Seattle’s Annual LGBT Pride Parade and PrideFest at Seattle Center will still be off of Capitol Hill but some of the formal activities of Seattle Pride and PrideFest are moving up to the Hill.
On Sunday June 27, 2010, buses will take festival-goers from Seattle Center’s PrideFest celebration up to the “momo” Street Party outside of Neumos. This inaugural street party, located at 10th Ave and Pike on Capitol Hill, runs from 4pm – 9pm and American Idol’s Kimberley Locke will be performing a few numbers for the crowd. Then at 8pm the party moves inside of Neumos for the Pride Closing Party. While Seattle Center’s PrideFest is all ages, the momo Street Party and Neumos’ Pride Closing Party are for ages 21+ only. PrideFest just started selling what they call a “Prider” Pass for VIP access to all the PrideFest events. More details about this news and the VIP Pass are posted at Seattle Gay Scene.
The Seattle Pride Parade’s new theme is “Over the Rainbow” and that rainbow now reaches all the way to Capitol Hill. On Sunday June 13, Seattle Pride has tentatively chosen Cal Anderson Park Volunteer Park to hold their inaugural Pride Family Picnic for all ages from Noon – 5pm. There will be food, music and activities for LGBT families and friends.
Also, Seattle Pride’s popular Pride Idol contest at R Place bar on Capitol Hill returns this year but now on Sundays with preliminary competition heating up Sunday April 11 and going until the finale on June 20, 2010.
Charlette LeFevre is bringing back The Capitol Hill Pride Festival to Broadway for a second year in a row on Saturday June 26, 2010 from 10am – 10pm. They expect over 200 booths and venders and more than 5,000 people this year and are sponsored by The Seattle Museum of the Mysteries.
Also expect to see the return of the popular “Cuff Block Party” between Pike and Pine outside Cuff Complex and the “Wildrose Beer Garden” at 11th Ave and Pike, both on Sunday June 27.
Visit Seattle Gay Scene for info on upcoming gay happenings in Seattle.
UPDATE: Right after I posted that Cal Anderson Park was the tentative site subject to permit approval it was announced that the Pride Family Picnic will be at Volunteer Park on Capitol Hill on Sunday June 13, 2010.
Seattle Pride president, Eric Albert-Gauthier, said, “One of the points consistently raised by many in the LGBT community is that, other than the parade itself, Pride Month doesn’t have enough family-oriented or under-21 events. The Seattle Pride Family Picnic is sure to become one of our most attended and enjoyed events.”
Sometimes I fear Pride reenforces the worst stereotypes of the homophobes with its emphasis on nudity and debauchery. Many come to the Parade to see our bare asses and cracks and laugh. I think it is all part of the fun, but I would love to see Pride (here and nationally) make the Friday before a day of service to the community. Perhaps restore a park, paint something, etc. Better yet– build fences with the black churches by extending a helping hand to one of the churches with a paint and fix up project. I do this individually, but I would like to see it formalized by the organization with designated projects.
“The Seattle Pride Parade’s new theme is ‘Over the Rainbow’ ”
My, how original.
@ doberg,
They created Pride Family Picnic and supposedly will have a wholesome apple pie eating contest and Seattle Pride has gone out of their way to make family friendly events this year after the defeat of Ref. 71.
@2
The whole theme is “Over The Rainbow – be seen, be heard, be there” which they came up with after the original theme “We are ALL Americans” disturbed many people.
Try Out for Sustainability for service projects. http://www.outsustainability.com/
They’ve got some plans cooking for Earth Day and for Pride Weekend.
doberg, when was the last time you went to a gay pride parade? honestly, i’ve been to many and i’ve never seen nudity or debauchery. of course, i’m sure i didn’t see every one of the tens of thousands of people. sounds to me like YOU are reinforcing the homophobic stereotypes, not the fictitious people you say are. I always hear claims like yours and i wonder, “are you just making up shit?” Bigots don’t like gay people, no matter what they wear. Be proud of yourself, be proud of your community, and don’t let some bigot determine how you should think about your people.
The fact that they moved pride to downtown is pathetic. I guess the straights want to parade us all over downtown to mock us. I miss pride on the hill it was so perfect and very good for the businesses on capitol hill. I think we should boycott pride downtown!