Autistic Pride Day – Chattanooga • June 20, 2026
Join us for Chattanooga’s first autistic‑led Autistic Pride Day — and one of the first celebrations of its kind in the entire Southeast. Autistic Pride Day is a global movement created by autistic people to celebrate identity, culture, and community. In 2026, Chattanooga joins that movement with a full‑day, multi‑level adventure built by and for autistic people.
This is not an awareness event.
This is a cultural event — a day to exist safely, joyfully, and unmasked.
---
Location
Downtown Chattanooga Public Library
11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Free to attend • Registration available at the door
Optional $5 preregistration includes a limited‑edition event lanyard.
---
What to Expect
Outdoor Festival & Welcome
Before you even enter the library, you’ll find:
• Face painting & balloon creations (Creatives on the Go Party Co)
• DIY bracelet station (The Craft Cottage)
• Bubble Mania (Northern Lights Behavioral Consulting)
• Nerdy4Food food truck with “food you can play with”
• Side quests, activities, and your first event button
Volunteers will greet you, collect any non‑perishable donations for the Chatt Pride Food Coalition, and guide you to registration.
---
Explore the Adventure — Floor by Floor
1st Floor — Auditorium & Tabletop Gaming
• Opening & closing ceremonies
• Autistic‑led panel discussions
• Stimming Contest
• Magic: The Gathering, puzzles, Legos, tabletop games
• Cosplay appearances from Chattooine
A welcoming place to settle in, play, and connect.
---
2nd Floor — Youth & Family Activities
• Story time with neuroaffirming children’s books
• Author Bethany Stahl reading The Day I Learned I’m Autistic (and ADHD)
• Hands‑on STEM activities from REconnect Nature School
A space for kids to explore, create, and discover pride.
---
3rd Floor — Quiet Space & Silent Auction
• “Tea with Iroh” calming tea‑room experience
• Gentle yoga & grounding with Kari Flowers
• Actually Silent – Silent Auction featuring autistic & neurodiverse artists (H*Art Gallery)
A restorative floor for rest, reflection, and regulation.
---
4th Floor — Role‑Playing, Market & Open Mic
• Dungeons & Dragons campaign (Chattanooga TableTop Revue)
• Adventure Market featuring neurodiverse makers
• Open Mic Infodumping hosted by Barking Legs Theatre
A space for creativity, passion, and shared interests.
---
Support the Celebration
Autistic Pride Day is made possible through community support.
Ways to get involved:
• Volunteer
• Sponsor or underwrite
• Donate items or art to the Actually Silent – Silent Auction
• Join the vendor waitlist (market is currently full)