When you walk into Atlanta Pride Festival festival, you can immediately feel the energy.

Walking through Midtown’s Piedmont Park, you’ll witness the most raveshing costumes. From todlers in strollers to elderly couples with families, festival-goers eat, drink, sing and dance the day away.

Whether you’re in the mood for a vegan wrap or fried chicken, there’s something for everyone. The food and beverage options are as diverse as the crowd.

But the true meaning of the celebration can be seen on the countless signs marked with words of pride — pride for who they are and the rights they deserve.

Atlanta Pride celebrates for an entire weekend, with numerous events from day to night. The parade is the culminating event and is a time for the LGBT community to congregrate in an elaborate celebration.

Atlanta organizations and businesses join together to march for a shared cause. Colorful banners, waving flags, dazzling costumes and blasting music keep the party going until sunset.

Making more and more progress each year, the LGBT community has plenty to celebrate. Eight states added marriage equality in the past year. More than 10 million people changed their profile picture to the HRC red equality logo during two marriage equality Supreme Court cases. The U.S. Senate passed the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, moving toward workplace protection for all American citizens.

Time to get planning for next year’s annual Pride Festival and Parade!