Arkansas PRIDEFest (Central Arkansas Pride)

Arkansas PRIDEFest is the annual festival and parade of Central Arkansas Pride, an all-volunteer nonprofit founded in 2013. The main festival and parade take place on Capitol Avenue in Little Rock, with stage performances by Arkansas and national talent, food courts, artists and wellness organizations. The surrounding week includes a pageant, an advocacy workshop at the State Capitol, a meet and greet and a Sunday brunch.

Central Arkansas Pride holds its festival on the third Saturday of October, which it marks as LGBTQIA+ history month and coming-out month. The group was founded in 2013 as an all-volunteer 501(c)(3), it describes Pride as both a celebration and an ongoing protest for equality, and it runs programming throughout the year.

The 2026 festival and parade, the 14th annual, is set for the weekend of October 17 and 18 under the theme United in Pride. The festival brings together more than 160 vendors and entertainers, with a main stage featuring vocalists, instrumentalists, drag, spoken word, theater and bands from Arkansas and beyond.

There are two food courts showcasing Arkansas food, arts and crafts from local artists, wellness organizations focused on physical and mental health, and an interactive play zone. The street festival is ADA accessible and has two dedicated ADA parking lots. The parade invites everyone to march on Capitol Avenue for visibility and equality.

Pride events celebrate LGBTQ+ people and mark the Stonewall uprising of June 1969. Most combine a parade or march with a festival of performers, community groups, vendors and food.

Arkansas PRIDEFest (Central Arkansas Pride) has included festival, parade, pageant, advocacy workshop and brunch.

Arkansas PRIDEFest (Central Arkansas Pride) was first held in 2013.

The next edition is October 15-18, 2026. It usually falls third Saturday of October, during LGBTQ+ History Month.