by Linley Mueller
This year’s Danville Pride Festival brought color, music, and community spirit to Pioneer Playhouse, as people from across central Kentucky gathered to celebrate love and inclusion. The event, hosted by Danville KY Pride, welcomed LGBTQ+ people and allies for a day filled with food, entertainment, and connection.
When I first arrived, the energy was immediate! There were rainbow flags waving, people laughing, and music filling the air. Booths lined the walkways, offering everything from handmade crafts to local resources and support organizations. Food trucks surrounded the area as well, which gave the whole space a festival feel. Between drag performance sets, a local guitarist played live music that gave the early afternoon a welcoming vibe. The crowd, dressed in colorful clothing on such a hot day, sat on blankets and chairs, and it felt like the perfect small-town Pride event: intimate, yet full of life. There were all kinds of people, from kids to elders, enjoying the ability to connect at such a welcoming event!
The drag shows were definitely the highlight of the day. There were two, one at 2:00 p.m. and another at 4:00 p.m., and both drew big crowds. Performers took the stage in dazzling costumes, full of personality and humor. Their performances had vibrant facial expressions, crowd interaction, and energy that kept everyone engaged. People cheered, clapped, and tipped the performers generously, creating a lively and supportive atmosphere. Even those who had never seen a drag performance before couldn’t help but smile at the confidence and creativity on display.
What stood out most to me wasn’t just the entertainment, but the sense of community that surrounded the event. There were families, students, and longtime residents all sharing the same space, many of them attending their first Pride celebration in Danville. The festival gave everyone a chance to feel seen, supported, and proud of who they are.
Danville KY Pride has grown quickly in just a few years. It started in 2022 with a small Pride picnic hosted by Open Table Christian Church, and by 2024 had become an official 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Last year’s festival brought in over 700 people, and this year’s turnout seemed even bigger. The group has also been active in the community, helping raise funds for disaster relief, and hosting events like their drag brunch fundraiser earlier this year.
As I started to leave Pioneer Playhouse, people lingered, talking, taking pictures, and laughing together. The festival felt like more than just an event; it was a reflection of how much the local community has grown in acceptance and celebration. For me, the Danville Pride Festival was not only fun, it was meaningful. It showed that even in a small Kentucky town, there are a lot of people wanting to come together to celebrate something so valuable.
I am looking forward to going to the next Pride festival in Danville, especially after seeing how much it has grown in only the past year. If you are interested in a festival that promotes inclusivity and functions as a safe space, I recommend attending the next Pride event!