Volunteer Opportunities

Join Our Community of Pride-Makers
Forge new friendships, create unforgettable experiences, and feel a deeper connection to the Mid-South Pride community. Your hands, your ideas, your energy - they’re all crucial in bringing our events to life.

Join Our Volunteer Team for Memphis Pride Fest!

Memphis Pride Fest thrives because of the enthusiastic participation of our community volunteers. Every year, individuals from all walks of life come together to celebrate and support the LGBTQ+ community in our vibrant city. Whether you’re looking to meet new friends, contribute to an inclusive event, or simply be part of something bigger, your efforts as a volunteer make it all possible.

Why Volunteer?

Volunteering at Memphis Pride Fest is not just about helping out; it’s about experiencing the festival from the inside. It’s your chance to make a tangible impact while enjoying a day filled with joy, diversity, and pride. Volunteers often say they gain more than they give – unforgettable experiences, new connections, and the immense satisfaction of supporting the LGBTQ+ community.

Volunteer Roles

At Memphis Pride Fest, volunteers are vital to every facet of the festival. With roles ranging from setup assistance to managing entry points and supporting parade operations, each volunteer contributes to a welcoming and efficient event. Whether you’re helping backstage, attending info booths, or ensuring the event runs smoothly, your efforts create a positive experience for all attendees. Join us to make a meaningful impact, connect with the community, and enjoy a unique perspective of the festival. Your involvement is crucial in celebrating and supporting our vibrant community.

Cleanup Crew Member

Cleanup Crew Members are responsible for maintaining cleanliness in parks by collaboratively collecting and disposing of trash bags into dumpsters. This role is crucial for ensuring public spaces are tidy and hygienic for visitors.

Cooling Station Attendant

Cooling Station Attendants are responsible for monitoring and maintaining cooling stations to ensure they are operational, well-stocked with water, and kept clean and organized. The attendant’s duties vary by shift, including setting up and dismantling the stations as required, to provide a reliable cooling resource in the designated areas.

Entrance A Attendant

Entrance Attendants support the security and ticket teams by organizing the entry process, ensuring lines move efficiently, and assisting families and individuals with disabilities. They also encourage attendees to purchase tickets online to streamline entry, playing a key role in maintaining order and enhancing the overall experience at the event’s entrance.

Entrance B Attendant

Entrance Attendants support the security and ticket teams by organizing the entry process, ensuring lines move efficiently, and assisting families and individuals with disabilities. They also encourage attendees to purchase tickets online to streamline entry, playing a key role in maintaining order and enhancing the overall experience at the event’s entrance.

Entrance C Attendant

Entrance Attendants support the security and ticket teams by organizing the entry process, ensuring lines move efficiently, and assisting families and individuals with disabilities. They also encourage attendees to purchase tickets online to streamline entry, playing a key role in maintaining order and enhancing the overall experience at the event’s entrance.

Food Tent Attendant

A Food Tent Attendant is responsible for maintaining the cleanliness and organization of the volunteer food tent. Their duties include ensuring that access to the tent is restricted to authorized personnel such as volunteers with lanyards, officers, security staff, and board members.

Glitz N Grind Stage Assistant

Stage Assistants are responsible for maintaining security and assisting entertainers backstage to ensure events run on schedule. This role involves both setting up and breaking down the stage, requiring adaptability and teamwork to support a smooth performance environment. The assistant plays a crucial part in managing the operational flow behind the scenes, making them integral to the success of the event.

Hustle N Glow Stage Assistant

Stage Assistants are responsible for maintaining security and assisting entertainers backstage to ensure events run on schedule. This role involves both setting up and breaking down the stage, requiring adaptability and teamwork to support a smooth performance environment. The assistant plays a crucial part in managing the operational flow behind the scenes, making them integral to the success of the event.

Info Booth A Attendant

Info Booth Attendants are responsible for managing the information booth at festivals, where they answer questions about the event and sell merchandise. They ensure the booth remains organized and clean. Depending on their specific duties, marked by their shirt color, they may also set up and dismantle the booth. This role demands excellent communication and customer service skills, along with proficiency in handling sales transactions.

Info Booth B Attendant

Info Booth Attendants are responsible for managing the information booth at festivals, where they answer questions about the event and sell merchandise. They ensure the booth remains organized and clean. Depending on their specific duties, marked by their shirt color, they may also set up and dismantle the booth. This role demands excellent communication and customer service skills, along with proficiency in handling sales transactions.

Pack Up Team Member

Pack Up Team Members are responsible for efficiently organizing, cleaning, and packing items to ensure they are ready for storage. Their role involves meticulous attention to detail to maintain order and cleanliness, facilitating smooth transitions and storage of materials after use.

Parade Home Base Attendant

Parade Home Base Attendants are essential during festivals, managing the central information booth and serving as the primary contact for visitors and parade participants. They provide accurate event details, answer inquiries, and ensure smooth communication and coordination among all involved in the parade, supporting a seamless execution of the event.

Parade Lineup Crew

Parade Lineup Crew members are essential for organizing and managing parade events. They ensure all units are correctly positioned, assist with both the setup and breakdown of the parade, and serve as a point of contact for any inquiries related to the event. Their coordination efforts are crucial for the smooth execution of parades.

Parade Route Manager

Parade Route Managers are responsible for securing the parade route, ensuring that parade units progress smoothly, and preventing spectators from crossing into the route. They also handle the setup and breakdown of the parade infrastructure and report any security concerns. Their role is crucial in maintaining order and safety during parades.

Parade Stage Attendant

Parade Stage Attendants are essential for the smooth execution of parade events. They are responsible for securing the judges’ area, setting up and breaking down the stage, and providing continuous support to judges. Their role demands attentiveness, efficiency, and a prompt response to the needs of both judges and event organizers, ensuring a well-organized and secure event environment.

Parade VIP Grandstand Attendant

Parade VIP Grandstand Attendants are responsible for ensuring that only individuals with VIP passes gain access to the designated grandstand VIP area. They also distribute free water to all attendees within this space, ensuring comfort and hydration throughout the event.

RedZone Manager

RedZone Managers oversee the setup and breakdown of designated areas, ensuring cleanliness and organization. They are also responsible for verifying IDs at entrances to enforce age restrictions, maintaining a secure and orderly environment in 18+ zones. Their role is crucial in managing the flow and compliance within these areas.

Street Block 4th & Beale

Street Block volunteers are tasked with ensuring the security and restricted access of a designated area. They monitor and control the flow of people, prevent unauthorized entry, and maintain the integrity of the secured perimeter. Their vigilance and ability to enforce security protocols are crucial in protecting the area effectively.

Street Block 4th & MLK

Street Block volunteers are tasked with ensuring the security and restricted access of a designated area. They monitor and control the flow of people, prevent unauthorized entry, and maintain the integrity of the secured perimeter. Their vigilance and ability to enforce security protocols are crucial in protecting the area effectively.

Vendor Captain

Vendor Captains are responsible for guiding vendors to their designated spots using maps and lists, ensuring they receive the services they purchased. Throughout the event, they monitor vendor needs, provide essentials like trash bags, and encourage cleanliness. Their duties may also include assisting with event setup or breakdown, depending on their shift.

Vendor Setup Entrance A

Vendor Setup Assistants are responsible for managing the entry of vendors onto event grounds. They verify vendor credentials, direct them to appropriate locations using maps and vendor lists, and ensure all vehicles are cleared from the area by 10am. Their role is crucial in organizing and facilitating smooth vendor setup, primarily on busy load-in days like Fridays.

Vendor Setup Entrance B

Vendor Setup Assistants are responsible for managing the entry of vendors onto event grounds. They verify vendor credentials, direct them to appropriate locations using maps and vendor lists, and ensure all vehicles are cleared from the area by 10am. Their role is crucial in organizing and facilitating smooth vendor setup, primarily on busy load-in days like Fridays.

Vendor Setup Entrance C

Vendor Setup Assistants are responsible for managing the entry of vendors onto event grounds. They verify vendor credentials, direct them to appropriate locations using maps and vendor lists, and ensure all vehicles are cleared from the area by 10am. Their role is crucial in organizing and facilitating smooth vendor setup, primarily on busy load-in days like Fridays.

Vendor Setup Entrance D

Vendor Setup Assistants are responsible for managing the entry of vendors onto event grounds. They verify vendor credentials, direct them to appropriate locations using maps and vendor lists, and ensure all vehicles are cleared from the area by 10am. Their role is crucial in organizing and facilitating smooth vendor setup, primarily on busy load-in days like Fridays.

VIP Attendant

VIP Attendants are responsible for maintaining the organization and cleanliness of exclusive VIP areas, typically tents, at events. They assist in the setup and breakdown of these areas and ensure that only guests with proper accreditation, such as wristbands and lanyards, gain access. Their role is crucial in providing a smooth and exclusive experience for VIP attendees.

Water & Ice Attendant

Water & Ice Attendants are responsible for ensuring that all designated areas within a park are adequately stocked with water and ice. They manage the inventory and distribution of these essential supplies, facilitating smooth operations and enhancing visitor comfort by providing necessary hydration and cooling resources throughout the park.

Find Answers

Have questions about Memphis Pride Fest or Mid-South Pride? Search our website and FAQs for insights on everything from parade routes to security and parking, ensuring a safe and memorable Pride celebration.

Yes! We love our four legged friends, but sometimes the weather is a little warm, and they will be doing a lot of walking, so protect their paws and take the recommended precautions to be sure they don’t overheat. (See the ASPCA Hot Weather Safety Tips for Pets) Also, be mindful of other festival-goers and ensure they are on a leash and you clean up behind them.

There are seating options in some areas of the festival. However, seating may be limited during peak hours, but we do allow guests to bring popup chairs.

Tickets to Memphis Pride Fest and other events are non-refundable.

There are seating options in some areas of the festival. However, seating may be limited during peak hours, but we do allow guests to bring popup chairs.

Yes, absolutely! We encourage all attendees to stay hydrated during the event. So, feel free to bring your own bottled water. Just remember to help us keep the event area clean by disposing of any empty bottles in the provided recycling bins. Enjoy the fest!

Sponsor registration begins in January. Registration forms can be found on our website.

Participating in the Pride Parade is easy. All you have to do is fill out the Parade Application form found on our website (Link below). There, you’ll provide us with some details about your unit, and submit your registration fee. Prior to the event date, we will follow up by email with all the necessary details including the parade route, line-up time, and guidelines. We look forward to celebrating with you!

When opting to pay later (by invoice), you should receive an invoice by email which includes a link to pay online. If you did not receive the invoice, check your spam folder or reach out through our contact form and we will re-send it to the email address provided.

You can also pay online without an invoice by visiting midsouthpride.org/pay , or follow the link below.

Participating as a festival vendor is simple and straightforward. You’ll find information about vendor opportunities and registration details at the link below. Once submitted, our team will review it and get back to you. We’re excited about the possibility of having you as a part of Memphis Pride Fest!

We’re thrilled to hear that you’re interested in joining the Pride festivities by hosting an event at your venue! To get started, simply fill out the “Event Hosting” form on our website. Here, you’ll be asked to provide information about your venue and the type of event you plan to host. Once your application is reviewed and approved, your event will be added to our official Pride Fest schedule. Your participation helps spread the joy of Pride throughout our city, and we’re excited to possibly work with you!

Your $1 admission not only grants you access to the festival area but also plays a vital role in helping us cover the additional costs associated with ensuring a safe and secure environment for all attendees. These expenses primarily include the presence of dedicated security personnel and related measures to guarantee everyone’s well-being throughout the event.

Furthermore, the admission-based entry system offers Memphis Pride Fest additional legal benefits by allowing us to establish a secure perimeter around the festival area, helping to deter and mitigate potential disruptions from counter-protesters. This ensures that we can maintain a peaceful and enjoyable experience for all participants while upholding the values of unity and respect.

While there are no age restrictions for the open festival area or the Parade. However, some Pride Fest events and areas of the park, like the RedZone and VIP Areas, do require you to be 18+ or 21+

Vendor spaces are 10′ x 10′ and include the reserved space and a festival vendor pass.
The following add-ons are available during the registration process:

  • Tables
  • Chairs
  • 10×10 Canopies
  • Electrical Connections
  • Permits to Sell
  • Tent Permits

Mid-South Pride and Memphis Pride Fest represent different aspects of the same overarching goal of celebrating and supporting the LGBTQ+ community in the Memphis and Mid-South region.

Mid-South Pride is a 501(c)(3) non profit organization that stands at the forefront of championing the visibility and acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community in the Mid-South area, fostering an environment where everyone can thrive authentically, free from discrimination. Learn More

Memphis Pride Fest is one of the flagship events organized by Mid-South Pride. The annual Memphis Pride Fest Weekend is a vibrant 4-day LGBTQIA Pride celebration. With over 50,000 families, friends, and allies in attendance, Memphis Pride Fest is the single largest Pride celebration in the region. Learn More

Your parade unit number generally determines the location of your space in the lineup area. However, since different types of groups line up in different areas and are staggered into their final position at the lineup point, your unit number is not an indication of your exact position in the procession.

Unit numbers will be announced along with lineup instructions approximately 7 to 10 days prior to the parade. However, these numbers are prone to fluctuate as last-minute changes become necessary, so once the lineup is posted, check it often to be sure your lineup area hasn’t changed.

For entry, attendees must pass through checkpoints where bag checks and metal detectors are in place. To further streamline this process and enhance safety, we have also implemented a clear bag policy. Only clear bags will be permitted inside the festival grounds. Kids’ diaper bags are okay but will be searched at the gate.

The Memphis Pride Fest RedZone is a curated space within the larger festival, specifically designated for individuals aged 18 and over. This exclusive area is tailored to adult attendees, focusing on aspects of sexual health, wellness, and personal intimacy.

It’s a hub where vendors present a variety of products and services, such as sexual health aids, adult-themed literature, personal wellness tools, and relationship counseling services. The Redzone is designed not only to showcase products and services, but to foster an environment of openness and education around adult sexual well-being.

Our community’s safety and security are top priorities. We have partnered with local law enforcement and private security firms to ensure comprehensive on-site coverage, enhancing the safety of our attendees.

Checkpoints: For entry, attendees must pass through checkpoints where bag checks and metal detectors are in place. To further streamline this process and enhance safety, we have also implemented a clear bag policy.

Emergency Response:  The entire venue is under constant CCTV surveillance. We have clearly marked emergency exits and safe zones, ensuring quick access in case of emergencies. Our preparedness includes on-site emergency response teams ready to handle any situation.

Cyber Security: Additionally, we have taken measures to safeguard digital safety. All transactions and personal information are encrypted and secured through robust digital safeguards.

Communication: Moreover, to keep our visitors informed and secure, the Memphis Pride Fest mobile app allows attendees to opt-in for real-time updates and security alerts. Our unwavering commitment is to provide a secure, safe, and inclusive environment for all attendees.

Entries should report to their check-in point no earlier than 11:45 PM and no later than 12:30 PM.

The festival gates open at 11:00 AM, and the festivities last until 5:00 PM.

The parade steps off at 11:00 AM and lasts around 90 minutes.

The Memphis Pride Parade features two flags, each with a different design and a unique story of its own:

The Sea-to-Sea Flag: A symbol of national LGBTQ+ solidarity, this flag was crafted by Gilbert Baker. Mid-South Pride was honored with a 100-foot segment in 2004, featuring a unique 8-stripe design including pink and indigo.

The Founder’s Flag: Debuted in 2008, this 6-stripe flag is a heartfelt tribute to Gary Wilkerson, a founder of Mid-South Pride, and serves as the official Memphis Pride flag.

Read more about these iconic symbols at midsouthpride.org/history

Entries should report to their check-in point no earlier than 9:45 AM and no later than 10:30 AM.
The staging area for the parade lineup spans five streets in the downtown area. Registered entries will be sent a copy of the lineup instructions about five days prior to step-off. Once posted, they will be accessible at midsouhpride.org/lineup .

The parade steps off at 11:00 AM on the first Saturday in June and runs through the Beale Street Entertainment District from S. Fourth Street and Beale Street (Just outside the festival entrance) and ends on Main Street. The entire procession lasts about 90 minutes.

The Memphis Pride Festival and Parade are held the first Saturday in June, but the 4 day Memphis Pride Fest weekend kicks off on onThursday and Friday prior to the Festival and Parade. See events.midsouthpride.org for upcoming dates and information..

The Festival is hosted in Robert Church Park at Fourth and Beale Street with the parade stepping off near the Festival Entrance at 11am and making its way down Beale Street, just blocks away from the National Civil Rights museum.

For more details visit midsouthpride.org/pridefest.

Festival registration begins typically towards the end of the year Nov/Dec and typically cuts off 60 days prior to the event. This allows organizers time to work out the logistics and secure equipment rentals and the required permits.

Parad winners will typically be announced on the Hustle N Glow stage about 60 to 90 minutes after the parade ends.

Tickets ordered online are sent to the email address provided by the purchaser. Search your inbox for “You Have Tickets.” If you do not find them, send us a message along with the name and email address associated with your registration so we can send you another copy. To order tickets online, click here.

The Sea-to-Sea flag has a unique feature that makes it easy to distinguish from the Memphis Pride Flag. For the full story, read The History of Pride in Memphis.

You can order T-Shirts and other Pride Gear, on our website or at the Info Booth at the festival.

You can order tickets [on our website](https://events.midsouthpride.org). Tickets are also available at the gate, but to expedite entry, we recommend ordering online in advance.

There are a number of ways to navigate parking and transportation for Memphis Pride Fest. You might want to consider public transit like the Downtown Trolly System or rideshare services such as Uber and Lyft. Metered street parking is another option, although it’s often in high demand during events.

For those who prefer driving, nearby parking garages and lots, such as the 250 Peabody Pl Garage and the New Downtown Mobility Center, offer convenient locations. It’s worth noting that fees may apply in these locations, so checking rates and hours of operation beforehand is recommended. See more nearby parking options.

VIP Passes are available at the info booth, which is located near the festival entrance at 4th and Beale St.

Vendor setup instructions will be posted at [midsouthpride.org/setup](http://midsouthpride.org/setup) approximately 7 to 10 days prior to the festival. Watch your inbox for updates.

Prime viewing for the parade is in the VIP Grandstand, which is located on Beale Street at Rufus Thomas Blvd, across from the Judge’s Stage. However, any point west of Rufus Thomas Blvd. will have a spectacular view.

At the Memphis Pride Fest, the Meet and Greet usually features a variety of special guests. These could include celebrity performers, notable figures from the LGBTQ+ community, and local activists. The specific lineup varies from year to year to keep the event fresh and exciting. We recommend checking our official website or social media platforms closer to the festival date for the most current information on who you can expect to meet this year. It’s always an incredible opportunity to connect with inspiring individuals!

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