It was a record-breaking event for Nashville Pride as more than 16,000 people are estimated to have attended the event on Saturday, June 20, despite intense heat, according to Pride President Pam Wheeler. The total money raised at the event has not yet been released.

The temperature rose above 100 degrees and pavement heat all but melted shoe soles on 1st Ave. where 105 vendor booths lined the street.

Gwen Peters was on site at Arlington Properties' 1700 Midtown booth where visitors lined up to register to win a Vespa and cool off in front of a fan.

"It was a really great day despite the heat," Peters said. "The venue was perfect and people really seemed to enjoy it."

This is the first year the festival has been held on the riverfront since 1995 when about 8,000 people attended the event. Last year's event was held at Centennial Park on Sunday, June 1, with an estimated 15,000 attendants.

This year, a cool breeze moved with the river and offered a bit of reprieve for attendees who sat in the riverside grass to watch emcee Lady Bunny and performers, including Deborah Cox, throughout the day.

Nashville's Julia Tate said the festival was a great representation of middle Tennessee's GLBT community.

"Once again, Pride has given us a chance to be amongst our own people while we show our city who we really are," Tate said. "I'm especially glad that the festival was on Saturday so that Sunday remained available for those of us who worship then and so that churches who support us could be a part of the festival."