SAVANNAH PRIDE has announced that the 2017 Savannah Pride Festival will be relocated to downtown Savannah and will be free to the public.  The three-day event, which has been organized by a newly-selected Board of Directors, will be highlighted by a “Downtown Takeover,” featuring a self-guided pub crawl, street fair and musical performances in and around Ellis Square on Saturday, October 28 from 11 am to 6 pm.
 
The festivities, appropriately taking place over Halloween weekend, October 26 – 28, also known as the “Gay High Holy Day,” “the Great Gay Holiday” and “Gay Christmas,” will also include a series of parties, community get-togethers and films as well as educational workshops and presentations.
 
“This year, it is particularly important to bring the Savannah Pride Festival front-and-center,” says Dusty Church, new Festival Director.  “As the government chips away at LGBT rights we felt it was time to make a bold statement.  But, most of all, by bringing it downtown and making it free, we encourage the community to join in this fun celebration of diversity.”
 
Pride weekend will kickoff Thursday, October 26 at 7:30 pm with the Masqueerade Ball: A Macabre Burlesqueat the Mansion on Forsyth Park, 700 Drayton Street.   Attendees are encouraged to dress up in their most demented, sexy and fun outfits for an evening of dancing. (Don’t worry.  For those without costumes, make-your-own masks will be available.)  
 
Attendees to the Pride Festival, now known as Pride in Savannah: Downtown Takeover, on Saturday, October 28 will be entertained by live musical acts, to be announced shortly.  Organizers of the event have worked closely with local bars and restaurants to offer a special Pride wristband that will provide discounts on drinks and more at participating businesses to those of age.
 
Rounding out Festival Day, Bootleg Spirits: The Official Pride After Party will take place Saturday, October 28, beginning at 10 pm at Ghost Coast Distillery, 641 Indian Street.  
 
Individual tickets are available for both the Masqueerade Ball and Bootleg Spirits.  A limited amount of VIP All-Access passes are also available, offering exclusive benefits throughout Pride weekend.  Discounted VIP passes are now on sale.  The discount offer ends October 7.
 
For more information about Savannah Pride 2017 and tickets, please log onto www.savannahpride.com.