The stage is set for the Phoenix Pride Festival and Parade to celebrate “40 years of fortitude” in Arizona.
After 2½ years of postponements due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Phoenix Pride will make what it calls a “triumphant return” to Steele Indian School Park the weekend of Nov. 6-7 with musical performances, entertainers, food vendors, community resources and an arts expo.
The festival and parade are a celebration of the LGBTQ+ community in metro Phoenix, with the purpose of promoting “unity, visibility and self-esteem among gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer persons,” according to Phoenix Pride’s website. It also acts as a fundraiser for the nonprofit organization’s community programs.
Complimentary PPE, as well as rapid COVID-19 tests and vaccinations, will be available at the event, where being vaccinated against COVID-19 is “highly encouraged” for all attendees.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people can choose to wear face coverings while in crowded outdoor spaces, regardless of vaccination status, as a measure of protection against the highly contagious delta variant.
Here’s what to know about Phoenix Pride Festival and Parade 2021.
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What to expect at Phoenix Pride 2021
The Phoenix Pride Festival takes place noon-9 p.m. Nov. 6-7. Here’s what you can expect to see:
- Main stage and Latin stage performances.
- Kids space (noon-5 p.m.): bounce house, photo booth, music and crafts for children 12 and younger.
- Dance pavilion.
- Arts expo featuring local artisans in a variety of mediums.
- Exhibitor marketplace.
- Health and wellness marketplace: free on-site COVID-19 testing and vaccinations for eligible attendees.
- Erotic World tent: a free, 18-and-older venue with adult product retailers, exotic dancers and fetish demonstrations.
How to see the Phoenix Pride Parade
The Phoenix Pride Parade will kick off the weekend at 10 a.m. Saturday.
Starting at Third Street and Thomas Road, the parade will travel north up Third Street and end at Indian School Road. In the past, more than 2,000 participants have traveled the route with decorated cars, colorful floats, handmade signs and costumes.
The event is free and kid-friendly.
The grand marshals are prior Phoenix Pride board chairs and executive directors. Announcer stages are on Osborn Road — where there will be an American Sign Language interpreter — and on Indianola Avenue.
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Phoenix Pride 2021 concerts
Live entertainment will take place all weekend on two stages. Here’s the schedule.
Main stage:
- Saturday: Mýa (7 p.m.), Neon Trees (7:45 p.m.)
- Sunday: Deborah Cox (7 p.m.), Jody Watley (8 p.m.).
Latin stage:
- Saturday: RuPaul Puerto Rican Drag Show (4:30 p.m.), Horoscopos de Durango (5:45 p.m.).
- Sunday: RuPaul Drag Divas (2:45 p.m.), La Sonora Tropicana (3:45 p.m.), Maribel Guardia (5:30 p.m.).
VIP ticketholders can enjoy exclusive entertainment hosted by Jiggly Caliente (“Pose,” “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 4, “RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars” Season 6).
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Phoenix Pride 2021 tickets
Tickets start at $30. Admission is free for children 11 and younger and active duty military members who present ID.
There are discounts at the gate for people aged 55 and older, ages 13-17 and military veterans.
Ticket prices are as follows:
- One-day general admission: $30.
- One-day general admission with express entry: $35.
- Two-day general admission with express entry: $50.
The Pride Festival VIP Experience, for age 18 and older, includes exclusive entertainment, a spot in front of the main stage, a food buffet, two complimentary drinks per day and an air-conditioned venue. Passes are $100 for one day and $150 for both days.
Go to https://phoenixpride.org/events/pride-festival to purchase tickets in advance.
Phoenix Pride history
Phoenix Pride traces its roots back to a demonstration in June 1981 during which more than 600 activists walked to the state Capitol to march for lesbian and gay rights.
A decade later, a committee of volunteers called the Phoenix Lesbian and Gay Pride Committee organized the first Phoenix Pride Festival and helped establish the nonprofit organization now known as Phoenix Pride.
Many cities across the country celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride Month in June to commemorate the 1969 Stonewall Riots in New York City. Arizona’s notoriously hot summers are the reason Phoenix Pride is typically celebrated in April.
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“For many in our community, this is more than just a parade and a festival; it is the one place, the one time of the year, when they can fully express who they are, and that is a critical factor for the health and well being of our community members,” Phoenix Pride Board of Directors President Landen C.L. Smith said in a statement.
Phoenix Pride Festival and Parade 2021
When: 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 6; noon-9 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 7.
Where: Steele Indian School Park, 300 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix.
Admission: Starting at $30; free for age 11 and younger and active military with ID.
Details: https://phoenixpride.org.
Reach the reporter at kimi.robinson@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @kimirobin and Instagram @ReporterKiMi.
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