JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) – TriPride made its way back to downtown Johnson City on Saturday in Founders Park.

The ‘Roots Rainbows and Resilience, a Patchwork of Pride’ festival kicked off with a parade at 11 a.m., followed by celebrations and various vendors at the park.

Trevor Arwood, a TriPride volunteer, commented on the political environment, pointing out that several Pride events, such as the one in Knoxville, have been canceled. Despite this, he expressed confidence in holding the festival in Johnson City.

“It’s wonderful to reside in a place where you feel secure walking down the street and can think, ‘yes, I can hold hands with my partner and it’s acceptable,'” Arwood stated. “There’s less worry about encountering hate or ignorance.”

Arwood said seeing couples come together and celebrate their love is great. He said he is proud to be part of the Pride celebration.

Justin Hall, TriPride president, said putting together a positive event for his community brings him joy.

“Being part of creating all of this, bringing joy and love to people’s lives, and establishing a safe space for even just a few hours annually is incredibly rewarding to me,” Hall expressed. “It’s something I didn’t experience growing up.”

Sylvain Bruni, the Grand Marshal, said that the region continues to advance in LGBTQ+ pride.

Bruni is running for the Johnson City Commission and said he wants the community to continue feeling empowered.

“As a gay man serving on the commission, my role as a bridge to enhance community empowerment and provide a platform for communication with broader city leadership is significant,” Bruni remarked.

The event was complete with a lineup of drag performances, Pride dogs and more.