Parking

Please note, the only entrance to the park is located next to the accessible parking lot by Greenbelt Pavilion.

Event Map

Stuff you need to know:

• What to Bring:
• a camp chair or picnic blanket to set up in front of the entertainment or where ever you please
  
• Water and sunscreen! It's gonna be hot y'all.
  
• Snacks/food/a picnic. We have recruited one food truck (Stolen Streetlights whose menu is posted below).
  
• There will be only one entrance and exit to the park which is the registration area by Greenbelt Pavilion.
  
• This event is free for everyone but you must have an armband to enter. Bands will be available at the entrance at the registration table.
• No sales or fundraising is allowed in the Park, per the City of Maryville, which is why we have a community resource fair rather than vendors.
• This extends to tipping performers unfortunately; We are paying our performers!
• There will be water, chairs and tables at the Chill Out Tent for when you need to beat the heat.
• A first aid tent will be available next to the Greenbelt Pavilion.
• No weapons are permitted at the event.
• Maryville Police Department will be providing security for this event.
• Please leave the accessible parking (a.k.a. the Greenbelt Pavilion lot) for those with mobility issues. Parking options can be viewed here.
  

Blount Pride Event Schedule

Performer Spotlights can be found after the schedule.

Performer Spotlights

Kukuly and the Fuego is a Knoxville based acoustic ensemble that plays Hot Jazz inspired by the music of legendary French Gypsy guitarist, Django Reinhardt, and jazz violinist, Stephane Grappelli. The band's extensive repertoire includes swing standards, ballads, bossa novas, tangos, waltzes, Latin songs and other vintage-jazz sources done in uniquely arranged styles. Playing everything from Django Reinhardt through Les Paul and Antonio Carlos Jobim, Kukuly and the Fuego plays jazz that knows no border. The lineup includes: Guitarist and vocalist kukuly Uriarte; Violinist Seth Hopper; Guitarist and vocalist David Bivens; sax, flute and clarinet player Anna Helms and Cello player Andy Bryenton.

Grady Milligan is a local singer-song writer you may have heard strumming up tunes at places such as Pretentious Beer Co or seen serving sweet drinks at Frog Juice Kombucha Boocherie. Their repertoire features not only the beautiful story telling of their original songs, but also a plethora of covers that includes hits from artists such a John Mayer, Blink-182, Disney songs, and of course Tennessee's own Dolly Parton.

Bio coming soon!

Jaq is a Master’s student studying Urban Food Forestry at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. They’ve lived as far west as Portland, OR, as far north as Traverse City, MI, as far south as Plano, TX, and as far east as Burghausen, Germany (with many homes and loved ones in between). Jaq is also the Student Director of the Tennessee Champion Tree Program, where they help measure and record the largest specimen of each tree species in the state. Besides all that cool tree stuff, they are a Knoxville songwriter/musician and are joyfully and vibrantly queer!

Photographed by: Taryn Ferro @awsnapshots

Nayeema is a 22 year old singer-songwriter from Knoxville, Tennessee(they/them). They started their music journey by writing songs to help understand their emotions so an outlet to cope. Nayeema is self taught musician, teaching themself how to play the guitar at age 13, next the piano, and with the help of Knoxville Girls Rock camp and Girls Rock Camp Alliance, they learned how to play the bass, drums, and learned musical production. Nayeema’s music journey has been one of self exploration and expression rather than impression and acclaim. To show that there is a space  in music for you to share your story regardless what that story is. Nayeema now does work with Knoxville’s Girls Rock camp as a board member and an organizer as well as Girls Rock Camp Alliance as a board member and part of the identity group council!

Adeem the Artist (they/them/theirs) is a seventh-generation Carolinian, a makeshift poet, singer-songwriter, storyteller, and blue-collar Artist. They began toiling at their instrument in 2002 when their family relocated to Syracuse, NY and used songwriting as a vehicle to process the ensuing culture shock, their faith, and later their journey through apostasy.

Blending a homegrown affection for Country Music with the emotional ballyhoo of alternative folk in the early aughts, they have created a unique brand of Americana that pays homage to John Prine and John Darnielle (of The Mountain Goats) in equal parts.

On Cast-Iron Pansexual, they received praise from Rolling Stone & American Songwriter for their work exploring identity across coalescing subcultures. Traveling to Carolina to get their Tarot read while straddling the duality of being a "blue collar boy" who is a "complicated dame," Adeem excavates unwonted stories of the forgotten south.

After touring with American Aquarium and opening for acts like Will Hoge, Emily Wolfe, & Jaime Wyatt, they launched the "Redneck Fundraiser," to finance their new album. In a matter of a few weeks, they raised over $15,000 to work with an all-star cast of musicians on their upcoming record for a release in late 2022.

Community Resource Fair Participants

One of our main goals of this event is to help create connections in our community for LGBT+ folks. Learn more about these folks' good work and get connected.

Appalachian OUTreach	Foothills Unitarian Universalist Fellowship	Knox Pride
Queer History Project	Cherokee Health	The Rock and Metal Academy
Harmony Family Center	UT Pride Center	Girl Scouts
Knoxville Gay Men's Chorus	ACLU TN	Change TN
UT Extension	Positively Living

Appalachian Community Fund	DCS -Foster Services	Blount County Democratic Party
Psychotherapy & Forensic Services	United Way of Blount County	Maryville College Pride Club
Foothills Community Players	Scruffy City Sisters	Green Meadow UMC
McNabb Foster Care	Big Brothers Big Sisters of East Tennessee	Haven House

Event Partners

Supporters

Knoxville Gay Men's Chorus

Central Cinema

Round 6 Brewing

Epic Nine Marketing Outfitters

Haven Media

ABBA Handyman Services - Jake Reynolds

The Rock & Metal Academy

Izze Sykes

Lisa Misosky

Councilwoman Sarah Herron

Charmaine Nichols, Attorney at Law

Doug & Kris Brenneise

Katy Chiles

Danielle Lincoln

Ben Nicholas

The Lippert Family

Sue DuBois

Dixie

Sherry Shurden Brewer

Abigail D. Blankner

Blount County Democratic Party

If you supported Blount Pride 2022, and don't see your name here we didn't forget you! We are confirming that you want to be listed in the program. Please reach out to us via Facebook with questions.

Blount Pride Steering Committee

Anita Blatnik

Ari Baker

Kevin Rakestraw

Bryana Ezell

Gibran Cuevas

Jennifer Spirko

Rob Spirko

Rhonda Radford

Shannon Bryant

Bryan Baker

Blount Pride Volunteers 2022

Chery Kendrick

Erica Reynolds and Jasmine Reynolds

Accenture LGBT ERG

Nicole Samu

Kathie Shiba

Lelia Fain

Jenn Hardy

Jake Reynolds

Sabrina Gatlin

Marge Meredith

Carmina de Guia-Jones

Marcus Jones

Bethany Cheatham

Sarah Cruze

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Thanks for coming to Blount Pride 2022. <3