Everyone has their favorite holiday. For some, it’s Christmas with its colorful lights, piles of presents, and hot chocolate at a fireside. For others, the costumes and theatrical nature (or buckets of candy) of Halloween are just irresistible. For me, it’s Pride. With a parade that could rival Macy’s Thanksgiving and costumes that make Halloween look like amateur hour, how could you not love it? After all, it does a better job of celebrating love than Valentine’s Day.
Regardless if this is your first or fifth time to attend the OKC Pride Festival, it’s going to be a blast. Although the festivities began at the first of this week, the real party begins this weekend. Here’s a quick peek:
Photo: facebook.com/okcpridefan
Block Party and Open Air Concert
6 p.m. Friday
NW 39th and Penn
What better way to really get things started than with music and food? NW 39th Street will be lined with vendor booths, food trucks, beer, and plenty of people to befriend. The highlight of the night is the Open Air Concert, which is headlined this year by The Village People (yes, those village people) and En Vogue.
Third Annual Equality Run
8 a.m. Saturday
Wiley Post Park
Get your sweat on bright and early.
Pride Family Festival
10 a.m. Saturday
Expressions Community Fellowship
The festival officially kicks off at Expressions Community Fellowship on NW 39th Street and runs until early that evening. Food trucks, national and local vendors, corporations, allies — really anyone who represents the LGBT community in some way will be there.
Love is Love Marriage Ceremony
2 p.m. Saturday
The Boom
Celebrating widespread love, this event is a stance against the challenges that halt marriage equality.
Pride Parade
6 p.m. Sunday
NW 39th and Penn
The highlight of the weekend’s festivities, the parade, will run down NW 39th Street. As the largest parade OKC hosts, you can expect a bit more than spectacular floats and fabulous costumes; last year’s parade brought in over 32,000 attendees.
Photo: facebook.com/okcpridefan
Virgin to Pride?
Whether you’re new to celebrating pride or just new to OKC’s version, let me give you a few tips and tricks to getting through your first festival without losing your mind.
What to expect:
- A sea of people, although they’re fortunately cheerful. Most of them will be in costume, or at least dressed almost a little more fabulously than usual.
- Rainbow-colored everything.
- More beads, bracelets, and flags than you will know what to do with.
- You will leave with a pocketful of condoms. It’s inevitable.
- An atmosphere full of love, acceptance, and joy.
Most years, I would add “getting a sunburn” to that list, although I’m not sure if that’ll be possible this time around. Instead, let’s just say you’re most definitely going to get a little wet.
What to bring:
- Despite the many vendors, you will get tired and thirsty and won’t want to shell out money every time you want a drink.
- Cash for all the vendors and food trucks.
- A map that is readily provided on OK Pride’s website.
I would try to avoid bringing any large bag or backpack, simply for convenience. While dressing up isn’t required, it does make things more fun and I highly recommend it. It’s always fun to bring a friend, but there are plenty of people for you to meet. Like me, for example.
Finally, a warning: Pride will be the most fun thing you do this rainy summer. I can almost guarantee it. There’s just something about the mass of characters, some of which are half-naked with fairy wings strapped to their back and others that have come straight from work, together celebrating love and equality.
