Gay pride grand rapids mn
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"My personal opinion is, they actually just helped us get more and more [people] at the festival, really — much to, I think, their dismay," Summers said. "We put up with it.
The Pride Festival has always been one of the city’s largest one-day festivals – but this year, it’s bigger, longer and better than ever, as it expands to two full days!
Details for this year’s expanded event are still being finalized, but the Festival typically features all-day entertainment – past headliners have included Big Freedia, Robin S, Alex Newell and Deborah Cox – plus a food court, beer tents, 200+ vendor booths, and a children and family area.
They wanted to bring the sense of pride, security and belonging they experienced in the nation's capital to the LGBTQ community of West Michigan.
That first festival was hosted in the metaphorical heart of Grand Rapids – the Monroe Amphitheater (now Rosa Parks Circle) – a rightful place for a community that contributes so much to the city’s vibrancy and creativity.
Grand Rapids Pride Center
The Pride Festival is a program of the Grand Rapids Pride Center, which empowers the local LGBTQIA+ community through supportive services and awareness.
At Centennial Park June 28.
Saugatuck-Douglas, a longtime LGBTQIA+ beach getaway, celebrates Pride Week with fun and educational events from June 1-7, leading up to a grand festival on June 7.
Discover Grand Rapids Hotels
June is a great time to visit Grand Rapids. We hope it will never happen again. Take a look at the wide range of hotel options available.
When we're hearing all these people in our community saying that we needed this, it really proved that, wow, we did need this."
Local and visiting drag performers also took the stage Sunday, drawing the most spectators of all events, according to organizers.
Summers, who performed a number dressed as an androgynous Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz, said the drag show was well received and the most well attended of all Pride events.
"Clearly there were people wanting to come for something that's not exactly common in our community," Summers said.
Summers added that despite coming at the end of a full day, an interfaith service organized by Community Presbyterian Church in Grand Rapids also drew about 70 people.
While most people attended the event for fun and fellowship, a small group of people appeared in protest.
Annual Events
- Since debuting in 1988, the Grand Rapids Pride Festival (June) has become one of the city’s largest single-day events each year.
- Nearby cities Holland, Grand Haven, Lowell, Middleville, Muskegon and Saugatuck/Douglas also hold Pride Festivals in June.
- The Apartment Lounge throws a Pride Block street party in downtown Grand Rapids each June.
- The West Michigan Whitecaps baseball team, a Detroit Tigers affiliate, hosts a Pride Night at LMCU Ballpark every year in June.
- ArtPrize, the world’s most attended art event, introduced a Prism Award for Contemporary Queer Artists as part of its $500,000 prize money in 2023.
Since plans for the Pride Fest were announced, some community members pushed back with claims of an inappropriate environment for children. The Pride Fest is over," said Catherine McLynn of Grand Rapids. June 7.
The third annual Grand Haven Pride Festival takes place at Waterfront Stadium on June 14.
The Holland Pride Festival celebrates its 22nd year with music and dancing, a family and kids’ area, food trucks, games and more.
Get inspired by this sample itinerary for a LGBTQIA+ weekend getaway in GR.
You’ll also want to check out these locally owned & operated LGBTQIA+ businesses – bars, restaurants, coffeehouses, shops and more – so you can support the local queer community while you’re here!
Pride Festivals Near Grand Rapids
Lowell Pride takes place on the banks of the beautiful Flat River in downtown Lowell, about 20 minutes from downtown GR.
This year’s theme is “Defy & Amplify,” and it promises to be the biggest, boldest, most powerful Lowell Pride yet. The Pride Festival helps generate funds to further the Center’s invaluable work.