Rochester Pride event is this Saturday
An evolution of Rochester’s annual Pride festival debuts Saturday.
From noon to 4 p.m., the public is invited to stop by Mayo Park (located behind the Mayo Civic Center) for live performances, education, and family-friendly activities. More than three dozen vendors — ranging from food and beverage to faith and culture — plan to participate in the event.
Performers lined up for the Pride celebration include KnuFunK, Woolen Lover, Fernando Ufret, DJ Lil Twink, and the dance group Antares Tribal. There will also be a mature content tent for topics like “surviving conversation therapy” and “sex positivity and consent.”
At 12:45 p.m., the city will present a proclamation in honor of Pride.
This is the first Pride event organized by Rochester’s new Pride Board. In 2018, the original event, known as PrideFest, was canceled due to a lack of volunteers. The event had been held annually for two decades.
The responsibilities of hosting the festival have since been passed on to a new group of residents representing Rochester’s diverse LGBTQ+ community. Now operating under a nonprofit entity, the board hopes to build upon the successes of the past — while also looking to the future.
All are welcome
Saturday’s Pride event is free and open to the public.
Below is a rundown of scheduled events:
General Tent
Noon-12:45 p.m. Unspoken Voices Bystander Awareness
1-2 p.m. OUTFront LGBTQ 101
2:15-3:15 p.m. AFL-CIO “LGBTQ+ Workers’ Rights Training”
Family Friendly Tent
Noon-12:45 p.m. Zine Making Workshop by Sarah Joynt
1-2 p.m. Drag Q&A
2-4 p.m. Drag Story Hour Event by Pillsbury house and theater
2-2:30 p.m. Glitter Beards
2:30-3:15 p.m. Drag Story Hour
3:15-4 p.m. Dance party/pics/glitter
Mature Content Tent (18+)
Noon-1 p.m. Junior Avalos “Surviving Conversion Therapy” (OutFront MN)
1-2 p.m. Smitten Kitten #1: Sex Positivity and Consent
2:15-3:15 p.m. Smitten Kitten #2: Anatomy of Arousal
You can learn more about Rochester Pride by visiting their website.
