JUNE PRIDE MONTH is right around the corner and your Pride Committee is ready to present to you one of the best Prides to ever hit Columbus, Ohio. Goodale Park is going to be a fabulous location for the 2009 Stonewall Columbus Pride Festival and its 120,000 or so guests. We are looking forward to seeing YOU at Goodale Park on June 19 and June 20!
Yes, that is correct! Stonewall Columbus Pride is a TWO-DAY event this year. We are in a new venue so we are going to “kick it up a notch” for you, as my friend Emeril says. BUY YOUR OFFICIAL PRIDE DOG TAG OR WRISTBAND NOW FOR $10 and you have entrance to both days of Pride Fun.
Day 1 of the Pride Festival – Friday, June 19 – will include our usual festival attractions of exhibitors, food, and beverages with the gates opening at 5:00 p.m. Two stages of entertainment will also be presented that night, starting at 6:00 p.m. The event formerly known as “Rockin’ in the Streets” is now part of the Pride package this year. Melissa Ferrick will headline the energetic “Rockin’ ‘” Stage on Friday, and we will also feature Columbus favorite Trina Hamlin, among others. The “Gayzebo” Stage headliner on Friday is Josh Zuckerman and he will be joined by many others. Stay tuned for “Entertainment Updates” as other information is released.
Saturday, June 20 brings Day 2 of the Pride Festival. The gates open at 11:00 a.m. that day and we will celebrate into the night with the Festival ending at 9:00 p.m. Saturday will include numerous featured entertainers, including Headliner Kat DeLuna. Kat has toured with Cyndi Lauper and Rosie O’Donnell on the “True Colors” Tour and was recently featured at the “White Party” in Palm Springs. Check her out! She’s fabulous! We are so thrilled to have her with us this year!
Along with the excitement of a new venue comes a few changes. The Pride Rally is on Saturday, June 20, at 11:30 a.m. at The Statehouse Lawn. The Pride Parade Step-Off follows at 1:00 p.m. from THE STATEHOUSE, traveling north on High Street, then heading into Goodale Park. Another big change this year is that NO COOLERS will be permitted in Goodale Park. It is a neighborhood park, keep in mind. So, if you come to Pride with a cooler, please know you will be asked to leave it at one of the Toll Booth Entrances. There will also be some new guidelines in place for the Toll Booths this year, so stay tuned for those updates, as well.
HAPPY PRIDE – SEE YOU THE WEEKEND OF JUNE 19 AND JUNE 20!