Pride Fest Celebrates Community and Connection in St. Joseph

The annual Pride Fest in St. Joseph brought hundreds of attendees together for a weekend of celebration, entertainment, and support for the LGBTQ+ community. The event, organized by Saint Joseph Pride, featured a wide range of activities, including drag performances, local vendor booths, bounce houses for children, and a pride parade that marched through downtown St. Joseph. The festival was not only a celebration of the LGBTQ+ community but also served as a platform for education and visibility, with local businesses, organizations, and nonprofits hosting information booths offering resources on healthcare, mental health, and LGBTQ+ rights.

Key Takeaways:

• The annual Pride Fest in St. Joseph is a two-day event that brings hundreds of attendees together for a weekend of celebration and support for the LGBTQ+ community.
• The festival features a wide range of activities, including drag performances, local vendor booths, bounce houses for children, and a pride parade that marches through downtown St. Joseph.
• The event is organized by Saint Joseph Pride and serves as a platform for education and visibility, with local businesses, organizations, and nonprofits hosting information booths offering resources on healthcare, mental health, and LGBTQ+ rights.
• Local vendors, such as Marinda Carlson, sell handmade crafts and artwork, including crochet creations, jewelry, art, and baked goods.
• The event also provides a space for personal expression and connection, with local drag queen Flora stating that she values the small moments of connection with attendees.
• For many attendees, the weekend is not only about joy and expression but also about honoring the history behind the LGBTQ+ movement, with Flora acknowledging the contributions of Black trans and gay sex workers and trans women.
• Organizers hope the event will continue to grow as a place of celebration and a gathering space for LGBTQ+ people and their allies in St. Joseph.

Statistics:

• The event is held annually without a specific mention of dates or times.
• Attendance is reported to be in the hundreds, but a specific number is not provided.
• Local vendors sell handmade crafts and artwork, including crochet creations, jewelry, art, and baked goods.
• 5-10 vendors, including Marinda Carlson and Flora, are reported to have participated in the event.
• The event is organized by Saint Joseph Pride, without a specific mention of the organization's size or scope.

Sources:

• Kendall Warren Civic Center Park in St. Joseph, where the Pride Fest took place.
• Saint Joseph Pride, the organization that organized the event.
• Marinda Carlson, a local vendor who sold handmade crafts and artwork.
• Flora, a local drag queen who participated in the event.