting its third event in Bristol this year.

In addition to being a first for Bristol, the TriPride Parade and Festival marks a first in national history: a pride event held in two states at once. TriPride in Bristol will take place in both Tennessee and Virginia. The parade will go down State Street and culminate with the festival held in Cumberland Square Park in Virginia.

Organizers admit there are still many unknowns regarding COVID-19 but are excited about hosting the event in Bristol.

“We are so happy to bring our annual event to Bristol in 2022 and excited we can pick up where we had to stop the past few years,” said Jason Willis, TriPride board president. “We firmly believe the third time’s a charm here, with Bristol being the third TriPride event here in the Tri-Cities. There are certainly challenges and plenty of unknowns but we’re planning for, and hoping for, the best!”

Although some elements will change, TriPride organizers are keeping a similar format to the previous years’ events, including a series of activities during Pride week that lead up to the parade and festival on Saturday. Live entertainment, vendors, exhibitors, and food trucks will be present. The parade and festival will take place in the heart of downtown Bristol. The parade will be open to the public and the festival will be a free, ticketed event. Free tickets for the festival will be available to the public later in the year and announced on TriPride’s social media channels and website.

TriPride is accepting volunteer applications, sponsorships, and parade and festival exhibitor applications online at www.tripridetn.org/pride2022. Potential sponsors may email info@tripridetn.org to receive more information about 2022 sponsorship opportunities or visit www.tripridetn.org/become-a-sponsor.