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 sharing art or volunteering your time, this is where you can contribute your creativity and energy to the celebration.
Whether you’re an artist, designer, helper, or someone who simply wants to support the event, there’s a place for you to be part of making the day happen.
T-Shirt Design Submissions
Not a Contest - Community Designs Will Be Featured on Autistic Pride Day T-Shirts
Autistic Pride Day isn’t just a place to attend — it’s something the community helps create.
We’re inviting artists and designers to submit original artwork for Autistic Pride Day T-shirts. These designs help celebrate autistic pride, creativity, and community while also helping raise funds that support the event itself.
Selected designs will be featured in the Autistic Pride Chattanooga Bonfire store, where community members can purchase them and proudly wear artwork created by fellow members of the community.
Every event shirt will include a shared message marking the occasion:
“1st Autistic Pride Day – Autistic Pride Chattanooga – June 20th 2026 – Downtown Library.”
Designers may suggest shirt colors or other creative ideas as part of their submission.
If you’d like to contribute your own design, we’d love to see it.
T-shirt submissions for Autistic Pride Day designs are open through June 20th.
Explore Current Designs
Curious what kinds of designs our community has already created?
Visit the Autistic Pride Chattanooga Bonfire store to explore shirts that are currently available and support the event while wearing artwork created by members of the community.
Get Your Limited-Edition Adventure Lanyard
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. Early registration 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. Lanyard designs were submitted and voted on by the community earlier this year.
This lanyard marks the beginning of something new. Years from now, it will be the keepsake that says you were there when it all started.
Preregistration is available through June 1st.
Actually Silent Auction & Art Exhibit
On the third floor of the library, visitors will find a quieter space dedicated to rest, reflection, and Tea with Iroh. This area is intentionally designed to move at a slower pace, giving people the chance to wander, take in creative work, and spend time with pieces that resonate with them.
This space will also host a community art exhibition and silent auction featuring work by autistic and neurodivergent artists.
One of the core goals of Autistic Pride Chattanooga is to amplify, empower, and center autistic voices. Creating space for autistic and neurodivergent artists to share their work is an important part of that mission.
Artists are invited to participate in whichever way feels right for them. Some may choose to display their work as part of the exhibition, while others may choose to enter a piece into the silent auction. Artists are welcome to do either one or both.
For artists who participate in the silent auction, all proceeds from the sale of their work go directly to the artist. This is an opportunity for creators to share their talent with the community and earn money from their work. We do not expect artists to donate their earnings from auction sales.
You do not need to be a professional artist to participate. We welcome a wide range of creative expression and encourage artists at all stages of their creative journey to share their work.
Our goal is to create a supportive and affirming space where autistic and neurodivergent artists can showcase their creativity, connect with the community, and be recognized for the value of their work.
If you would like to submit artwork for the exhibition or silent auction, you can do so here:
Open Mic and Stimming Contest
Stimming Contest
Show us your favorite stim for about 20 seconds and our board will score it like a dramatic scene from a movie! You'll also get a special Side Quest button for your collection and the chance at a trophy. You can bring music or have us provide some.
Open Mic Info Dump
This event will be ongoing throughout the day. Info dump on your favorite topic, show us your stupid talent, or show off your impressive collection. Participating will also earn you a Side Quest button!
Volunteer With Us
Autistic Pride Day is Powered By Volunteers
From welcoming guests and guiding visitors through activities to supporting quiet spaces, helping vendors and artists, and assisting with setup or cleanup, volunteers are the people who help create the adventure for everyone who attends.
But supporting Autistic Pride Day doesn’t only happen on the day of the event. Volunteers who help with other Autistic Pride Chattanooga initiatives — like Autistic for Safe Food, neuroDIVERSEcity, community meetups, and behind-the-scenes projects — make it possible for our team to focus time and energy on bringing Autistic Pride Day to life.
In other words, when you volunteer anywhere in our community, you are helping make Autistic Pride Day possible.
If you’re interested in getting involved, we invite you to learn more about how volunteering works and fill out our volunteer interest form.
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.” 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 last minute spot opens up.
Join the Community
Be in community with us. If you would like to represent your organization, your business, or yourself in support of our community, you are invited to host a Community Table.
Community Tables are located on the first floor and in the outdoor space of the Chattanooga Downtown Library. They are open, seated activity spaces designed for shared participation and community building. Whether through games, creative projects, or other tabletop experiences, these gatherings offer a simple way to connect without pressure.
Through this initiative, we are modeling for our broader community the kind of parallel communication in which Autistic and Neurodiverse people thrive.
We may have some last‑minute space available. If you are interested, please apply.
Thank You for Helping Create the Adventure
Autistic Pride Day is more than an event — it’s something our community builds together.
Whether you design a shirt, submit artwork, volunteer your time, or simply show up ready to explore, every contribution helps shape the experience. The creativity, care, and imagination of the people who make up this community are what turn Autistic Pride Day into
However you choose to take part, we’re glad you’re here, and we hope you’ll reach out and say hello if you have any questions.
