PrideFest filled Broadway
The Dyke March mixed with the PrideFest street festival Saturday night on Broadway in a familiar and fun scene in the middle of Capitol Hill’s annual June celebration of queer community, culture, love, and, yes, commerce.
While Pride 2024 weekend didn’t have the sunny, blue skies of 2023, crowds still filled Broadway, Cal Anderson Park, and the AIDS Memorial Plaza where organizers also added Drag Queen Storytime and a pet drag show to the mix.
The night before, a sliver sky also greeted the 2024 edition of Trans Pride Seattle to its home this year in Volunteer Park where organizers at the Gender Justice League continued a grassroots ethos, forgoing corporate sponsorship, and sustaining the annual rally and party “to honor and carry the torch of our Transcestors who originated Pride as a means of both resistance and cultural communion.”
Friday’s Trans Pride
Earlier in the month, Volunteer Park kicked off Seattle’s 2024 Pride festivities with the annual Pride in the Park event marking the 50th year of Pride celebrations in the city.
Pride Place
Back on Broadway, visitors also enjoyed a series of new signal box murals depicting portraits of LGBTQIA+ heroes in Seattle history put in place for the 50th anniversary Pride by the Broadway Business Improvement Area. Meanwhile, restaurants and shops up and down Broadway opened their doors to be part of sidewalk and street patios for the Capitol HIll Pride crowds.
New neighbors were also on hand to enjoy the festival and people watching. Last Pride, affordable senior housing development Pride Place was taking applications to be the first residents of the new “affordable, affirming housing for LGBTQIA+ seniors.” This year, residents of the building took time away from senior center operator GenPride’s services ranging from knitting and craft circles and community dining to counseling groups to step out and be part of the anniversary Pride.
More from Saturday’s PrideFest and the fun around Broadway and Cal Anderson
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It was packed and from what I saw? Not a single bad time was had. Certainly no crime. The neighborhood came alive downtown. Especially Capitol Hill. The Pride Parade was attended by more people than Chinito Cheetolinis’ inauguration speech. The signal boxes have been a welcome sight. Pride Place a welcome addition.
Hear that Capitol Hill Block Party? Can you police yourselves this year? Are you capable?