The largest pride event in the Southeast includes not only the main festival, but a Dyke March, a Trans March, and from August 29 to September 3, Black Gay Pride, sponsored by In the Life Atlanta. With a distinctive Southern flavor, the Atlanta Pride Festival in Piedmont Park entices people from all across the region. Some attendees from nearby towns revel in their once-a-year opportunity to step out of the closet.

Pride festivities kick off well before the official weekend, with pre-Pride events such as an AIDS vigil, an exhibit of 25 years of international AIDS posters, a commitment ceremony and a men's designer event. And once the main weekend rolls around, visitors can take their pick from children's entertainers, a car and motorcycle show, a literary showcase, human rights exhibits, a community health expo, and a marketplace featuring more than 200 vendor booths. At 1 p.m. on Sunday, October 14, the parade kicks off down the streets of Midtown, drawing tens of thousands of spectators.

And if all those options aren't enough, step out of the Pride fray to visit the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change to learn about King's life, legacy and teachings. Or visit Zoo Atlanta, in Grant Park, home to endangered animals such as rhinos, orangutans, gorillas and elephants.