VA Pride recently announced that rapper Saucy Santana, trans pop singer Mila Jam and club icon Kevin Aviance will headline Pridefest 2025 at Midtown Green on Saturday, Sept. 27.

The festival, billed as Virginia’s largest LGBTQ event, will also feature “RuPaul’s Drag Race” star Aja, local drag performers, bands and dance groups. Richmond-based pop/rock band the Chapstix, pop/punk cover band What’s Our Age Again, and Teshia LeSane and Sound are among local entertainers scheduled to perform. The Latin Ballet of Virginia and the Virginia Ballroom Alliance will offer dance performances. 

“People are in for a treat. Everything from country and emo covers, to jazz to ballroom, to an amazing cultural experience, be prepared to be entertained,” said Alvion Davenport, VA Pride’s entertainment lead. 

The 2025 Pridefest theme, “Live. Out. Loud.,” reflects the LGBTQ community’s resilience amid recent challenges, said James Millner, Virginia Pride director. “Events like Pridefest send an irrefutable message that the LGBTQ community is powerful and resilient,” he said. 

For the first time, the festival will expand its Allianz Youth Pride Pavilion, offering music, theater, interactive contests and youth-focused drag performances. Community organizations including the Science Museum of Virginia, Side by Side and the Children’s Museum of Richmond will host additional activities for LGBTQ youth and their families. 

Organizers highlighted accessibility at Midtown Green, including ADA seating, ASL interpretation, reserved parking and mobility assistance. A Sober Space, in partnership with the McShin Foundation, will provide nonalcoholic beverages, snacks and games. 

Pridefest is free and supported by Richmond Region Tourism’s OutRVA program, the Virginia Lottery, Bank of America, CarMax, Allianz and the City of Richmond. For more information, visit vapride.org.