A Global Movement,
A Local Beginning
Autistic Pride Day began as an international movement 20 years ago, created by autistic people to celebrate identity, culture, and community. Each June, autistic people around the world gather to affirm that we are not hidden, but honored.
In 2026, Autistic Pride Chattanooga will host Chattanooga’s first autistic‑led Autistic Pride Day — and, as far as we know, the first Autistic Pride Day celebration in the entire Southeast. This event marks a milestone for our city and our region, joining the global celebration with a distinctly local, autistic‑led voice.
Planning to Join the Adventure?
Autistic Pride Day is completely free to attend, and registration will also be available at the door on the day of the event. For those who would like to support the celebration ahead of time, preregistration is available for $5 and helps our team prepare the space, activities, and resources needed for everyone coming together. As a thank you, guests who preregister will receive a limited-edition event lanyard at check-in.
Why Autistic Pride Day Matters
Autistic Pride Day is not an awareness event. It is a cultural event — a day built by autistic people, for autistic people — where we can exist safely, joyfully, and unmasked.
Simply stating pride in our neurodiversity is revolutionary. That is why Autistic Pride Chattanooga began around the simple idea to bring Autistic Pride Day to our region of the world. In a landscape where autistic people are often spoken for, pathologized, or pushed to the margins, claiming pride is an act of resistance and an act of community‑building. It shifts the narrative from deficit to culture, from intervention to identity, from being managed to being understood on our own terms.
Autistic Pride Day matters because it creates space for autistic identity to be recognized as something worth celebrating — not something to fix. It challenges stigma by making autistic presence visible, collective, and unapologetic. It restores agency by centering autistic leadership and lived experience. And it strengthens belonging by giving our community a place to gather without masking, without explanation, and without compromise.
This day signals that autistic people in Chattanooga — and across the Southeast — deserve spaces shaped by our needs, our leadership, and our ways of moving through the world. It is a declaration that autistic culture exists, that it is vibrant, and that it belongs here.
Explore the Day
Arriving at the Downtown Library, you may notice something different before you even reach the doors. Community tents line the entrance, offering side quests of games and interactive activities. There is face painting and balloon creations from Creatives on the Go Party Co. A DIY custom bracelet station hosted by The Craft Cottage. And everywhere, bubbles. Endless bubbles from Bubble Mania, brought to us by Northern Lights Behavioral Consulting. You will also find the Nerdy4Food food truck outside, offering "food you can play with" that invites you to eat your fandom as part of your adventure.
Before you step inside, a fellow adventurer greets you at the door. They guide you to registration and collect any non perishable goods you have brought to support the Chatt Pride Food Coalition. In return, you receive your first token of the day, a button marking the completion of your first side quest.
At registration, you receive your lanyard, either a limited edition preregistration perk that helped support this event or a free day of lanyard, because this celebration does not require payment for any activity. The lanyard becomes your adventure log, holding the buttons you collect as you complete quests throughout the building.
Then the journey begins.
The first floor is home to the main auditorium, where you’ll find the opening and closing ceremonies, panel discussions, and the Stimming Contest. It’s the gathering point for the day’s shared celebrations — the place where we come together before scattering across the building to follow our own paths.
Throughout the floor, you’ll also find a wide range of tabletop games hosted by Community Partners, including Magic: The Gathering, puzzles, Legos, and other table‑based activities that invite you to sit, play, and connect at your own pace.
Cosplay appearances from Chattoonie and fellow attendees may also be found throughout the space, adding moments of color and character as you explore.
It’s a welcoming place to settle in, join the fun, and come exactly as you are.
On the second floor, younger adventurers can gather for story time with books that celebrate children discovering pride in who they are. This floor also features a display of neuroaffirming children’s books, and author Bethany Stahl will share her book The Day I Learned I’m Autistic (and ADHD) with anyone who wants to listen.
And for those who prefer something with a little more spark, REconnect Nature School will lead hands‑on, STEM‑focused activities built for learners who enjoy tackling challenges, experimenting, and building things, drawing from the same approach they use with their own students each week.
By the time you reach the third floor, you may feel the need to reset, and that is intentional.
Here, the energy softens. You can sit for Tea with Iroh, a calming tea‑room experience created by Chattanooga musician and community member Joseph Wooten, and take a moment to breathe.
Yogi Kari Flowers will offer yoga and mantras to help calm your nervous system no matter where you are, even in a public library during Autistic Pride Day. This floor is dedicated to quiet restoration and reflection.
It is also home to our Actually Silent – Silent Auction, featuring artwork created by autistic and neurodiverse artists in partnership with the H*Art Gallery, along with goods sourced throughout Chattanooga. You can wander slowly.
Rest fully. Recalibrate before continuing your adventure.
When you are ready, ascend to the fourth floor.
You will find your ultimate adventure waiting with a Dungeons and Dragons campaign run by Chattanooga Table Top Revue, drawing you straight into a world of imagination the moment you step off the elevator.
From there, you can restock your supplies at the Adventure Market, a curated collection of vendors whose work carries the same spirit of creativity and discovery that runs through the day. It’s the place to gather what you need for whatever comes next.
And you’ll want to, because just steps away the stage opens for Open Mic Infodumping, hosted with the expertise of Barking Legs Theatre. This is your moment to tell Chattanooga what you specialize in, to share your niche passion, your research obsession, your special skill, right in the heart of the market with a built‑in audience already exploring the floor.
It’s an adventure — one designed by us for us so you can move at your own pace, choose your own path, and exist without "masking," apology, or compromise.
Explore by Level
Need to know more details? We get it. Some of us like to know the map before starting the quest. Below you’ll find each floor of the adventure explained in a little more detail.
1st Floor
Auditorium & Tabletop Gaming
The first floor is home to the main auditorium, where you’ll find the opening and closing ceremonies, panel discussions, and the Stimming Contest.
It’s the gathering point for the day’s shared celebrations.
Throughout the floor, you’ll also find a wide range of tabletop games hosted by Community Partners, including Magic: The Gathering, puzzles, Legos, and other table‑based activities that invite you to sit, play, and connect at your own pace.
Cosplay appearances from Chattooine and fellow attendees may also be found throughout the space, adding moments of color and character as you explore.
It’s a welcoming place to settle in, join the fun, and come exactly as you are.
2nd Floor
Youth & Family Actives
The second floor features activities designed with younger adventurers and families in mind.
Guests can enjoy story time with books that celebrate children discovering pride in who they are, creating a space where kids can see themselves reflected and uplifted.
Community partner REconnect Nature School will host hands‑on activities that invite curious minds to explore, build, and experiment.
Their approach encourages movement, creativity, and the kind of learning that comes naturally when children are given room to follow their interests.
This floor offers a welcoming space for youth to explore, create, and connect in ways that support their interests and energy.
3rd Floor
Quiet Space & Silent Auction
The third floor offers a quieter environment for those who may need a moment to rest and recharge during the day.
Guests are invited to relax and enjoy a calming “Tea with Iroh” experience designed to encourage reflection and connection in a low‑sensory space.
Yogi Kari Flowers will offer gentle yoga and mantras to support grounding and restoration.
This floor will also host the Actually Silent – Silent Auction, featuring artwork created by autistic and neurodiverse artists in partnership with the H*Art Gallery, along with items sourced from across Chattanooga.
It’s a place to slow down, reset, and explore unique pieces while supporting the community.
4th Floor
Role Playing, Market & Open Mic
The fourth floor brings together creativity, community, and the joy of shared interests.
A Dungeons and Dragons campaign led by Chattanooga Table Top Revue invites guests into collaborative storytelling and imaginative play.
Here you can discover the Adventure Market, which offers vendors whose work reflects curiosity, craft, and the spirit of exploration, creating a place to browse, discover, and connect with makers from our wider neurodiverse community.
Nearby, Open Mic Infodumping hosted by Barking Legs Theatre lets attendees share the passions and ideas that matter most to them, adding a steady current of excitement and expression.
It’s a space shaped by creativity and connection, where every interest has room to shine.
Outdoors
Festival & Welcome
Before entering the building, guests will be welcomed by an outdoor festival area filled with interactive side quests and activities hosted by community partners. Visitors can enjoy face painting and balloon creations from Creatives on the Go Party Co, make custom bracelets at the DIY station from The Craft Cottage, and experience Bubble Mania presented by Northern Lights Behavioral Consulting. Nerdy4Food’s food truck will also be outside, offering “food you can play with” and dishes that invite you to eat your fandom as part of your adventure.
This area serves as the welcome point for the day, where volunteers greet attendees and help guide them to registration to begin their adventure. It’s a place to connect with the community, explore the first activities of the day, and get ready for everything waiting inside.
Create the Adventure
Autistic Pride Day is built by the community, and there are many ways to help shape the experience. From designing event gear to volunteering your time, this is where you can contribute your creativity and energy to the celebration.
Opportunities include:
Partner With Us
Autistic Pride Day brings together community organizations, creators, and businesses from across the region. If you would like to host a table, share resources, or participate as a vendor, this is where you can learn more and apply.
Partnership opportunities include:
The Market Inventory Quest Has Been Completed
Our vendor market is now full. We are so grateful for the incredible response from artists, makers, and small businesses.
Autistic Pride Day continues to grow, and there are still ways to be part of the event. We invite those who would like to participate to consider donating items, art, or experiences to our “Actually Silent - Silent Auction.” You can learn more about our auction at "Create the Adventure" This is a chance to share your work with the community in a meaningful way while supporting Autistic Pride Day.
If you were hoping to join as a vendor, you can still apply to our vendor waitlist in case a spot opens up.
Support the Celebration
Autistic Pride Day is made possible through the generosity of individuals and organizations who believe in celebrating autistic voices and community. If you would like to help sustain this event, there are several ways to contribute.
Ways to support include:
Thank You to Our Supporters
Our underwriters reflect the community that is bringing Autistic Pride Day to Chattanooga. This event exists because of collective support and shared investment in Autistic community and culture.
We offer full party support from start to finish, handling setup, creative details, and cleanup so families can stay present and enjoy the day without the stress of managing the moving parts.
An artist and crafter who brings hands‑on DIY fun to any event, creating moments of play, creativity, and connection.
The Uncle Iroh Team often shares that Uncle Iroh has been their guiding hero for years. They believe the world needs more gentleness, warmth, and steady wisdom, so they bring that spirit to every event. They create a calming space and offer tea to anyone who needs a quiet moment. If you see the Uncle Iroh Team out in the world, you’re welcome to join them for tea and a breath before continuing your adventure.
Chattooine is a charity costuming group founded in 2004 here in Chattanooga. Our mission is to spread happiness and joy through costuming, contribute to the local community through costumed charity and volunteer work, and encourage creativity while sharing the fun of pop culture and fandoms with others.
REconnect Nature School is a Nature-Immersive, Community-Facing, STEAM-Focused, Microschool for Middle and High School aged students.
Let's Reimagine Education Together. Our approach to education is rooted in the belief that by combining academics with real-world applications, we can prepare our students not only to excel academically but also to become compassionate stewards of this world. Through innovative projects that blend creativity with conservation, students develop a holistic understanding of the interconnectedness between themselves and the world around them.
Barking Legs Theater’s mission is to enhance the community by cultivating and mentoring diverse artists, presenters, and audiences in an accessible and creative environment. We are a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the work of contemporary performing artists in the Southeast and beyond.
We are committed to supporting and presenting work that challenges the barriers that inhibit new growth and exploration and that push outside the prescribed boundaries of the performing arts. We seek to serve the community through outreach programs, arts projects, and classes.
A group of nerds looking to blend culture and fun into food for every fandom to enjoy! Around here, they like to play with their food, offering multicultural cuisine with fandom flare that invites you to eat your fandom. Come out and join Nerdy4Food in celebrating autistic pride, one bite at a time. They’re the reason the 1st Autistic Pride Day in the Southeast even has a lunch adventure, and we’re grateful for the creativity and problem‑solving that made it possible. Follow them on social media to see the Autistic Pride Day menu as soon as they post it. Go ahead, play with your food!
Chattanooga Tabletop Revue is a charitable company dedicated to using the power of live performance and tabeltop gaming to make a difference. We produce high-energy, unscripted stage shows featuring talented improv actors, with 100% of proceeds going directly to support other charities and community organizations.
Our mission is simple: entertain, engage, and give back. Whether you're attending a live improv performance or rolling dice at a charity game night, you're helping support meaningful causes and strengthening community bonds—one show and one game at a time.
Kari Flowers is a yogi committed to making yoga accessible to all bodies and all nervous systems. Her practice is rooted in the belief that regulation belongs to everyone, and she brings a steady passion for sharing movement, breath, and grounding techniques that support people wherever they are. Kari’s approach centers inclusion, autonomy, and the simple truth that every nervous system deserves tools that help it settle and reconnect.
H*Art Gallery is a Chattanooga nonprofit that creates space for artists who are often overlooked, offering a platform where creativity, dignity, and community meet. Their mission centers artists who have experienced homelessness, disability, mental health challenges, or other barriers, and they provide the support, materials, and opportunities needed for those artists to share their work with the world.
The gallery operates with a simple belief: art is a form of connection, and everyone deserves access to it. Through exhibitions, community partnerships, and hands‑on support, H*Art Gallery uplifts artists whose voices and visions might otherwise go unseen. Their work brings depth, color, and humanity to every space they join.
Press & Media
Our mission is to amplify, center, and empower Autistic voices. It is important that Autistic people are leading and included in conversations about autism.
Thank you for helping us advance that work.
What This Day Builds
Bringing Autistic Pride Day to Chattanooga is more than hosting an event — it’s creating a space where autistic identity is recognized as culture and community. This day strengthens the groundwork for future gatherings, collaborations, and shared imagination. Every person who participates helps shape what grows from here.